NFL Week 5 Picks 2025 (Thursday 2nd October-Monday 6th October)

The first quarter of the NFL season is in the books and the injuries are seemingly never ending with some of the top names in the League spending, or about to spend, serious time on the sidelines.

As has been mentioned before, picking Super Bowl Winners is so very hazardous in a League where seventeen regular season games have to be played to make the post-season and knowing that one or two injuries can change the entire outlook for a team.

At the time of writing, the Lamar Jackson injury has not been disclosed neither in seriousness or how many potential weeks he will miss, but he is almost certainly not going to be playing in Week 5. There won't be a single NFL fan that doesn't recognise the drop the Baltimore Ravens will have at the most important position in the game if Jackson is to miss time and Cooper Rush is going to take over and that is not only down to the talent differences.

Cooper Rush just won't be able to come close to replicating what Lamar Jackson will do, while the injuries in key Defensive positions had already weakened the team.

It could become a long 2025 season for the Ravens, although they will have little sympathy from AFC North rivals Cincinnati Bengals who have not been able to do much without Joe Burrow at Quarter Back. Both of these teams could end up becoming involved in the trade market to fix things up, but they look short of Kansas City and Buffalo, who have to be the leading teams to once again compete in the AFC Championship Game.

Offensive Line injuries have also been occurring all over the place and on Thursday Night Football the San Francisco 49ers will hope a skeleton crew can somehow earn a victory in a Divisional game on the road.

More injuries will occur and thoughts go out for Tyreek Hill and the awful looking injury he suffered on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.

Some of those last weekend impacted the selections made, but Week 5 offers the chance to bounce back.

Selections will be added over the course of the next couple of days, but we will begin with the Thursday Night Football game to be played in Los Angeles, although the personal focus will be on Game 3 of the Wild Card Series being played between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

The trio of London games will begin this Sunday featuring the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, and Week 5 also represents the beginning of Bye Weeks for teams around the League.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: Three teams are leading the way in the NFC West with the same 3-1 record and two of those are facing one another on Thursday Night Football when the Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers.

It is the Rams who have won the last three in the head to head, and they also earned a victory in Week 4 on the same day that the San Francisco 49ers saw their unbeaten record ended in a home defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That alone would not be a massive concern, but the 49ers are banged up across both Offensive and Defensive units and that leaves them very vulnerable in a short week.

Brock Purdy was playing at Quarter Back in Week 4, but he is trending towards sitting out on Thursday Night Football as the 49ers look to help Purdy manage his turf toe issues. It helps that Mac Jones is available this week and he has helped San Francisco earn a couple of wins while leading the team in Purdy's absence, although the bigger issue is that his top Receiving options are all hurt and some are going to have to sit out.

In most cases, teams would look to make up for that by handing the ball to the Running Back and using the ground game to stay in front of the chains. The 49ers have a very good Running Back in Christian McCaffrey, but the Offensive Line have not really been opening up the kind of gaps that McCaffrey would exploit, while they are also facing a Los Angeles Defensive Line that has been rebuilt with defending the run in mind.

This is going to make life difficult for Mac Jones, especially if some of the top targets have to sit, while the Rams pass rush has been very effective all season and has helped this Secondary play at a strong level.

After a late comeback defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams bounced back to score a late Touchdown in beating the Indianapolis Colts and this is a team that is playing with a lot of confidence.

Matthew Stafford is playing well and he has a couple of very strong Receivers to help out, while the Rams Offensive Line should have more success in establishing the run.

This will give Stafford the manageable down and distance to expose this San Francisco Secondary, especially as the 49ers pass rush has been struggling and is going to be without Nick Bosa the rest of the way. The Secondary have played the pass pretty well this season, but San Francisco have not faced a Quarter Back playing at the level of Matthew Stafford and this could be a game that potentially gets out of hand for the road team.

Sean McVay has Coached really well in Divisional games, while Kyle Shanahan is 3-6 against the spread in the last nine following a defeat. The latter also had a tough record when facing NFC West teams last season, while the San Francisco 49ers were 0-3 against the spread when set as the road underdog in 2024.

You could potentially make a case for a backdoor cover if the Rams lose a bit of focus, but you have to believe there is plenty of motivation to secure a big win over a Divisional rival.

If they can come out and make an early statement Defensively, Los Angeles should have the momentum to take the game to the 49ers and ultimately cover this line set. It is one that has moved out past the key number 7 since the news broke of the players sitting out for the San Francisco 49ers, but the Rams may still be able to secure a double digit win to push this Divisional rival back to 0.500 for the season.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Indianapolis Colts Pick: One blown coverage ended the unbeaten start to the season, but the Indianapolis Colts (3-1) will be looking to bounce back immediately and reinstate their belief that they are the best team in the AFC South.

Two crushing wins over the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans and a fortunate one over the Denver Broncos made for a good start to the season, but the Colts were narrowly beaten by the Los Angeles Rams.

Being back at home will help and the Colts are also going up against a struggling Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) team that have been guilty of shooting themselves in the foot.

A one point loss to the Chicago Bears makes it three defeats in a row for the Raiders and it is never easy having to play in the early time slot for teams out West.

Running the ball has been the focus for the Raiders, but they have lost a key part of the Offensive Line to injury and that could make things tougher this week. They are also going up against an Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line that have looked improved at clamping down on the run and that will mean it could be up to Quarter Back Geno Smith to find a way to keep the chains moving.

The veteran has been struggling with the Raiders having issues in pass protection and Geno Smith has to know he is going to be put under pressure whenever in obvious passing situations. There are some talented Receivers on the roster, but that pressure has forced mistakes and Smith will need to be careful against this Secondary, even after the unexpected sudden retirement of Xavien Howard during the week.

Indianapolis received a bit of positive news on the other side of the ball with Matt Goncalves set to take his place on the Offensive Line and this should also be good news for Jonathan Taylor. The Running Back is facing a tough Defensive Line, but he will be hoping his healthy Offensive Line can open up a couple of lanes and Taylor has shown that is all he needs to take the ball and carry it down the field.

He will be aided by the running threat that comes with a Quarter Back like Daniel Jones and the Colts may feel they can get something going on the ground, even against a solid enough unit like the one the Raiders will trot out to stop them.

Daniel Jones won the starting job and has begun the season really well, although he did throw his first couple of Interceptions of the season last week.

Having eyes on Maxx Crosby is key and if the Colts can contain the pass rusher, Daniel Jones should have enough time in the pocket to attack this Secondary, while play-action is another important part of the game-plan. The Colts have really shown something Offensively through four games and they can keep that going, especially back at home, and it should give them a good chance to bounce back in a winning effort.

Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll is still trying to stamp his authority on his team and it just feels like Las Vegas are making enough mistakes to believe one or two more in this game will help Indianapolis along to win and cover this line set.

Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Any team holding a perfect record through four weeks of the regular season have to be considered a good one, but there feels something a little underwhelming about the Philadelphia Eagles (4-0). The concern for the rivals who want to take the Super Bowl crown from the Eagles heads is that there was room for improvement midway through last season before Philadelphia really picked up their levels and ultimately won it all.

No one around the Eagles camp will be too concerned, but you have to accept that they are very fortunate to have an unbeaten record.

However, they do have some solid wins on the board and that makes Philadelphia dangerous if they are winning games without being at their best.

Next up is a game against the Denver Broncos (2-2) who ended a run of consecutive defeats by blowing out the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. The short week is not ideal, but Head Coach Sean Payton will have his team well prepared and there are going to be opportunities for Denver to capitalise on.

Sean Payton will want to keep the strong Eagles Offensive unit on the sidelines and the Denver Broncos have prided themselves on being able to run the ball really well behind this Offensive Line. They will have noted some of the early struggles that the Eagles have had up front, and Philadelphia are allowing 4.6 yards per carry in games since the Dallas opener when you could forgive the challenges up front after Jalen Carter was thrown out of the game.

JK Dobbins should be able to have a good game and that is going to be a positive for Quarter Back Bo Nix, who has been given some very strong Receiving options to aid in his development at the position.

This Broncos Offensive Line are not only very strong when it comes to paving the road for the Running Back, but they have given Bo Nix protection. On Monday Night Penalties was the only issue for the Linemen and Sean Payton will have spent some time looking to clear that up with Denver not expected to have much success if they keep penalising themselves.

Bo Nix will have to be careful of this Philadelphia Secondary, which is playing well even when the pass rushers have failed to generate the same kind of penetration into the backfield as last year. He does have players like Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin who can make plays for him, and Nix will also be much more comfortable if the Broncos establish the run as anticipated.

If the Broncos are moving the ball with some authority, it can only give confidence to the Defensive unit who are considered as good as any other in the NFL.

Lane Johnson is available for the Eagles and he has proven to be a lynchpin on the Offensive Line, although Philadelphia have yet to get the run game going. They are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and Saquon Barkley has made a quieter start to the season compared with his 2024 numbers, and it all adds up to being another tough day against this Broncos Defensive Line.

Jalen Hurts is another who can make plays with his legs, but the Eagles fans are looking for more out of the passing game- even Receiver AJ Brown has made his feelings clear about that. It hasn't helped that Hurts has been under pressure when dropping back to throw, especially as the team have been forced into third and long spots, and the Quarter Back could have Broncos pass rushers all around him during this game.

The pressure generated up front has been a big help to a solid Denver Secondary and this could be another game in which the Eagles are ultimately falling short of the number of yards the opponent has earned.

Opposing the Super Bowl Champions is never easy, but the Denver Broncos do look the right side with more than a key number 3 worth of points.

They can find a balance Offensively and the Broncos Defensive unit are capable of making some big plays to give the road team every chance of winning this one outright. However, taking the points is sensible in case of a late Field Goal kind of defeat.

Philadelphia could be potentially looking ahead to a Thursday Night Football Divisional game against the New York Giants and have simply not been playing at the level that may be required to beat a solid team like the Broncos.

The Eagles have covered the last five times they have played before a Thursday Night scheduled game, but they are only 7-6 against the spread as the home favourite since the beginning of last season. A blow out would be a surprise considering what we have seen through the first quarter of the new season and the Broncos are playing well enough on both sides of the ball to keep this one competitive.

Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers Pick: Neither of these teams is looking like one that could challenge for Playoff spots at the end of the season and that means additional pressure on the Head Coach, General Manager and the players that are currently on the roster.

Everyone has a point to prove, despite the opening records.

The Carolina Panthers (1-3) will be hosting and they were absolutely crushed in Week 4, which meant failing to build on the upset over Divisional rivals Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. It was such a poor outing that Bryce Young was once again benched for Andy Dalton at Quarter Back, although the veteran is not expected to be announced as the starter.

They are facing a Miami Dolphins (1-3) team playing on a short week, but one that finally got on the board in the Monday Night Football win over the New York Jets.

However, it was far from the perfect night when Tyreek Hill went down with an injury that is going to keep him out for the rest of the season and is almost certainly going to be one that threatens his career.

Jayden Waddle will step up as the Number 1 Receiver going forward, but losing Hill is a huge blow and will make it that much more difficult for Miami to build on the momentum they may have picked up in the Week 4 win.

The Dolphins will look to lean on De'Von Achane who is a threat as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield, but who is also running behind an Offensive Line that has opened up some significant gaps to be exploited. It is impossible to ignore the issues the Panthers Defensive Line have been having all season and so Miami are likely going to look for Achane to get going early, which in turn will open up the passing lanes.

Tua Tagovailoa has not had a great season, but he made enough positive plays last week to believe he can keep it going in this game. Being in front of the chains is huge for the way Miami runs the Offensive unit and Tagovailoa is unlikely to be under a lot of pressure, which should mean the Dolphins are able to move the ball with some consistency throughout the day.

Despite the obvious struggles in the blowout loss to New England in Week 4, the Carolina Panthers have to believe that Bryce Young can bounce back in this contest.

It would make his life easier if the Panthers could get on track when it comes to running the ball, but that has been an early struggle for the Offensive Line. However, they are facing a Miami team that have really had problems stopping the run all season and so this feels like a good opportunity for the home team to put Bryce Young in a position to succeed.

The Dolphins Secondary played well enough against the New York Jets, but that was also because of the pass rush they were able to generate and keep Justin Fields moving. That has to happen again if the Dolphins want to force Young into some mistakes, while the Quarter Back is perhaps lacking a consistent threat outside, which also makes it tough for Carolina to move into a position to string wins together.

Carolina are a narrow home underdog, and they have been good in this spot since the beginning of the 2024 season, but Miami have covered in their last five games when set as the road favourite facing a team that has a losing record overall.

Miami are far from a good team, which makes it tough to back them to win games, but they should have enough balance Offensively to get the better of a struggling Panthers team, even on the road.

Tennessee Titans @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: Divisional losses really do hurt a lot more than a normal loss and a couple of those NFC West defeats have dropped the Arizona Cardinals (2-2) into the basement of that Division. They have had additional time to prepare for this Week 5 game and it is an important one, even in a non-Conference setting.

They are hosting a Tennessee Titans (0-4) team who have had their Number 1 Overall Pick Quarter Back voicing his frustrations this week at the way the season has unfolded to this point.

Cam Ward has to be given credit for wanting to win, but this is a very difficult situation to be dropped into and the Titans feel a long way from contending. Things can turn around in the NFL pretty quickly, especially as the Titans look like they could end up leading the way with the top Draft Pick in 2026 when a number of intriguing Quarter Backs could be coming into the League.

For now it is a struggle and the Titans have just had so many issues Offensively that it makes it tough to move the chains with any kind of consistency.

Everything begins on the Offensive Line and the Titans have simply not been able to run the ball with any authority, which shifts so much pressure onto the shoulders of a young Quarter Back. They are not expected to have a lot of ground success in this game and so it will be up to Cam Ward to find his Receivers and hope they can make some plays for him.

If the Offensive Line have struggled to help establish the run, they have been worse at giving Cam Ward the time to let routes develop down the field. Sacks have been racked up by opponents and that has contributed to a really poor passing game, which makes it tough to believe Tennessee can even expose this vulnerable Arizona Secondary.

Replacing James Connor is not going to be easy for the Arizona Cardinals, but Trey Benson can have a much stronger game than he did in the defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.

Where Seattle can play the run pretty well, this Titans Defensive Line have struggled to stop teams on the ground and Benson, along with Quarter Back Kyler Murray, should be able to keep the team in third and manageable spots on the field.

The Quarter Back was the leading rusher in the loss to Seattle, and his legs remain a big weapon, but the Cardinals will want to see a bit more consistency in the passing game. Kyler Murray should be able to target a couple of solid Receivers when in front of the chains considering the lack of pass rush pressure that the Titans have generated early this season, and with a Secondary that is allowing more and more yards in recent outings.

A connection with Marvin Harrison Jr is getting better all of the time and the Arizona Cardinals can use the extra prep time to make sure they are back over 0.500 by the end of Week 5. They can cover an awkward number with Murray having a 13-7 record against the spread when suffering back to back losses and the Cardinals may become the latest to get the better of Tennessee by at least 8 points.

Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: After losing in Week 1 to NFC North rivals Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions (3-1) had to accept some of the criticism around the performance. After losing earlier than expected in the 2024 Playoffs, Head Coach Dan Campbell will not have been surprised by that, but this is a demanding Coach and the players have responded with three dominant wins.

They are facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 and so there is a chance that the Detroit Lions will be overlooking Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) who have lost two in a row since Joe Burrow went down with an injury.

Losses alone would not be a cause for panic, but the Bengals have looked completely uncompetitive without Burrow under Center- they have been outscored 76-13 in losing the last two games and Quarter Back Jake Browning has been struggling.

No one will dispute that going from Burrow to Browning is a big downgrade, but the Cincinnati Bengals have not helped their backup in any way.

For starters they have shown an inability to run the ball, even before their star Quarter Back was injured, and the Offensive Line is not expected to open up big holes against this Detroit front. It has meant Jake Browning being in obvious passing situations far too often, and he has been trying to allow the likes of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to get down the field, which has led to Sacks.

A healthier Detroit Secondary have been playing well and they do get plenty of pressure up front, which should set the Lions up for some short fields and potential turnovers.

Right now you do not want to give this Detroit team extra Offensive possessions and especially if your own Defensive Line is struggling to make a difference in the run game.

The one-two punch that Detroit continue to run out of the backfield is going to create huge problems for the Cincinnati Bengals and they should have David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs picking up big yards at a time.

Detroit will still give Jared Goff some opportunities to throw the ball and the Quarter Back is going to be in comfortable field position, while he is also going to have a clean pocket when he does drop back to throw. The Bengals Secondary were a cause for concern when the season began and they are not likely to slow down the Lions, which should ultimately lead to a comfortable road win.

It is a big line when you think the Lions are on the road and Jake Browning has not played here since coming in and helping Cincinnati beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. Being at home should just help the Quarter Back, although this Lions team are playing like they are reminding everyone how good they were in 2024 and what kind of ambitions they have in 2025 and that has seen them crush the likes of the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.

The latter's fellow AFC North team do not look like they have the Defensive unit to slow Detroit, and it would be a huge surprise if Jake Browning and the Offense can keep up on the scoreboard.

MY PICKS: Los Angeles Rams - 8.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Indianapolis Colts - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos + 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Miami Dolphins - 1 Point @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arizona Cardinals - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 8.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

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)

College Football Week 6 Picks 2024 (Saturday 5th October)

There are always some very difficult weeks in College Football and the Week 5 results stung.

Georgia almost came back to earn a victory at Alabama having trailed 28-0 early, but they were undone by a massive play just seconds after taking the lead in Tuscaloosa and the Bulldogs have had to suffer a setback.

They can still be very much involved in the College Football PlayOff chase the rest of the season and the SEC is on course to send a number of teams into the new twelve team format. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are two, but the likes of the Missouri Tigers, Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Volunteers are all top ten teams in the latest Rankings.

Issues will be cleared up as these teams begin to play one another, and we are soon going to see another big SEC game when the Volunteers host Alabama in a couple of weeks time. Avoiding slips is the main focus for the majority of the top teams this week, while other Conferences are also trying to push their top teams to the forefront of the College Football PlayOff discussions that are already taking place.

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: There are two standout teams in the Big Ten early in the 2024 season and they are set to play one another in Week 7, which could decide which one, if any, is able to make it through to the Championship Game later in the year.

Of course that is no disrespect to others in the tough Conference, but the Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) have to make sure the upcoming game against the Oregon Ducks is not a distraction. Losing a game like this one would hurt the Buckeyes when you think there are teams like the Indiana Hoosiers and Penn State Nittany Lions ready to push into any open Championship Game slot, while the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) have to be afforded a lot of respect.

The line set for the game might suggest otherwise, but this is going to be a test for Ohio State, although also an opportunity to show what they are about.

Much is going to depend on the line of scrimmage when the Buckeyes have the ball- the Offensive Line have been opening some big running lanes, but this is the strength of the entire Iowa Defensive unit and the Line up front will feel they can restrict some of the damage done. Of course it should be noted that the Hawkeyes have not really played Offensive teams of the talent level that the Buckeyes possess, but keeping Ohio State in third and long spots will give the road team a chance.

The problem for Iowa is that their Secondary have allowed a few more yards than hoped and the Hawkeyes are unlikely to rush Will Howard at Quarter Back. With any time, Howard should be able to find some of his talented playmakers down the field and the Buckeyes should be able to wear down this opponent.

It will put some pressure on the Hawkeyes, who have not been the most exciting of Offensive units and now have to face what could be the best Defense they have seen all season.

Much like the Buckeyes, the Iowa Hawkeyes will lean on their Offensive Line and hope to find a way to establish the run against what has been a very effective Ohio State Defensive Line. So many games will come down to the Line of Scrimmage and Iowa would love to control the clock and keep the Buckeyes powerful unit cooling off on the sidelines with extended drives.

Despite the strong play in the Secondary, Ohio State are going to have plenty of respect for Cade McNamara, a former Michigan Quarter Back now leading the Hawkeyes. Back in 2021, McNamara led the Wolverines to a win over Ohio State on their way to a Big Ten Conference Championship, although they were eventually beaten in the final four of the College Football PlayOff.

He did not have massively impressive numbers in the win over Ohio State, but McNamara is a bit more experienced now and he has avoided turnovers. The problem for the Hawkeyes will be if they need Cade McNamara to push the boat out and attack this Ohio State Secondary if they are playing catch up and that is where a potentially damaging turnover or two could swing this game in favour of the home team and with every chance of covering this big line.

Two years ago, Ohio State blew out the Hawkeyes at home, but they were an almost 30 point favourite that day.

This one should be more competitive than the 44 point win in October 2022, but the Buckeyes might be the stronger team at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that should lead to a win and cover.

Clemson Tigers @ Florida State Seminoles Pick: It is the collapse of the Florida State Seminoles (1-4) that has opened the door for a new ACC Champion in 2024. The 1-3 Conference record will really sting, while the Seminoles were crushed by new Conference members SMU Mustangs in Week 5 as the season goes from bad to worse.

There will be no lack of motivation for the Florida State fans in this home game against the Clemson Tigers (3-1) who might be the best team in the Conference. They have bounced back very well from the crushing defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 1, but the Tigers will be very aware of the threat that the Seminoles may continue to pose even if this season has been pretty miserable so far.

It was supposed to be the day when the Tigers would be facing an old colleague, but DJ Uiagalelei looks to have suffered an injury that will rule him out and that makes things that much more difficult for the Seminoles.

Instead of a Quarter Back with a lot of experience, Florida State will be preparing Brock Glenn who has not really shown a lot in his limited playing time. He will have earned plenty of reps to get ready, but Glenn will be hoping the Seminoles Offensive Line can pick up the majority of the slack and make his life easier on the day.

This has been the one area where Clemson have continued to struggle- they have not been able to contain the run, but it is perhaps asking even too much for this Florida State Offensive Line. There have been plenty of disappointments when it comes to talking about this Seminoles team, but the struggles on the ground have increased the pressure on the Quarter Back.

You have to feel that the Tigers will be looking to make especially Brock Glenn beat them through the air.

This may lead to a couple more players edging towards the Line of Scrimmage to just help the Tigers make some plays up front and then trust the Secondary to be able to distract and confuse an inexperienced Quarter Back. With the Seminoles Offensive Line also struggling when it comes to pass protection, the Tigers pass rush may just rattle Brock Glenn into a mistake or two and that could give the road team a big opportunity to put a statement win on the board.

Florida State have struggled Offensively, but they have also failed to make enough plays on the other side of the ball and that is where Clemson can pull away for a big win and cover of this line.

There has been some improvement in the performance up front, although the Clemson Offensive Line will still feel very confident in their ability to push the Seminoles around and create some solid running lanes. Any time they are in front of the chains, Cade Klubnik should be able to have his way with a Seminoles Secondary that have allowed over 275 passing yards per game in their last three.

You would have to believe that Klubnik can have a big game in this one and it should put Clemson in a strong position.

Games between these rivals have tended to be close and competitive, which is not a surprise, but at the moment there feels like a big gap between them. With the starting Quarter Back missing for Florida State, that gap could be all the wider and the Tigers can wear down a rival that is having a tough year and could be ripe for more hardship in Week 6.

Tennessee Volunteers @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: Winning road games in College Football is never easy, but winning those games in the SEC is that much more challenging.

This is where you can separate the contenders from the pretenders, although the Tennessee Volunteers (4-0) may already have shown why they have to be respected. Even earning a spot in the Championship Game is going to be considered a successful season with the amount of quality teams that are playing in this Conference, but that will be the target for the Volunteers.

The 10 point win at the Oklahoma Sooners has really shown that there is a huge amount of potential for what this Volunteers team can achieve and they are playing after a Bye Week. A big game is coming up in two weeks time when the Volunteers will be hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide, but overlooking the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2) would be a big mistake.

Losing against the Texas A&M Aggies has dropped the Razorbacks to 1-1 within the Conference and this has all of the hallmarks of being a tough day in the office Offensively.

Everyone knows that the Razorbacks want to lean on their Offensive Line to grind opponents down on the ground and to give their own Quarter Back a chance to manage the game. Ja'Quinden Jackson has some decent numbers, but he was shut down in the loss to the Aggies and there is likely to be even less room up front against this Tennessee Defensive Line that has impressed so much all year.

Another day of struggle on the ground will really make things tough for Taylen Green at Quarter Back, who has been inconsistent as it is. That has been a source of frustration for Head Coach Sam Pittman, especially as he feels Green has not made the right decisions whenever he has been faced with pressure.

It is very likely that Taylen Green will be under immense pressure in this game with the Razorbacks expected to be performing from third and long situations. Any mistakes will be punished by this Volunteers Secondary that have played well through their first four games and ultimately it gives the road team a big edge.

The Volunteers might not be using an extremely experienced Quarter Back, but Nick Iamaleava is producing at a high level and has helped the team win in a tough environment already. This should mean he is ready to compete, especially with the Bye Week to prepare, and there are likely to be spaces to exploit in the Secondary.

Some of that will be down to the punishing Volunteers Offensive Line that should help the road team establish the run much more effectively than Arkansas when the Razorbacks have the ball. As the competition has ramped up, the Razorbacks have shown they can be attacked on the ground and this Offensive Line might be as good as it gets in College Football.

They have also offered Iamaleava plenty of time when he has dropped back to throw, while being in third and manageable opens up the playbook. It should give the Volunteers an edge as long as their young Quarter Back can avoid the ball-hawking Defensive Backs and Tennessee may be ready to end their three game losing run to the Arkansas Razorbacks in some style.

Tennessee are proving they are a legit team by not only winning games, but covering spreads too and they can be backed to secure another statement victory on the road out of their Bye Week.

MY PICKS: Ohio State Buckeyes - 18 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Clemson Tigers - 14.5 Points @ 2.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 13.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Penn State Nittany Lions - 28.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

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)

French Open Day 9 Tennis Picks 2020 (October 5th)

Sunday has been a pretty miserable day so this is going to be a very short post with my selections from Day 9 at the French Open.

I expect to have a much fuller post for the first of the Quarter Final matches scheduled for Tuesday.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 8.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Pablo Carreno Busta - 6.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Marton Fucsovics + 6.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Stefanos Tsitsipas - 5.5 Games @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Sofia Kenin - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Petra Kvitova - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Paula Badosa + 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2019- Gennady Golovkin vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko (October 5th)

The card from the Staples Center a week ago did not disappoint with Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter getting into a fantastic fight to headline the whole show.

They both showed they are amongst the best in the Welterweight Division and I am not going to be one of those who is down on Spence Jr for what was perhaps a tougher fight than he would have expected. Anyone who has watched Porter down the years should know what this man brings to the table and all credit to Porter for making Spence Jr have to dig in to find some reserves that he has yet to really display in a strong career.

My only personal disappointment on the evening was the arrival of Danny Garcia which suggests he is the next fight that Errol Spence Jr will be taking in January. We have seen some solid wins over Garcia down the years, but I am not sure he is good enough to compete with Spence Jr and the bouts with Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford, the two other belt holders in this Division, look to have been pushed back at least six months.

That is a shame for the fans, but the Welterweight Division is loaded and I would not be disappointed if Shawn Porter was able to land the shot with Crawford. The future for Manny Pacquiao is much harder to work out as his team look to negotiate his last few fights, but it can only be a matter of time before he has to put his World Title on the line against someone like Errol Spence Jr considering both are under the same promotional banner.


We will see those issues hopefully clearing up as some of the early 2020 scheduled fights begin to be announced in the next few weeks.

There are plenty of big nights to appreciate before then though and this weekend it is the return of Gennady Golovkin as he looks to pick up the IBF World Title which has been dropped by Canelo Alvarez. It feels like we are still some way away from seeing the third fight between Golovkin and Canelo, but picking up a World Title will give Golovkin something to bring to the table, although he should not be overlooking this opponent.

I will get onto my selection from that fight below.


Before then just a quick word on the Boxing Picks which ended with a 2-2 record last weekend but with a very strong, profitable return. That has just pushed the 2019 totals into a better position, but I am still looking for a better win-loss record to really improve the results.

This weekend there is only one fight that interests me in terms of a Boxing Pick and that is the main event involving GGG.

Gennady Golovkin vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko

When DAZN offered Gennady Golovkin a huge chunk of money the reasoning was that a third fight with Canelo Alvarez would give them a huge return.

However it has not been the case because Canelo refuses to play ball with his TV network and instead continues to insist that his time sharing a ring with Golovkin is over.

Canelo seems to be chasing some legacy defining fights at the moment and is going up two weight Divisions to take on a legitimate Light Heavyweight Champion in Sergey Kovalev early next month. You can't say Canelo is taking an easy option, but the IBF wanted their Middleweight Title defended yet and Canelo's refusal means the World Title became vacant.

That is where Golovkin was happy to step in and take on Sergiy Derevyanchenko who has come up short once before when going for this World Title. He was beaten by Daniel Jacobs in a very tight fight that was determined by an early Knock Down that cost Derevyanchenko the chance to take on Canelo Alvarez himself earlier this year.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko has only had the one fight in almost twelve months since taking on Jacobs and this is a fighter with a lot of miles on the clock thanks to an extensive amateur career. A 13-1 record as a Professional won't make that clear, but there is some school of thought that Derevyanchenko has seen his best days despite the handy win over Jack Culcay last time out.

He doesn't have the power that Golovkin clearly brings into the ring, but you do have to wonder how much the fighter from Kazakhstan has left in the tank. Those two huge battles with Canelo Alvarez would take something away from a fighter of any age, but Golovkin is 37 years old now and will have to be close to his best if he is going to win a fight like this one.

Ultimately I can see the first few Rounds being very competitive with Derevyanchenko perhaps not going hell for leather with Golovkin until the second half of the fight. Before then I think the Ukrainian will want to pop his shots and make sure he is not dragged into a firefight with someone who looks to have a considerable bigger punch.

We have seen some vulnerabilities in the Derevyanchenko whiskers in the last couple of fights and I do think Golovkin may end up getting to him, although not in the first half of the bout. I expect the early stages to be a time when Golovkin just works out what Derevyanchenko has left and the Ukrainian will likely be looking to move and make sure he is not trapped.

My feeling is that Golovkin's strength will end up making the difference and he should be able to put something together in the second half of the fight to earn the win inside the distance. He still possesses power, although the question remains about how much Golovkin has left having not really been involved in too many big fights since the second loss to Canelo last year.

I do worry about the punch resistance that Derevyanchenko has though and I am going to look for GGG to win this one somewhere between the 7th and 12th.

MY PICKS: Gennady Golovkin Win Between 7-12 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2019: 21-39, + 6.87 Units (92 Units Staked, + 7.47% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (October 5-6)

The final round of Premier League fixtures are going into the books before the next international break of the season.

This is an important time for managers who are perhaps beginning to feel the heat of a poor start to the campaign with clubs having two weeks to think about the direction the team is heading in.

Going into the break off a loss will make it a nervous fortnight for the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Steve Bruce and Marco Silva, while Quique Sanchez Flores has to be a little concerned at impatient Watford.

It is a big weekend for all four of those managers and my thoughts about Solskjaer at Manchester United which were written before the Arsenal game can be read here.


The Champions League Picks during the week had very little luck attached to them when you think of the domination of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, but both settling for narrow wins, and Liverpool blowing a 3-0 lead against Salzburg.

Hopefully that is not indicative of the kind of month October is going to be as I look to get things moving in a positive direction with these selections from this weekend.


Brighton v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: The opening Premier League game of the weekend comes from the Amex Stadium and there is going to be a lot of eyes on this fixture to see how Tottenham Hotspur react to their 2-7 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The final result was harsh on Tottenham Hotspur who conceded three times when chasing the game in the final few minutes. It was reminiscent of the way Manchester City scored late goals to put a gloss on a big win at Old Trafford a few years ago and I think Mauricio Pochettino is right to call for calm.

The problem for the manager is that this result has come during a poor run of form when there have been rumours that he is not happy and that the squad is not in sync with one another. It has left Tottenham Hotspur looking like a team short of confidence and when they concede you do see heads begin to drop.

A poor away run in the Premier League has seen Tottenham Hotspur lose 7 of their last 9 on their travels and they are a favourite that looks very short on the prices being offered.

Ultimately it is difficult to back Brighton considering they have not won a League game since the opening weekend and none of their last 9 at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League. Graham Potter does have Brighton playing more attacking football which has yet to be rewarded as it should be, but the absence of Shane Duffy leaves them looking short of quality at the back too and I would think Tottenham Hotspur have the kind of attacking players to take advantage.

Neither team has convinced at the back so this does feel like a game that will feature at least three goals shared out. Brighton games at home have been low-scoring this season, but both teams have scored in 2 of the 3 Brighton have played here and I am not sure Tottenham Hotspur would settle for that as they look to erase the memories of the last Champions League game.

The last two games between these clubs have seen both teams score too and I am going to look for a fun start to the weekend with chances and goals scored in this one. Backing at least three goals to be shared out is the play here.


Burnley v Everton Pick: Both Burnley and Everton will head into this weekend believing this is a fixture they can win and I do think the layers are underestimating the chance of seeing goals when these teams face each other.

For all of the headlines Everton were making defensively at the end of last season and early this, it has been clear that they are a work in progress at the back. Teams have been creating plenty of chances against them and Everton are short of confidence which is no surprise considering they have lost 3 in a row in the Premier League.

This is an area that Burnley will look to exploit, especially from set pieces, and the last few games played by Sean Dyche's men have seen them looking a little more confident going forward. They have scored at twice in the last couple of Premier League games against Norwich City and Aston Villa and Burnley are showing enough in the final third to believe they can give Everton problems.

Everton will also feel they can attack Burnley with success as the home team have not been as secure as they would like at the back. I expect that will improve with the work Sean Dyche does with his team, but Everton have shown they can create chances and it is very much about finding that consistent goalscorer to put away the opportunities that have been produced.

A lack of goals away from home is a concern for Everton, but they did create chances at Villa Park and the Vitality Stadium and I think we will see more of the same on Saturday at Turf Moor. 3 of the last 4 Premier League games that both Burnley and Everton have played in recent weeks have ended with at least three goals shared out.

The last 4 between these clubs at Turf Moor have also featured at least three goals shared out and I will back that to be the outcome on Saturday at odds against.


Liverpool v Leicester City Pick: This is a big game in the Premier League as we get to see Liverpool take on another test in their bid to maintain their 100% record and 5 point lead in the table. They would have loved to have come into this one having not needed to put in the energy they did in the 4-3 win over Salzburg on Wednesday, especially as Liverpool held a 3-0 lead with a few minutes to go before half time.

Jurgen Klopp will be using the game as a learning experience for his squad and ultimately they did win the game to keep the momentum behind them.

However there have been some red flags from Liverpool in defensive positions that have to be a worry. Teams have been creating big chances against them and this Leicester City team are playing with the belief that they can challenge for a top six berth and possibly even more in the Premier League this season.

Brendan Rodgers has had a week to prepare for the game and will be hopeful that James Maddison is passed fit. That will offer Leicester City another attacking option and I expect them to pose problems for the hosts who might be missing Joel Matip again.

He might not get the headlines, but Matip's absence was highlighted in the win over Salzburg as the visitors took advantage of any rustiness Joe Gomez was feeling. I do expect the Liverpool defenders to be more focused when taking on Leicester City who sit 3rd in the Premier League, but it would not be a surprise if The Reds are waiting for their first clean sheet at Anfield for another game.

Both teams have scored in 6 of the last 7 games between Liverpool and Leicester City and in 5 of the last 6 at Anfield in this fixture. I can't see any way Liverpool do not score, but Leicester City can contribute and both teams should hit the net.


Norwich City v Aston Villa Pick: Two of the bottom four teams in the Premier League meet on Saturday and both Norwich City and Aston Villa will be looking for some positive momentum to take into the next international break.

Both clubs have to be happy enough with where they are at considering both were in the Championship a few months ago. They have shown enough to believe they can compete at this level, but the injuries in the Norwich City squad has perhaps influenced the prices on the day.

Aston Villa might have been even shorter if they had beaten ten man Arsenal when leading 1-2 at the Emirates Stadium or held on to two leads against Burnley in the draw at Villa Park last weekend. However there still feels like a real issue with the balance between attack and defence and Norwich City did have the better of Aston Villa in the League last season.

There are injuries that can't be ignored, but Norwich City have been very attacking and are creating chances. They have also felt much more comfortable in home surroundings and I do think the venue gives The Canaries the edge in this one.

I would not be surprised if we see another Premier League game with at least three goals shared out here. The layers are firmly on top of that market, but I do think they are underestimating the chances of Norwich City rallying together for one big effort before the two week break for many of these players following this fixture.

Norwich City seem to be highly motivated by the supporters at Carrow Road and the attacking threat they pose can't be ignored. If they can get the first goal on Saturday I do think they have enough to go on and win the fixture and I will back Norwich City to show some bite by backing them on the Asian Handicap which will return the stake in the event of a draw.


Watford v Sheffield United Pick: The owners of Watford Football Club have shown they are not afraid to rectify mistakes in the managerial office and so Quique Sanchez Flores has to know the importance of a positive result to take into the international break. He has already been sacked once by Watford so Flores will understand the expectations at this club.

The results have been tough to take since he took over from Javi Gracia, but away losses at Manchester City and Wolves can be forgiven if Watford win this game. They were a touch unfortunate last weekend, but there are signs that confidence is hard to build at the moment and the first goal is going to be very important at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Watford have created chances, but defensively they have looked very poor and it would have been a tough week on the training ground to get things a little more secure. In normal circumstances you might consider Sheffield United the right opponent as they have struggled to convert chances, but The Blades have looked sharper away from home and any defensive mistakes will be seized upon here.

Chris Wilder was not happy with the result against Liverpool last week despite the praise his players got for the performance and he will be looking for a reaction. They have a 12 game unbeaten run away from home to protect and Sheffield United will look to sit in and make it a frustration afternoon for their hosts and look to capitalise on any nerves that begin to sit in.

They have shown some resilience away from home, but Sheffield United are going to have to show some more if they are going to get a result here. I expect Watford will begin to have some things breaking their way sooner rather than later with the way they have been playing and the work on the training field should show up here as Quique Sanchez Flores puts The Hornets in a position to win the game.

Sheffield United won at Everton last time out with only a single shot on target and I do think they are lacking a little bit in the final third. One goal might be enough for them to avoid defeat, but Watford should be encouraged by their last couple of performances at Vicarage Road and I think they can be backed on the Asian Handicap which will return half the stake in the event of a draw.


West Ham United v Crystal Palace Pick: The second live televised game from the Premier League on Saturday comes from the London Stadium as West Ham United look to continue a very strong start to the season at the expense of London rivals Crystal Palace.

Both clubs have been in seemingly solid enough form which should mean a decent game is produced. The onus is on West Ham United to get on the front foot, but that should play into the hands of a counter attacking Crystal Palace that have plenty of pace in the final third to cause problems for their hosts.

Defensively there remain some big concerns for West Ham United and that was highlighted again in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last weekend. However they remain a team that look like they have enough in the final third to cause problems for any side they face and I think that is going to contribute to a high-scoring game on Saturday.

Crystal Palace will be looking to exploit any holes left behind when West Ham United get forward and they certainly have shown enough in the final third to believe they can do that. Wilfried Zaha is yet to fire in the Premier League since not earning his move away from Selhurst Park, but he was an influence in the win over Norwich City last weekend and Crystal Palace are actually offering more attacking threat than you may expect from this team that have sometimes lacked goals.

They certainly are solid enough away from home to be respected and games between these two clubs have been decent watches in recent years. Both teams have scored in each of the last 4 between West Ham United and Crystal Palace, while 4 of the last 5 hosted by The Hammers have ended with three or more goals shared out.

Weather was a concern, but it looks to be a largely drier day in London which should aid two clubs that do want to get the ball down and play. I think that will also see at least three goals produced by them when they meet this weekend.


Arsenal v Bournemouth Pick: An early blitz of Standard Liege has given Arsenal a 100% start to their Europa League Group and Unai Emery will be looking to make sure his team can maintain their top four spot in the Premier League through the international break. A win over Bournemouth will be enough for Arsenal to secure that place and give the fans plenty to be encouraged about ahead of a run of fixtures that should see the team pick up a lot of momentum.

Arsenal have been very strong at home which has to be respected and they have also been scoring goals for fun. It is hard to see Bournemouth being able to contain their hosts considering the weaknesses shown in defence all season, but Eddie Howe won't be afraid to ask his team to get forward and at least challenge an Arsenal team who have not been impressive at the back themselves.

The Cherries have won 2 of their 3 away games in the Premier League this season which will give them belief they can earn an upset on Sunday. However, I do think it is hard to ignore the fact that Bournemouth have struggled to compete consistently with the top six teams in the Premier League ever since being promoted to the top flight.

Eddie Howe won't change the approach he wants from his team and that has largely been a hindrance for Bournemouth in these games against the better teams in the Premier League. They have struggled at Arsenal in recent years with some one-sided defeats in those fixtures and I do think the home team will have too much firepower for them even without Alexandre Lacazette.

I will look for The Gunners to score the goals which can give them every chance of covering the Asian Handicap and that is the selection here.


Manchester City v Wolves Pick: Balancing the Premier League and Europa League commitments has proved to be troublesome for clubs in England for a number of years and it is a real challenge for a Wolves team that is not the deepest in terms of the squad. A strong Wolves team did earn a big win in Istanbul on Thursday evening, but I do have to be concerned about what they are going to have in the tank for arguably the toughest test in European Football.

Manchester City hammered Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday despite the 2-0 nature of the scoreline and they are strong favourites to see off Wolves. I can't see anything but a home win here, especially considering the energy Wolves expended to win in Istanbul two days after Manchester City played in the Champions League.

The real question is what kind of margin of victory will we see here? I do have to respect the fact that Wolves have made life difficult for some of the top teams in England over the last fifteen months since returning to the top flight. A bigger factor may be the absence of Kevin De Bruyne which does take away a vital piece of Manchester City's attacking play.

The Belgian has been in stellar form to open the 2019/20 season after missing much of last season and I do think Manchester City have already proven they can win big titles even without the obvious quality De Bruyne brings to the team.

Defensively Manchester City are much better at the Etihad Stadium where the players feel more comfortable and I think that will be key for them getting into a position to cover the Asian Handicap in this one. Wolves will dig in and I do think Kevin De Bruyne's absence will make it a touch harder to break them down, but they are on a short turnaround and playing the toughest opponent they could face at this moment.

Last season ten man Wolves were beaten 3-0 here and I feel fatigue is going to make them feel like they have a man less in the last half hour of this Premier League game. It should see Manchester City being able to turn the screw and win this by a good margin in the final game before the international break.


Southampton v Chelsea Pick: There is always going to be room for improvement with young players who are just settling into being Premier League footballers, but I have been impressed with this Chelsea team. Frank Lampard has also shown he is capable of managing at this level and is developing a good team that will believe a top four spot is the minimum they can earn this season.

The win in Lille in the Champions League during the week will be a huge boost for every player involved and those experiences of away European nights will significantly aid the development of the players involved. Tammy Abraham continues to show he can lead the line for Chelsea and his goal will be huge for the striker who has been called up for England for the next two Euro 2020 Qualifiers.

Chelsea will head to the south coast with some real confidence having won 3 in a row overall and also their last 3 away games in all competitions. Scoring goals has not been a problem for The Blues who have managed at least two in each of those away wins and they should be able to cause plenty of problems for their hosts who have struggled to defend cohesively.

On the other hand Chelsea do keep conceding goals and Southampton will have noted the issues the former had from set pieces in the win over Lille. The Saints are a big team who scored from a corner against Manchester United, while they continue to create hosts of chances without having Che Adams or Danny Ings really find their feet in front of goal.

Ings has at least scored three goals in his last two games for Southampton and I do think they can cause problems for Chelsea with the attacking play. The young Chelsea team have not looked that solid when being attacked and this feels like a game in which both teams will hit the back of the net, but also produce enough attacking football to see more goals scored.

The last 8 Premier League games at St Mary's have seen both teams score and everything points to that being 9 by the end of this one. 7 of the last 9 between these clubs hosted by Southampton have ended with at least three goals shared out too and I am going to back that to be the outcome on Sunday.


Newcastle United v Manchester United Pick: There are little sign that things are getting better at Old Trafford and another lacklustre performance in the Europa League on Thursday will not have given the fans much encouragement for big games coming up.

The mood could be improved if Manchester United are able to win at St James' Park in the Premier League on Sunday and at least improve the current position in the League table. For all those who say the manager needs time to put his stamp on the squad, I do think he has to be held to account for what has to be seen as an underachieving start to the season.

This squad may be some way away from challenging for the Premier League title, but they are far better than the 10th best team in the Division. A good looking set of fixtures has not been taken advantage of and Manchester United can't afford to head into the international break with another defeat knowing they are going to be short of confidence ahead of the big home game against Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not the only manager under pressure in this fixture as Steve Bruce tries to rally the Newcastle United players following a 5-0 defeat at Leicester City. The home form has been a little better with Newcastle United being unbeaten in 3 games here in all competitions, but they have struggled for wins and that is the only thing that is going to appease the fans.

In recent seasons Newcastle United have had a hard time facing Manchester United with 3 losses from the last 5 when they have hosted them. However this is a Manchester United team that look very vulnerable and I can't have them at odds on to win any away game considering they have not won any of their last 10 on their travels.

Goals might be at a premium on Sunday, but the layers are beginning to get to grips with that in Manchester United games. A few weeks ago you might have been able to get a bigger price on there being two or fewer goals shared out in this one, but the headlines have been made by Manchester United's failures in front of goal.

Newcastle United are not exactly an attacking powerhouse either and 4 of the last 5 between these clubs at St James' Park have ended with one of them failing to score. Backing that to be the outcome of this game on Sunday is priced up at almost odds against and that looks far too big.

The Magpies have failed to score in 2 of their 3 home Premier League games and Manchester United have played 260 away minutes without scoring too. A 1-1 scoreline could be the one that is most dangerous to the selection, but I do believe it will be difficult for either side to respond if they fall behind and so looking for one to pick up a clean sheet is the play.

MY PICKS: Brighton-Tottenham Hotspur Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Burnley-Everton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Liverpool-Leicester City Both Teams to Score @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Norwich City 0 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Watford - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
West Ham United-Crystal Palace Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Southampton-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.70 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Newcastle United-Manchester United Both Teams to Score- No @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)

October 2019/20: 1-4-1, - 5.18 Units (12 Units Staked, - 43.17% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)

August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 8

This is going to be a fairly short part of the thread about the Fantasy Football from GW8 and that is largely down to the fact that I am planning to keep hold of two transfers that can be used right out of the international break.

Last week I ended up picking up 48 points which was below the average and that has to be a disappointment. To compound things one of the hits I took in the transfers to bring in Todd Cantwell might be a really short-term move if his hamstring injury is more of an issue than Norwich City have let on right now.

With the upcoming international break, I don't want to waste a transfer taking him out of the squad if his absence in GW8 is a precaution and I would likely do the same if I had Kevin De Bruyne in my squad.

Another miss in picking my Captain only increased the frustration from last week, but we go again in GW8 and this has largely been a much better start to the season than I usually enjoy.

Below you can see my team selection for the upcoming GW.

Ederson- home game with Wolves, although this might be the first week my backup goalkeeper is also in action thanks to injuries at Carrow Road.

Andrew Robertson- got a goal in the Champions League during the week and is a real attacking threat even during a time when Liverpool are struggling for clean sheets.

John Lundstram- Sheffield United defender in the FPL game, but plays higher up the pitch and may have chances at Watford.

James Tarkowski- I have predicted there being goals in the Burnley-Everton game, but I still need to play Tarkowski ahead of the two Leicester players I am leaving on the bench. Everton's poor away record might play a part here too.

Fabian Delph- another defender playing in midfield which may result in some attacking returns.

Sadio Mane- home game with Leicester City and been in amongst the goals for several months now.

Raheem Sterling (C)- I can't believe the amount of people who have lost faith in a player that seems to be scoring every time he is on the pitch. Might have a number of new owners with Kevin De Bruyne ruled out this week.

Bernardo Silva- I don't think Bernardo Silva is racist, but he was foolish in posting what he did to his social media page. Will likely start in the absence of De Bruyne and should be the key creative source to unlock a stubborn, but fatigued Wolves defence.

Todd Cantwell- an injury doubt, but if he plays he can be a big influence against Aston Villa at home.

Josh King- away game at a big six club is not ideal for Bournemouth, but one of the weakest defensively is Arsenal so King might have more opportunities than you might expect.

Tammy Abraham (VC)- had chances against Brighton as my Captain last week but could not convert. Still managed a Champions League goal in Lille during the week, was called up by England on Thursday and surely feeling confident to round off the week at Southampton.

Bench- Michael McGovern (plays this week with the injury hit Norwich City team, but hard to see them earning a clean sheet), Youri Tielemans (happy to have him come in for Cantwell if injury rules out the latter), Caglar Soyuncu (another Leicester City player I am happy to keep as a backup in their trip to Anfield), Xande Silva.