NFL Week 5 Picks 2024 (Thursday 3rd October-Monday 7th October)

Last week was a true bounce back one for the NFL Picks after the first losing week of the season.

It has been a tough week to get my thoughts down before the Thursday Night Football game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

We should be in a more usual mode for next week and hopefully that will be after another solid week of selections.

Minnesota Vikings vs New York Jets Pick: The International Series has already grown in 2024 with a game played in Brazil, but the NFL are set to expand that over the coming years. More announcements could be made relatively soon as the first of three London games is played in Week 5 of the season.

All of the talk when this game was announced was about seeing Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets (2-2), but the excitement around the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) heading to the Great Britain Capital was tempered as soon as Kirk Cousins was traded away.

Things feel much different in Week 5 with the Vikings unbeaten and leading the tough looking NFC North, while the Jets have work to do.

Aaron Rodgers was not happy with himself after the loss to the Denver Broncos as a big favourite last Sunday, but the comments made by Head Coach Robert Saleh have been making the headlines. He did not seem that happy with the way the Offensive unit was run, and there have been some reports of tension between Head Coach and Quarter Back before that defeat.

It was a miserable day all around for the Jets as they scored just 9 points at home, but reinforcements will arrive if Rodgers has his way. The team are leading the way when it comes to trading for Davante Adams, but for now the Jets will have flown over to London looking for a much better all around performance.

That may be a tough ask for Aaron Rodgers and his team-mates considering the level being produced by the Vikings on the Defensive side of the ball. The Quarter Back has not really found a great rhythm or chemistry with his Receivers right now and so it may not be easy for the Jets to attack the Minnesota Secondary that has given up plenty of yards as teams have tried to find a way back into games.

While there have been plenty of yards allowed, Minnesota's team have forced Interceptions too and turnovers will be key to the outcome of this game. Aaron Rodgers has historically not given away too much when facing the Vikings in his time with the Green Bay Packers, but he was under immense duress every time he stepped back to throw the ball against Denver and pressure is going to be all around him in this one in obvious passing situations.

Leaning on the running game will still likely be the plan for the Jets, but this has been the real strength of the Minnesota Defensive unit so it may be tough for Breece Hall to have a big impact on the ground. Instead the Jets may look to scheme the Running Back into positions where he can take quick throws from Aaron Rodgers and try and turn them into big gains with Rodgers not expected to be playing behind an Offensive Line that could give him time to allow routes to develop.

You have to expect more than Week 4 from the Jets, but the conditions in London look mixed and it may be tough for New York to really improve. Aaron Rodgers is likely going to make some plays, but it's never easy behind an Offensive Line resembling a turnstile and so it could be another tough day for a 40 year old who took plenty of big hits last week.

Sacks might play a big part in this game on the other side of the ball too considering the pressure the Jets can generate and the recent problems the Vikings have had in pass protection. However, Sam Darnold will be heading into this 'revenge' game knowing that his running attack is likely going to put the Vikings in a much stronger position than what is expected from the New York Jets.

The Minnesota Offensive Line will have been encouraged by what Denver were able to do against the Jets last week and they have a more competent Quarter Back who will be given more respect than Bo Nix was afforded. Despite the lack of passing yards from Nix, Denver won the game behind a strong run and Aaron Jones could pick up from where the Broncos left off.

Keeping Sam Darnold in front of the chains has been key to the early successes the Quarter Back has had and he has been able to spread the ball around to some talented playmakers. There are some solid Defensive Backs that will need to be pointed out when the Vikings are setting to throw, but Darnold has to believe his Receivers will win out and his decision making has been absolutely right so far.

It should allow Minnesota to keep the chains ticking over and the Vikings may just maintain their perfect covering record in London.

Full focus can be on this game with a Bye Week coming up, while Aaron Rodgers has yet to remind the fans to 'relax'. Things might just have to get a little worse for the Jets before there are signs of getting better and Minnesota might get the better of the former Green Bay Packer, much to the delight of their fans from both sides of the pond.

The expectation is that this will be a competitive game thanks to the abilities of both Defensive units, but Minnesota's rushing attack could prove to be the difference maker on the day.

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears Pick: There are always going to be comparisons between the top Quarter Backs taken in the NFL Draft and it is no surprise some talking heads are already suggesting the Chicago Bears (2-2) might regret picking Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels. You won't hear that from the organisation though considering the improvements they feel they are seeing from their rookie behind Center and the win over the Los Angeles Rams was perhaps Williams' best performance of this young season.

The Bears were favourites to beat the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field in Week 4 and they are favourites again before heading to London for a meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Next up is the Carolina Panthers (1-3), a team that have looked rejuvenated with a veteran at Quarter Back- much like the Bears, they spent a lot of time wondering whether picking Bryce Young over CJ Stroud was a mistake and ultimately it looks like a miss from the Panthers with Young benched and Stroud operating like one of the top players in the position.

Two more losses with Bryce Young behind Center meant a change was necessary and this is now Andy Dalton's team.

Offensively the Panthers have certainly looked more capable with Dalton at Quarter Back and that will give them an opportunity to spring the upset. With someone capable of throwing the ball with better success than Bryce Young managed, the Offensive Line have been able to offer Andy Dalton enough protection and they have also opened up some big running lanes.

Chuba Hubbard has taken advantage and he should have some success on the ground against this solid Bears Defensive Line. This is key for the Panthers as they look to manage the game and remain in front of the chains at all times, and it will also slow down any Chicago pass rush which did rattle Matthew Stafford.

The Rams Quarter Back still made some big time throws against this Bears Secondary and Andy Dalton should have a decent game when stepping back to throw. Avoiding Interceptions will be key for Dalton and the Panthers, but if he can play a clean game, the Panthers should be able to move the ball and the 60 points scored in the last two games is a number they can build upon.

Chicago snapped a two game losing run with their victory over the Rams in Week 4 and they saw some life from a struggling running game, and that was a huge benefit for their young Quarter Back. It took a bit of time for D'Andre Swift to get going in that victory, but the Running Back ended up having his most productive game of the season.

There will be a chance to back that performance up with another solid outing against this Panthers Defensive Line and that will be encouraging for Caleb Williams. The Offensive Line have not played as well as they would have liked this season, but they could be aided by some downhill running and staying in front of the chains will mean they do not have to protect Williams for too long.

Even if Caleb Williams needs time, the Panthers pass rush may not be able to take full advantage of the Chicago Offensive Line problems. Instead the Panthers will look to the Secondary to stay with some of the solid Receivers that Chicago have and will also be looking to tempt Williams into an errant throw or two.

You have to credit the Bears for covering as the favourite on two out of two occasions this season, but the distraction of playing in London next week is a factor. The improvements made by the Panthers in the last couple of games, especially Offensively, could see them keep this close and the play is taking the points with the road team.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals Pick: In recent years, the Baltimore Ravens (2-2) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) have combined to dominate the AFC North and games between these Divisional rivals have been hugely important to the final standings.

This season the Pittsburgh Steelers may have something to say about top spot in the Division, but there is still a feeling that the Ravens and Bengals are amongst the top teams in the entire League.

It has been tough for the Bengals early in the season and it was hugely important for them to beat the Carolina Panthers and earn their first win of the season. Questions have begun to be asked about Joe Burrow and Head Coach Zac Taylor, but they can only be answered by how they play on the field and Cincinnati have to be massively motivated by being set as the home underdog.

There will be a feeling that the Bengals can build momentum if they are able to upset the odds and win this game with the likes of the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns to come. However, winning this game is going to be anything but easy and especially not against a Baltimore team that have won back to back games and just blown out the Buffalo Bills in a prime time spot.

Much will depend on the Cincinnati Offensive Line on this side of the ball as they look to try and establish the run and avoid the team becoming predictable or one-dimensional. Running the ball against the Baltimore Ravens has been a huge challenge for all of their opponents this season though and it feels like a tough spot for the Bengals to have much more success.

Ultimately the game will lean on Joe Burrow at Quarter Back and some talented Wide Receivers.

This Ravens Secondary may not be as strong as previous versions, but the pass rush is very effective and that can cover up some of the holes that Quarter Backs would love to exploit. If the Bengals are in third and long spots, that pressure could still make an impact on the game and help to stall drives, although you also have to expect some solid numbers from Burrow and the passing game.

Pass rush can slow down drives, but the Ravens will also feel they can control the clock and keep the Cincinnati Offensive unit sitting on the sidelines for an extended period.

Some thought Derrick Henry was perhaps not the player he once was with the Tennessee Titans, but he has been producing big time Football for the Baltimore Ravens and could pick up from where he left off in Week 4. There is no doubting the power and quality of Henry, but playing alongside Lamar Jackson feels unfair to Defensive Lines and the Cincinnati Bengals will struggle to contain the tandem on the ground.

Everything good that Baltimore will do Offensively begins with the powerful running game and the Ravens should have plenty of success. It also means Lamar Jackson has time when he has been asked to throw the ball and being in front of the chains means the Quarter Back has been able to avoid costly mistakes, which is also important in a tight game like this one.

This should be a competitive and fun game for fans to watch, especially for the neutrals, and something of a back and forth contest. The ability of the Ravens to run the ball should be a key difference and they have won three of the last four regular season games between these Divisional rivals, although Cincinnati do hold a PlayOff win over Baltimore in that time too.

The Ravens had lost three in a row in Cincinnati before getting the better of them last season and Baltimore can ride the momentum gained over the last two weeks to an important win and the chance to move above 0.500 for the first time this season.

Cleveland Browns @ Washington Commanders Pick: If you had said at the start of the season that one of these teams would have a 3-1 record and the other 1-3, it is almost certain you would have predicted the wrong team to be holding that mark ahead of this Week 5 non-Conference game.

The Cleveland Browns (1-3) have been a huge disappointment so far in 2024 and they are playing in a very tough Division. On the other side, the Washington Commanders (3-1) have bounced back from a Week 1 defeat and won three in a row to move to the top of the NFC East and Jayden Daniels has performed at a high level to have people wondering if he should not have been the Number 1 Overall Draft Pick rather than Caleb Williams.

One Quarter Back is playing on his rookie deal, but that is far from the case for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. A lot of money and Draft Picks were invested into Watson when trading for him to take over as Quarter Back in Cleveland, but he has not been able to return to the form he had showed in his time with the Houston Texans.

It really does not make things easy when the Offensive Line is banged up and with Nick Chubb yet to return from a devastating injury. Even then, more has been expected from Watson at Quarter Back and there is no doubt that more will be needed if big decisions are to be avoided in the off-season.

The Offensive unit have struggled, but this game could be a chance for Cleveland to have a bit more success running the ball, which is all so important for them. Injuries have made it difficult for consistency, but the Commanders Defensive Line have not been clamping down on the run and so there is an opportunity for Cleveland to allow Watson to play in third and manageable situations.

Deshaun Watson has not really found any consistency in his passing, but being in front of the chains will help, even if that help is having a bit more time. He has been under a lot of pressure early in the season and the Commanders will bring the heat up front to rush the Cleveland Quarter Back.

This should give Washington the chance to at least slow the Cleveland Offensive unit and give the ball to Jayden Daniels in his bid to continue to impress.

Brian Robinson Jr is a potential big miss for the Washington Commanders having begun the season so well at Running Back, but Austin Ekeler is a capable replacement. With a dual-threat Quarter Back, the Commanders Offensive Line should be able to establish the run against this struggling Browns rushing Defense and that will help the rookie Jayden Daniels no end.

Credit has to be given to the Browns Defensive unit for keeping the team competitive since the Week 1 blowout to the Dallas Cowboys, but it will be tough to stop the Commanders if they continue to run the ball as effectively as they have been. For starters it should ease some of the pass rush and Jayden Daniels has shown an efficiency when throwing the ball, and that has impressed considering he has played just four NFL games.

Playing at that level will make it tough for the Browns and Washington look like they can keep the good times rolling through another week. The situation is different for both teams with the Cleveland Browns having been favoured while losing and the Washington Commanders coming through as the underdog in each of their last two victories.

Expectations can do funny things to players and teams, but the ability to run the ball like the Commanders have done will give them a slight edge and Jayden Daniels may just outplay Deshaun Watson.

MY PICKS: Minnesota Vikings - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers + 4 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 2 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Washington Commanders - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 3 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 2.5 Points @ 1.87 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

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)

French Open Tennis Day 10 Picks 2020 (October 6th)

Idiotic.

Honestly that is the only way I can describe Alexander Zverev after it was announced that he had not been feeling well before his Fourth Round match and should not have played.

And he admitted this himself.

In usual circumstances you could forgive Zverev for trying in a Fourth Round of a Slam, but none of this year has been normal... What makes him an idiot at best is that he decided he did not need to follow any of the protocols nor feel he should be tested to make sure he hasn't contracted Coronavirus.

Now usually I would be more forgiving, but this was the same person who was supposed to self-isolate back in June when the Balkans exhibition tournament was hit with a number of Covid-19 positive tests. Instead of that he was caught out at a restaurant or a party in which he was surrounded by others and ultimately this lack of care for those around him makes Zverev a fool.

He should be rightly criticised in all quarters and I am looking forward to hearing what Nick Kyrgios has to say on the matter.

We are down to the Quarter Finals at the French Open at a increasingly wet Roland Garros which may mean the remainder of this tournament is essentially an indoor event. I am not sure that suits anyone more than Novak Djokovic in the Men's draw, while someone like Petra Kvitova may feel she can hit through the court a little more.

Both draws look pretty open with a few days left in Paris and I think there are a number of players still involved that will feel they can go all the way and pick up a Major title.

I am hoping for a bit more luck behind the selections than I have gotten in the weeks since the Tour resumed- perhaps playing in these new conditions has just knocked the model a little bit after three successful Tennis seasons, but it is something I will have to look to adjust if I don't see an improvement in the days ahead and the remainder of this year.

Dominic Thiem - 1.5 sets v Diego Sebastian Schwartzman: That was a really tough Fourth Round match that Dominic Thiem had to get through and he will largely feel he has only himself to blame for being dragged into a five set match.

It came against an opponent that Dominic Thiem will feel he should be easing past, but Hugo Gaston received a huge boost from the home crowd and the US Open Champion has now spent over ten hours on the court in Paris. To be fair that isn't a huge amount of time considering it is a heavy clay court that the players are dealing with, but Thiem is likely going to have to dig deep again if he is going to make another Semi Final in Paris.

His opponent is the Rome Finalist Diego Sebastian Schwartzman who beat Rafael Nadal in the Italian capital on his way to the Final. Unlike Dominic Thiem, it has been plain-sailing for Schwartzman through the draw having won all four matches in straight sets and needing less than two hours on the court in the Fourth Round which should mean the Argentinian is as fresh as he needs to be.

As always, the return has been a huge weapon for Schwartzman here in Paris while his own serve is one that can be vulnerable on most surfaces. He has won the break point battle in each match with more created than his opponent, but Diego Sebastian Schwartzman had given up at least ten chances in the Second and Third Round and that will not be good enough against Dominic Thiem.

While he has been able to dominate on the return in this tournament, Schwartzman is now facing a heavy Dominic Thiem serve which has won at least 65% of service points played in each match here. Before the last Round, the Austrian had faced only eighteen break points in three matches and he had only dropped serve five times.

Hugo Gaston had plenty of success against Dominic Thiem, but I do think the latter is going to be better in this match as long as he is not offering the spaces for the drop shot as he did in the Fourth Round. Despite the break points given up in the Fourth Round, Thiem won 70% of service points played and the serve is going to be important to keep on top of Diego Sebastian Schwartzman.

These players are very familiar with each other with this being the ninth professional meeting between them and it is Dominic Thiem who leads 6-2. That becomes 3-1 when only considering the clay meetings and Thiem has won seven of the nine sets they have played against each other on this surface.

In those matches Diego Sebastian Schwartzman hasn't played badly when it comes to the return of serve, but he has won less than 50% of his service points and that makes it difficult to win sets let alone matches. Dominic Thiem did not return as well as he would have liked in the Fourth Round, but in the first three matches here the Austrian looked comfortable on the return of serve and I think he is going to be able to move through in three or four sets.

The match is likely to be played indoors so Thiem should be pretty happy with the overall conditions and I expect him to keep up his dominance of this opponent.

Rafael Nadal - 9.5 games v Jannik Sinner: The first point you have to make is that this is a huge spread for a Quarter Final of any Grand Slam tournament, but Rafael Nadal is not any competitor when it comes to the clay courts of Roland Garros.

He might not have looked at his most comfortable in the Fourth Round against another youngster Sebastian Korda, but even then Rafael Nadal came away with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win and that pretty much sums up his tournament. The 12 time French Open Champion has simply not been tested and even when you think he might be, Nadal has put his clay court experience together to dominate matches.

The relatively early loss in Rome was a concern going into the tournament and Rafael Nadal admitted that the conditions might not be ideal, while it also can't be ignored that the Spaniard is not at his best in indoor tournaments. That is what he might be dealing with in this Quarter Final but Rafael Nadal has been playing at a very high level through the first four matches here and doesn't look to be worrying about what he is facing on the other side of the net.

On Tuesday he will go up against the talented young Italian Jannik Sinner who had a strong Rome tournament and has played well so far this at the French Open in his debut in Paris. You have to respect the performances of Sinner, but before the last month he has not shown a real pleasure for playing on the clay courts and now faces the ultimate test in Nadal.

His numbers have just declined in each of the four Rounds played here in Paris and Jannik Sinner may have benefited from the illness that Alexander Zverev was dealing with in the Fourth Round. Even then, Jannik Sinner struggled to find the consistency on the return and actually faced more break points than he created and you do have to worry that he won't have the consistency of shot to break down someone as strong as the former World Number 1.

Rafael Nadal has been very consistent with his returning and has broken serve at least five times in each of the matches played here in this tournament. The Spaniard has only dropped two service games in the entire tournament and I do think Rafael Nadal is going to be a little too solid for Jannik Sinner in this one and get the better of a big number.

A 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 score will do the job and Rafael Nadal is more than good enough to do that on the last match on the main show court in Paris on Tuesday evening.

Elina Svitolina - 4.5 games v Nadia Podoroska: The lack of crowds and the lack of competitive tennis for a number of months have been suggested as reasons that so many of the underdogs have been able to have strong runs at the French Open in 2020.

A couple of Qualifiers have made the last eight of the Women's draw and one of those is Nadia Podoroska and coming out of Argentina means she is someone who is comfortable on the clay courts. She reached a Semi Final on the surface at the beginning on September and Podoroska has really impressed on her way through to the Quarter Final here.

Nadia Podoroska easily negotiated the Qualifying Rounds and two of her four wins in the main draw have been very impressive. In the other two wins I have to respect the fact that Podoroska has held herself together at key times in three set wins over Yulia Putintseva and Barbora Krejickova.

It is the return which has been really effective from Nadia Podoroska and it is something the higher Ranked player and favourite Elina Svitolina will have to be aware of. In each of her main draw matches, Podoroska has won at least 51% of return points played, although she did allow more break point chances than she created in her Fourth Round win.

The serve is one that can be attacked by Elina Svitolina who is coming off an impressive one-sided win over Caroline Garcia in the Fourth Round. After a poor 2019 on the clay, Svitolina won the title in Strasbourg in preparation for the French Open this year and she is easily coming off the best performance in Paris in this tournament.

Before the win over Garcia, Elina Svitolina has been consistent without being a dominant performer, but she has only dropped a single set in the tournament. The first two Rounds were much tougher matches than the Ukrainian would have been hoping for having allowed more break point chances than she created, but the serve looks to have picked up in the last two Rounds and that is a real positive for Svitolina as we reach the business end of the French Open.

She has been returning effectively throughout the tournament and I think that is important for her here as she looks to deal with the pressure of being a pretty big favourite. We have seen Elina Svitolina crumble in the latter stages of Grand Slams when the pressure has ramped up on her, and that is always a concern when backing her to not only win matches, but win by wide enough margins to cover numbers like this.

However, I do think Elina Svitolina is going to be able to reach a level that is eventually too high for Nadia Podoroska to match and through those moments she should be able to take this Quarter Final away from the Argentinian Qualifier.

Iga Swiatek - 5.5 games v Martina Trevisan: Not many would have picked Iga Swiatek versus Martina Trevisan as a potential Quarter Final, but both impressed in their Fourth Round upset wins and deserve their place in the final eight.

The underdog in this one is Qualifier Martina Trevisan who has used her strong returning numbers to spark her run through the draw to this Quarter Final. The Italian has not really been someone who has performed at a very high level before this tournament began and her numbers prior to the event have been pretty average on the clay courts even though she has not been someone competing at a top level.

Martina Trevisan still needs to be respected though and her return has been causing a lot of problems for her opponents in the French Open. She has won at least 51% of return points in each of the four matches played in the main draw and Trevisan has had at least six breaks of serve in each of her last three matches.

It is the kind of numbers that need to be given the respect they deserve, although Martina Trevisan has struggled with her own serve and will need to be much improved if she is going to earn yet another upset in the tournament.

That side of the Trevisan game is expected to be highly tested by Iga Swiatek who crushed Simona Halep in the Fourth Round to earn revenge for a one-sided loss in 2019 at the same tournament. The young Polish star has long looked like a very good player on the clay courts and she is going to be difficult to stop if she continues to win at least 51% of return points played as she has through this tournament.

It seems to have given Swiatek some confidence as she has only faced ten break points through her first four matches and looks to be serving very well. To put those numbers into context, Martina Trevisan gave up TWENTY break points in her Third Round win over Maria Sakkari and I do think the serve is going to be key for Iga Swiatek in this Quarter Final.

When these players met on the grass courts in June 2019, Iga Swiatek was able to dominate on her serve against Martina Trevisan and I do think the latter is going to struggle to stay with her younger opponent. Ultimately my feeling is that Trevisan will not be able to serve as well as Swiatek and that can lead to a strong win for the latter.

There is always a fear that expectation weighs heavily on a player that has just crushed the Number 1 Seed, but I think Iga Swiatek is quite level-headed. She has reached the Doubles Quarter Final too, but it is the time for Swiatek to really announce herself to a wider audience by making her first Semi Final as a Singles Grand Slam competitor.

MY PICKS: Dominic Thiem - 1.5 Sets @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Rafael Nadal - 9.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Elina Svitolina - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Iga Swiatek - 5.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

NFL Week 5 Picks 2019 (October 3-7)

For many teams a quarter of the regular season has been played and that means we are into the Bye Weeks with a couple more out of action in Week 5.

It is good news for Miami Dolphins fans as this is the first week we can enjoy knowing the team won't be losing, but the hope is that a few teams can earn their first wins of the season to just clear up what looks to be a real battle for the Number 1 Pick in the Draft.


This has been something of a busy week which means I am going to focus on the Week 5 Picks in this thread. Week 4 was a bad one for the public and I didn't have a much better week for the NFL Picks which means a disappointing first quarter of the season that has resulted in three losing weeks from four.

I expect much better than to be perfectly frank and that will have to begin this week. The totals could have been a lot worse considering there have been three losing weeks in four played, and that is about the only positive I can think of right now.

I didn't have a selection from a difficult looking Thursday Night Football game so the first selections will come from the Sunday offerings.


New England Patriots @ Washington Redskins Pick: The Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills saw the New England Patriots Offensive unit struggle to get to grips with the Defense they faced, but at the end of the day they moved to 4-0 and 3-0 in the AFC East. Tom Brady admitted he was still frustrated with the lack of success the Patriots had with the ball in their hands, but they should have a much better day when heading to the nation's capital to take on a struggling Washington Redskins team.

Washington have a perfect record, but the kind of perfect record that no team wants as they were dropped to 0-4 with a heavy road defeat at the New York Giants. Case Keenum struggled and injury looks to have gotten the better of him which means Colt McCoy is going to be given the keys to the Offensive unit with Dwayne Haskins simply not ready.

McCoy is very comfortable in the system run by Jay Gruden, but you do have to wonder how much time the Head Coach is going to get. The Bye Week is some time away which is the time when the change is most likely going to be made, but there have been times when Gruden has looked almost lost on the sidelines.

In Week 6 the Redskins will be going into a game with the Miami Dolphins that can begin to separate those teams chasing the Number 1 overall Pick in the next NFL Draft, but the focus has to be on the Super Bowl Champions. Despite having Colt McCoy at Quarter Back, this looks a very difficult day for the Redskins to have a lot of success on the Offensive side of the ball especially when you consider how well the New England Patriots have been playing Defensively.

It all begins up front for the Patriots who have been able to shut down the run and that does not bode well for an unhappy Adrian Peterson. The Running Back has not been happy with the amount of touches he is being given, but the Offensive Line have been unable to open anything up front and Colt McCoy may find himself in third and long situations far too much on the day.

Chris Thompson could help as a pass catching safety blanket coming out of the backfield, but it looks a tough day to move the chains. The Patriots Secondary have been making it a 'no fly zone' for Quarter Backs and the Offensive Line concerns for the Redskins will be highlighted by a strong New England pass rush who made the difference in the win over Buffalo last week.

With the Redskins likely to be struggling when they have the ball, New England should win the field position battle and I do think Brady and company are going to want to show a lot better than they did Offensively in the win over Buffalo. It should be an overall more comfortable game for the Patriots and I do think they are going to be able to move the chains through Sony Michel and Brady's arm.

One area the Patriots will want to improve is running the ball and they should have joy establishing the run against this Washington Defensive Line which has been worn down in games. It will just make things a little more straight-forward for Tom Brady who will have an added weapon in Benjamin Watson returning this week having been suspended for four games to open the 2019 season.

I don't think Watson will have a big impact in this game, but the Tight End will have to be respected by Washington and the only thing that is potentially going to slow down the Patriots is any complacency which comes with playing a non-Conference opponent.

Backing a double digit road favourite is not ideal, but New England are the far superior team and I do think Washington are being Coached by a 'lame duck' Head Coach. The Redskins have suffered three straight double digit defeats and have progressively got worse in each passing week.

Colt McCoy is a steady Quarter Back, but I am not sure he is going to have a very productive day against this New England Defensive unit and a couple of turnovers in favour of the visitors should just see them pull away for a big win.


Oakland Raiders v Chicago Bears Pick: For the second season in a row the Oakland Raiders will be playing a regular season game in London and they arrived in the United Kingdom a few days early to get used to the new time zone. The Raiders head into Week 5 with a 2-2 record having upset the Indianapolis Colts on the road, but they are going to be faced with a fierce Chicago Bears Defensive unit led by Khalil Mack and his thirst to remind the Raiders what they traded away ahead of the 2018 season.

Mack and the Bears Defense are going to have to step up for Chicago as they look to move to 4-1 ahead of their Bye Week having recovered from a surprising Week 1 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. It was the Defense which stepped up and dominated the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 after Mitchell Trubisky was knocked out of the game and the Quarter Back is going to be missing this week too.

Chase Daniels might not be a player that is going to ever be a full time starter at Quarter Back, but he is a very competent backup and showed he can come and perform in relief when starting two games in 2018. Last week Daniels did enough to keep the chains moving against a very tough Vikings Defensive unit, and this week he should be involved in a more comfortable match up against the Raiders Defense who lost leader Vontaze Burfict for the season after yet another late hit on a defenceless opponent.

For all the qualities Burfict has, he is a dirty player and the suspension is nothing but deserved. However it has gutted some of the leadership the Raiders have on this side of the ball and I do think it will give the Bears a chance to move the chains with some consistency even with a backup Quarter Back.

David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen have yet to impress from the Running Back position for the Bears, but both could have an impact with a big piece missing for Oakland at Linebacker. They will be looking to put Chase Daniels in third and manageable spots and I also think both could have an impact coming out of the backfield as pass catchers, which should give Chicago the chance to exploit the struggling Oakland Secondary.

In saying that, the biggest factor for the Chicago Bears on the day will be the play of the Defense which will be looking to shut down the Raiders and also allow Khalil Mack to pin his ears back and disrupt this game. I do think it is a difficult match up for the Oakland Raiders who can't expect to have a lot of joy running the ball which means Derek Carr having to step back and make throws from third and long spots.

Derek Carr is capable of getting the ball out of his hands quickly, but even then he has been under pressure behind this Offensive Line. The Chicago pass rush has been on fire through the first quarter of the season and I do think they are going to make it very difficult for Oakland to move the chains in this one which will give the Bears the chance to head back to the United States with a win and a cover.

The Raiders have been blown out in their last couple of international games in 2017 and 2018 and I do think they will find it difficult to see them scoring enough points to stay with the Chicago Bears. Chase Daniels instead of Mitchell Trubisky may not be the kind of downgrade you may expect, especially not with the way Trubisky started 2019, and I will look for the Bears to make the plays to cover the spread.


New York Jets @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Coming out of the Bye Week with a 0-3 record is not what the New York Jets would have expected considering the kind of investment they made in the off-season. It has been an issue compounded by the injury to not only Sam Darnold, but also his backup Quarter Back Trevor Siemian and this is another week in which it looks like Luke Falk will be starting.

The big signing of Le'Veon Bell has not worked out for the Jets as planned and moving the ball at 3 yards per carry on the ground is only putting more pressure on whoever is going to Quarter Back the team. The Jets and Bell can't expect to have a lot of room up front against the Philadelphia Eagles who remain stout on the Defensive Line and will be trying to force Falk, the most likely starting Quarter Back, to earn his stripes through the air.

There is an opportunity for Falk because there are a number of injuries in the Philadelphia Secondary, but exploiting those won't be easy for a Quarter Back who is not ready for this level. The Jets have averaged just 130 passing yards per game and the Offensive Line have struggled to protect whichever Quarter Back has started.

It may be a cleaner pocket for Falk on Sunday because the Eagles have struggled to get to the Quarter Back, which is a real surprise considering the obvious talent they have on the Defensive Line. However, keeping the Jets in third and long and then pinning the ears back to get after Luke Falk should be a productive play for the Eagles and one that can set them up for a big win against an Offensively challenged opponent.

After a big win at the Green Bay Packers to get back to 2-2, the Philadelphia Eagles can't afford to drop the momentum they picked up. CJ Moseley's absence for the New York Jets has to be music to the ears of Carson Wentz and the entire Offensive unit as the Jets Defensive unit have struggled without him and I do think the Eagles can continue putting a strong showing together on the Offensive side of the ball.

There is still some room for improvement for the Eagles who would love to find a way to run the ball more effectively than they have done. That improvement is unlikely to be seen this week as clamping down on Running Backs is something the Jets have been good at doing, but Carson Wentz will be confident he can make the plays through the air that helps his team pull away for a comfortable win.

Carson Wentz was very good in the win over the Green Bay Packers and he is throwing in a Secondary that has been struggling. Having a few extra days of rest from Week 4 to Week 5 should be key for the Wide Receivers to make sure they are a little healthier and having those weapons back will be huge for Wentz and the passing game in this one.

New York's Secondary have given up almost 300 passing yards per game and I do think the Eagles will see their Quarter Back have a very good day to help them pull clear of a big spread. The spot is not ideal in the schedule with this being the easiest game during a five game stretch, but the Eagles are on the road for the other four and playing at home should see them motivated enough.

The Eagles have not been a good team to back against the spread at home, but this looks an ideal chance for them to cover the number. The public money seems to be with the New York Jets which is a bonus and I am going to look for Philadelphia to produce a big win.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints Pick: Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints are heading into Week 5 of the 2019 NFL season off upset wins. The Saints at least get the chance to stay at home in Week 5, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to travel for the second of back to back road games after upsetting the Los Angeles Rams in California last time out.

Things could have looked all the more smoother for the Buccaneers if they had not seen their Kicker miss a game winning Field Goal against the New York Giants in Week 3. Even then they are only a game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South and a win on the road in the SuperDome will really put the cat amongst the pigeons for the Buccaneers.

That would mean Tampa Bay are 2-0 within the Division and the underdog must feel they have a big opportunity with the Saints continuing to have to do without Drew Brees at Quarter Back. It is not easy to back Jameis Winston to follow up a big performance with another, but Bruce Arians seems to be working for the Quarter Back and he won't want to put him on a leash in this one.

Ronald Jones and the Running Back committee being used by the Buccaneers have yet to really find some consistency which would bring balance to this Tampa Bay Offensive unit. Jones has showed flashes of talent, but he won't have an easy day running against the New Orleans Defensive Line which has just doubled down on their strength up front in recent games and who clamped down on Ezekiel Elliot in Week 4.

Every single member of the New Orleans Defensive unit had a huge showing in the Week 4 win over Dallas, but they are going to be challenged again in this one. Replicating that effort on Sunday Night Football will be difficult and the Saints Secondary has not been playing anywhere near that level in the opening weeks of the season to make me think it is an exception rather than the rule for them at the moment.

Jameis Winston is likely going to have to be careful about the Saints pass rush with little support expected on the ground, but he has Receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin who can have very big games for them. As long as Winston can buy himself some time, I do think the Buccaneers can have success moving the chains through the air and Godwin in particularly could be huge playing in the slot where he destroyed the Los Angeles Rams.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be able to keep the points ticking over and that is going to put pressure on Teddy Bridgewater to offer more than he has in his first two weeks starting in place of Drew Brees. Last week four Field Goals were enough for the Saints to win the game, and in Seattle Bridgewater was helped by the Special Teams plays, but even the Quarter Back himself has admitted he needs to do more if New Orleans are going to be successful.

There is going to be some pressure on Bridgewater because he can't really expect the Saints to establish much of a run in support of him. Alvin Kamara might be one of the best Running Backs in the NFL, but the Saints are averaging 4.5 yards per carry and now face a Buccaneers Defensive Line that put the clamps on Todd Gurley last week and have been very strong up front throughout 2019.

If Drew Brees was playing you might not worry about a lack of a rushing Offense, but that is not the case in Week 5. Teddy Bridgewater needs to find a way to find some consistency through the air, but the Saints are not a team with a host of Receiving talent outside of Michael Thomas and Kamara coming out of the backfield. Bridgewater is taking on a Tampa Bay Secondary which has seen massive holes open up, but I am not sure this Quarter Bak can exploit those.

He should be able to make enough plays to keep the chains moving, but I am not sure it is enough to have Bridgewater favoured by a Field Goal to win this game. The intimidation of playing in the SuperDome is not an excuse for Tampa Bay who won here last season with Drew Brees Quarter Backing the home team, and the Saints are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six at home.

Tampa Bay have shown some fight on the road and I do think having the full 3 points in this one is key. Backing the underdog who have every chance of winning outright is my play.

MY PICKS: New England Patriots - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chicago Bears - 6 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Philadelphia Eagles - 14 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Houston Texans - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Baltimore Ravens - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (2 Units)
Los Angeles Chargers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Green Bay Packers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Kansas City Chiefs - 10.5 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

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: 15-106, - 5.80 Units (59 Units Staked, - 9.83% 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.