NFL Week 11 Picks 2025 (Thursday 13th November-Monday 17th November)

Time has been a factor this week and that means that some of the additional NFL Picks will have to be placed in this thread on Sunday.

A longer thread should be put together for Week 12, but at least in this one you can read my thoughts on the selections being made.

It is the time of the season when some momentum is needed with the Picks and the last three all returned winners in Week 10 to make sure we avoided a really bad return. Hopefully that can be carried into this one and the following selections can produce a lot more winners than losers.

Miami Dolphins vs Washington Commanders Pick: The Coaching staff may privately feel that their time in charge of the Miami Dolphins (3-7) is going to come to a conclusion at the end of the 2025 season, while there are questions around Quarter Back Tua Tagovailoa. Despite that, and with some trades of key players, those remaining continue to be very focused and the upset win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 will have everyone feeling good.

This week the Miami Dolphins are playing the Washington Commanders (3-7) out in the Spanish capital in the latest of the international series games that the NFL continue to expand.

There were some concerns about what this season would look like for Miami before the first kick off, but the Washington season has been far below expectations. Injuries have been a real issue, but the Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game last season and they are unlikely to even make the Playoffs right now.

Jayden Daniels has suffered a couple of different injuries, but the one suffered most recently could see him miss the rest of the season if the Washington Commanders are not able to stay in touch with those chasing post-season spots.

Five straight losses have been suffered and the Washington Commanders have fallen apart Defensively in the last couple of games.

An inability to stop the run has made things very difficult for the Commanders and the Defensive Line are set for another significant challenge if the Miami Dolphins are able to pick up from where they left off in the win over the Bills. De'Von Achane had a big game in the win over the Bills and he should be able to rip off some big gains on the ground and keep the Dolphins in third and short situations around the field.

He is also going to be a factor in the passing game and Tua Tagovailoa is likely going to have plenty of time to throw the ball in this one.

The Quarter Back will be facing a Secondary that has been banged up and Washington will struggle to contain this Miami team, which is going to put some real pressure on the team when they have the ball.

Without the athleticism of Jayden Daniels and his play-making skills, the Washington Commanders have struggled to run the ball with any consistency in recent games. The Offensive Line is not going to have things as easy they may have done several weeks ago to turn things around considering they are facing a Miami Defensive Line which has just found the right solutions to clamp down on the run.

Marcus Mariota is 32 years old now, but he is still capable of exploiting any running lanes that left in front of him, although the Commanders cannot afford to lose another Quarter Back and so will not ask him to do that too often.

His protection has not really been as strong as Mariota would have liked and the Commanders are banged up on this side of the ball, which means a lack of consistency.

This is not a Miami Secondary with some of the stars of recent years, but they have been competing pretty well and that should give the Dolphins the edge.

Backing up the big win over Buffalo is never going to be easy, especially for what has been a bad team, but recent performances have offered encouragement. With the Defensive unit still playing with some intensity, Miami can do enough to beat the Washington Commanders in Madrid and they can do it behind dominance at the Line of Scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The announcement that CJ Stroud is not going to be able to suit up for the Houston Texans (4-5) will be a disappointment, but you have to give Davis Mills so much credit for the performance produced in the Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He has been a backup over the last couple of years, but Mills showed he can be very solid in that spot having helped the team fight back and win the game after falling behind by a couple of scores.

That has pushed the Houston Texans back to close to 0.500 for the season and they remain in touch with the teams chasing a Playoff spot. The chances of catching the Indianapolis Colts are not lost with the Houston Texans due to play the AFC South leaders twice before the end of the regular season, but they cannot afford to overlook the Tennessee Titans (1-8).

Plenty of changes will be coming up in the off-season, but the Titans are dangerous as hosts and coming out of a Bye Week.

Losing four games in a row is obviously not a good thing, but the real disappointment has been the lack of competitiveness the Titans have been able to produce in those defeats. Once again they could be finishing with a top Draft Pick, although this time they are likely to trade out of the position and try and earn a quicker rebuild around Cam Ward at Quarter Back.

You do have to feel so sorry for Cam Ward who is in a very difficult spot.

The talent around him is not good enough if the upper management are being honest and it has meant asking far too much out of a rookie Quarter Back.

They failed to score in the first meeting with the Houston Texans and this is going to be another challenging afternoon for Cam Ward and the Titans Offensive unit. Coming out of a Bye means having had more preparation time to help out, but the Titans have found it very difficult to run the ball and that has heaped the pressure on Ward.

Adding to that is the inability of the Titans Offensive Line to keep the pass rush from out of the backfield and the Houston Texans are likely going to be able to rattle Cam Ward when he is in obvious passing situations. Even with time, the Quarter Back will be tested having to throw into this Houston Secondary considering the lack of playmakers on the team and it could be another day where Tennessee have their issues moving the ball with any kind of consistency.

While the Houston Offensive Line have not exactly been opening up big running lanes in recent games, they should still be good enough to keep the team in third and manageable spots on the field.

Aiding that is the fact that the Titans Defensive Line have not been able to stop teams from pounding the rock against them and this should make the life of Davis Mills very comfortable.

One thing the Titans do do well is rushing the passer, but that becomes all the tougher when a team is playing in third and short spots and Davis Mills should be able to expose a Secondary that has struggled.

As long as the backup Quarter Back avoids turning the ball over, Houston can win this one and cover the spread.

They are due to play on Thursday Night Football in Week 12, but the Texans cannot afford to look past a Divisional opponent after the start made this season and that should keep Houston motivated.

In recent years the Titans have a solid record against the spread when coming out of a Bye Week,  but they are now 0-13 against the spread when facing a fellow AFC team that has a losing record and in a game where Tennessee are given more than 3 points.

This could play out here as Houston chase a third straight win over this AFC South rival.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Buffalo Bills Pick: These two teams are amongst the leading contenders to be playing in the Super Bowl next February and both are going to be wanting to bounce back from disappointing defeats.

It may be a non-Conference game, but it is an important one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) and Buffalo Bills (6-3) who share the same record, but that leaves them in different places as far as the standings go.

The Bills are suddenly finding the New England Patriots pulling clear in the AFC East with their 9-2 record, but the Bills will have to travel to Foxboro before the season is concluded. After losing at home, that is a big game for the Buffalo Bills, but they cannot afford to look past a dangerous opponent and make sure they remain touch with the Patriots.

Buffalo also have to avoid thinking ahead to the Thursday Night Football game on deck, but the loss to the Miami Dolphins will have refocused the team.

In Week 11 they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have a lead in the NFC South and they remain the team to beat in the Division.

Injuries are having an impact, but Baker Mayfield has really found a good home as Quarter Back of the Buccaneers and he will be confident he can help the team bounce back after losing to New England.

There is a real chance that Baker Mayfield could have a bit more run support in this game- Bucky Irving will not suit up, but the Buccaneers have to be encouraged by seeing how the Dolphins battered Buffalo on the ground in the Week 10 upset. Merely being in front of the chains would be a big success for the team and really give the Quarter Back an opportunity to keep the chains moving without having to settle and wait for routes to develop down the field out of third and long spots.

He needs that with the likes of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missing from the passing game, although the competitor in Baker Mayfield will find a way to get things done.

Baker Mayfield will be a little wary of the pass rush that the Buffalo Bills have been generating in recent games and obvious passing situations will be considered a poor outcome for the Buccaneers. Instead they will want to control the clock and make sure Josh Allen, a close friend of Mayfield's, is left to cool down on the sidelines.

Running the ball would be expected to a challenging task for the Bills to take on considering what has been seen from this Tampa Bay Defensive Line this season, but recent games have been disappointing.

You could excuse the performance against the Detroit Lions, but Tampa Bay were bullied by the New England Patriots too and allowed some big runs to be ripped off against them.

James Cook and company should be able to pound the rock with some real success in this one, while Josh Allen is capable of using his legs to move down the field.

The Quarter Back will want a bounce back effort from the whole Offensive unit after the really poor display in losing in Miami last week.

With the Tampa Bay pass rush, the pocket will collapse around Josh Allen, but he can escape that and run down the field, while also being able to have success attacking this Secondary. One of the big criticisms of the Bills upper management is not bringing in a real top Receiver for Josh Allen to target, but they should be able to find enough successes to keep the chains moving in this one and Buffalo can bounce back with a victory.

Head Coach Todd Bowles is very adept at getting his team to perform when set as the road underdog, and that potential distraction by an upcoming Thursday Night Football game for the Buffalo Bills is a concern.

However, Buffalo are looking to bounce back from a loss- Baker Mayfield has been very successful at doing that for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, but his team is still short of Offensive options and the Line of Scrimmage issues on the Defensive side of the ball leaves them vulnerable here.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: Three wins in a row having given the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) momentum as they look to keep the pressure on the Denver Broncos at the top of the AFC West. A lot of credit has to be given to the Chargers for finding a way to winning positions even as the injuries have piled up and they can keep that going when travelling to the East Coast to play in the early Sunday slot.

They are facing the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) who have lost three of the last four games and who will still be wondering how they managed to blow the big lead built up against the Houston Texans.

If the Playoffs begun today, the Jaguars would actually be playing in the post-season, but the momentum is against them and injuries have been hurting the team.

Trevor Lawrence is going to be without Travis Hunter for the foreseeable future, while Brian Thomas Jr remains a doubt. The Jaguars have traded for Jakobi Meyers, but he was supposed to complement what the team had rather than having to step up and learn the playbook very quickly to become the top Receiving option available to the Quarter Back.

In recent games, the Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Line have really begun to step up to clamp down on the run and they can have success against this Jacksonville team.

This is going to be a huge part of the game on this side of the ball- if the Chargers can keep the Jacksonville Jaguars in third and long spots, the Los Angeles pass rush is going to cause havoc going against this Offensive Line. With the Secondary playing at the level they have been in recent games, that pressure up front could lead to mistakes and Jacksonville may struggle to move the ball as effectively and efficiently as they will hope.

The Chargers will also look to lean on the run in order to put Justin Herbert in positive field position and not have this makeshift Offensive Line have to give the Quarter Back time to find Receivers down the field.

Injuries to the first two Running Backs on the depth chart have offered Kimani Vidal an opportunity and it is one that he has largely taken, although this week he will be facing a Jacksonville Defensive Line that have played the run quite well.

The Secondary have not operated at the same level and the Jaguars pass rush has been disappointing in recent games.

They should have success facing this Chargers Offensive Line, but Justin Herbert is showing why he is one of the top Quarter Backs in the NFL by keeping the team moving in a positive direction. He has not been afraid to take the big hit for the benefit of the team and there are Receivers on the roster who can make the big plays for Justin Herbert and put the Chargers in a position to win this game.

He will make enough plays in this one to put Los Angeles in a position to remain in touch with the AFC West leaders and they can win here.

One factor that does hold back the enthusiasm for backing the Chargers is the fact they have won road games at Miami and Tennessee without covering, but they perhaps should have in the second of those games.

The Jaguars have shown some positive signs this season, but they were beaten at home by the Seattle Seahawks when set as the home underdog and the Chargers may have more Offensive consistency that gives them the edge in this one.

MY PICKS: Miami Dolphins - 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Houston Texans - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers - 3 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bengals + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025 Season: 28-27, - 1.64 Units (55 Units Staked, - 2.98% Yield)

College Football Week 11 Picks 2025 (Friday 7th November-Saturday 8th November)

The opening College Football Rankings has made it clear that there remains a huge amount of respect for the top of the SEC and Big Ten Conferences and those should combine to produce the majority of the twelve teams that will be competing for the National Championship at the end of this season.

The current deal is that all of the Power 4 Conference Champions will be given a place in the bracket and there will also be the 'best of the rest' Champion from outside the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC.

Notre Dame look like they may be given enough respect to earn another spot if they can win out, and then the remainder of the selections look like they will be carved up by the Big Ten and SEC with teams with one or two losses in those Conferences seen as significantly better than non-Champions from the other Power 4 Conferences.

In the opening Rankings, six teams from the SEC have made the top twelve and three from the Big Ten, although those are going to change as the regular season is conclude over the next three weeks.

However, it does offer motivation for all of those teams of the possibilities that exist even if they cannot make the SEC Championship Game ahead of another important week in the sport.

Houston Cougars @ UCF Knights Pick: Both of these schools were looking for bounce back years after 2024 and it is the Houston Cougars (7-2) who are further along. They are a win away from matching the number of wins from 2023 and 2024 combined, but a home loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers in Week 10 has just pushed the Cougars backwards in the race to reach the Big 12 Championship Game.

They are heading to Florida to take on the UCF Knights (4-4) on Friday evening and this is another team looking to bounce back from a poor loss.

The Knights were blown out by the Baylor Bears in Week 10 and this means they are 1-4 in the Big 12, but UCF are still on course to return to Bowl eligibility and will be keen to get moving towards that goal.

Over the course of the season the UCF Knights have been playing pretty well Defensively and they will feel that they are better than what was shown against Baylor.

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage has been a big advantage for the Knights and they will believe the Defensive Line can contain the Houston threat on the ground. Forcing teams to throw from third and medium or third and long has certainly helped the Knights Secondary and they can certainly have a redemptive effort in this game.

It is the other side of the ball and the Line of Scrimmage which may give the UCF Knights the edge in this game- while the Cougars could struggle to run the ball effectively, the Knights Offensive Line are expected to open up some running lanes against this Houston Defensive Line and keep the team in third and manageable spots on the field.

Recent games has seen the Houston Secondary give up some significant yards through the air too and so the UCF Knights should be able to move the ball with some balance.

The last three games between Houston and UCF have all been won by the latter, although they are a narrow underdog in this one, which has not been the case in those previous wins.

Home advantage may just give the UCF Knights the edge to 'upset' the odds and they can win this Friday night Big 12 showdown.

Indiana Hoosiers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Pick: If the College Football Playoff started today, the Indiana Hoosiers (9-0) would be going in as the Number 2 Seed behind only the defending Champions Ohio State Buckeyes. Those two teams remain on a collision course in the Big Ten Championship Game and barring a couple of upsets, both Indiana and Ohio State are set to be playing in the Playoff next month.

Despite the 11-2 record in 2024, there were some who lacked belief in what Indiana could achieve this season, but they have surpassed expectations and it would be a surprise if 2025 does not end up with more wins than twelve months ago.

This is potentially the last awkward stop before the Big Ten Championship Game and the Hoosiers will have to remain cautious against the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-5) even if this has been a below par year.

Head Coach James Franklin has been fired, and the Nittany Lions have lost all five Big Ten games in what was expected to be a season where they were able to return to the Playoff and perhaps have a bigger impact. Losing Quarter Back Drew Allar to injury has not helped and the Nittany Lions were just blown out by the Ohio State Buckeyes, but this game is at home and that makes them potentially dangerous.

With all those issues, it is perhaps not a big surprise that it is going to be hard for Penn State to score a lot of points in this one.

They have not been able to run the ball with any authority in recent games and that is not going to change against a Hoosiers Defensive Line that have prided themselves in clamping down on the run.

All of the pressure will be on backup Quarter Back Ethan Grunkemeyer who has thrown just shy of 240 passing yards in his two starts for Penn State against the Iowa Hawkeyes and Ohio State Buckeyes. Playing out of third and long makes it very difficult for any Quarter Back to have consistent success and Grunkemeyer's inexperience is going to make it really challenging to have a lot of consistency moving the ball in this one.

It is going to be tough for the Nittany Lions when they have the ball, but the Defensive unit has to be respected and they can keep Penn State competitive.

A problem in recent games has been stopping the run, and that is going to be put to the test by the Indiana Offensive Line who have been helping the Hoosiers rip off some big gains on the ground.

Unlike the Nittany Lions, it could mean Fernando Mendoza has a bit of time to make his throws into the Secondary and the Indiana Hoosiers can eventually pull away and clear this mark.

Turnovers are always going to be important to the outcome of the spread, but that is another area where Indiana may have the edge and they can come away with another solid win as they continue moving towards the Big Ten Championship Game.

Kansas Jayhawks @ Arizona Wildcats Pick: There are six teams in the Big 12 Conference who will still harbour ambitions of earning a spot in the Championship Game and then moving onto the College Football Playoff. The Conference has three teams Ranked inside the top 13 in the first release of the Playoff picture, but the likelihood is that only one team from the Big 12 will eventually make their way into the Playoff next month.

The Arizona Wildcats (5-3) and Kansas Jayhawks (5-4) are not going to be involved int he final shake up, but this is a season when the schools wanted to see development from 2024 and they are on course to do that. The winner is going to earn Bowl eligibility with some time remaining in the regular season, and both are on course to surpass the number of wins achieved last year.

Both teams arrive in Week 11 having won their last game and snapped a run of consecutive defeats.

Performing well at the Line of Scrimmage when they have the ball is going to be the challenge for Kansas- they have been decent up front over the course of the season, but in recent Big 12 games, the Jayhawks have just hit the wall up front and that has put some pressure on the passing game.

The feeling is that they will have some success running the ball and it should give the Jayhawks opportunities.

It is important to be able to run the ball considering how well the Wildcats Secondary have been playing in recent games, while the Kansas passing game has lacked some consistency. The problem has been the Offensive Line have not been able to contain the pass rush at all when Jalon Daniels has stepped back to throw, although the Quarter Back will be confident if the team has him playing in front of the chains.

Out of the two teams, Arizona's Offensive Line definitely look like having a strong edge at the Line of Scrimmage against this Jayhawks Defensive Line. Stopping the run has been difficult for Kansas all season, but that has been even clearer in recent Big 12 games and so Noah Fifita and the Arizona Offensive unit are likely to be in positive down and distance for much of the game.

Noah Fifita should have a bit more protection when dropping back to throw, and that becomes more comfortable from third and manageable spots. The Jayhawks Secondary have decent numbers from recent games, but that is partly down to the inability to stop the run which means teams are not having to take too many attempts against the Defensive Backs.

Both teams should have Offensive successes, but the consistency edge could be with the Wildcats and they can secure a late score to win and cover.

Auburn Tigers @ Vanderbilt Commodores Pick: They have already matched the seven wins that were secured in a winning 2024 season, but the Vanderbilt Commodores (7-2) may still want more. The opening College Football Playoff Rankings has Vanderbilt up at Number 16, which is impressive, but there are six SEC teams that have stronger Rankings and the Commodores will need to win out to have any hope of sneaking into the Playoff.

It would be really unexpected and the Vanderbilt fightback that just came up short against the Texas Longhorns in Week 10 could prove costly.

That loss has dropped the Commodores to 3-2 in the SEC and likely prevented a top ten opening Ranking, but they are having a much better season than the Auburn Tigers (4-5) who are just 1-5 in the Conference.

There are plenty of big vacancies all around the College Football scene, but the latest Auburn loss opened up another when Head Coach Hugh Freeze was fired. With games against Vanderbilt and Alabama yet to be completed before the end of the regular season, Auburn need at least one upset to become Bowl eligible and to have an opportunity to finish with a winning record.

In reality they are on course to match the 5-7 record from 2024, although the Auburn job will remain one of the most sought after in College Football as one of a number of SEC vacancies to be filled in the off-season.

Jackson Arnold was supposed to help the Tigers push forward, but his time with Auburn looks to be coming to a close after Ashton Daniels was announced as the starting Quarter Back ahead of this game. You would hardly say that Daniels had a big impact for the team in the loss to the Kentucky Wildcats when he finished with 108 passing yards and an Interception, while continuing to operate behind a shaky Offensive Line.

The Tigers may look to establish the run, but the Commodores have been pretty good at clamping down on the run and it is the Secondary that have struggled most. However, Ashton Daniels may not have the experience nor the current confidence to have the same kind of successes that Arch Manning had for Texas and this gives Vanderbilt a chance to earn a win and remain in touch with the College Football Playoff leading teams.

One of the reasons Auburn will feel they can be competitive is the Defensive unit, which has played at a level expected around these parts.

The Defensive Line have been very strong up front and it is going to be very tough for the Commodores to have the kind of success that they have been used to. However, Vanderbilt are home and they will not shy away from trying to pound the ball on the ground, especially with a Quarter Back who is comfortable making plays with his legs as much as his arm.

Diego Pavia is going to be well aware of the importance of his legs with the Tigers likely to get a strong push up front and look to collapse the pocket, while the dual-threat ability of the Quarter Back is key to at least put the Commodores in a position to be operating in front of the chains.

The Quarter Back does have over 2000 passing yards with 18 Touchdown passes and he should be able to find some spaces to attack this Auburn Secondary. In the main Diego Pavia has looked after the ball when throwing and that is key considering the ability of this Tigers team to turn the ball over and it could see the Commodores battle for another win by a Touchdown mark.

Vanderbilt have done that in wins over LSU and Missouri at home, while Auburn have lost by 7 points at Oklahoma and 6 points at Texas A&M. They also lost by 7 points in Week 10 at home against the Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt can edge past this spread.

MY PICKS: UCF Knights + 1.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 14.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Arizona Wildcats - 4.5 Points @ 1.80 William Hill (1 Unit)

Vanderbilt Commodores - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Washington Huskies - 10.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Louisville Cardinals - 18.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

NFL Week 11 Picks 2024 (Thursday 14th November-Monday 18th November)

It was the week that I had been fearing for a while, but in each of the last few weeks I have mentioned that continuing to produce winning efforts week after week in the NFL was simply not going to be a run that could be sustained.

Through the first nine weeks of the NFL season, eight had ended with a positive number behind the selections, but Week 10 was a huge blow.

Despite that, the season totals are still very much in a strong position, and that is what has to be remembered as we reset and try and go again.

Some of the selections were poor, which can happen- the Giants proved to be a team chasing the top Draft Pick when losing in Munich and they never looked like covering as a big favourite, that was simply a poor Pick. Matthew Stafford must have missed a number of wide open Touchdowns on Monday Night Football, but again, it felt like a poor Pick pretty early as the Los Angeles Rams kept getting bogged down.

However, it still amazes me to think that Minnesota, San Francisco and Atlanta all failed to cover last week.

The former two both ended up winning, but the Falcons were beaten outright, although all three made so many mistakes that prevented them getting over the numbers set.

Sam Darnold didn't throw one, or two Interceptions inside the Red Zone, but three of those in what ended up being a five point win to miss the cover by just three points.

And the less said about the San Francisco and Atlanta kickers the better with both combining to miss multiple efforts from reasonable distance to the point that even Deebo Samuel decided to let Jake Moody know what he thought of his efforts. These are kicks that really won't be missed too often and on another day all three teams would have returned winners, so it is best not to move too far away from what has been successful so far this season.

Kickers proved to be the difference makers for Kansas City too as the last unbeaten team of the season moved through another week after the Special Teams blocked Denver's chip shot Field Goal to win the game in Week 10.

Maintaining that unbeaten run through Week 11 looks to be a huge test for Kansas City when they visit the Buffalo Bills in what many feel could be a game that ends up being replayed to decide the Super Bowl participant from the AFC.

This is the standout game of Week 11, especially on Sunday, but there are other big games beginning with a top looking NFC East battle on Thursday Night Football with the lead of the Division on the line. Moving into November means the intensity is picking up and Thanksgiving is now a couple of weeks away, which usually signals the turn into the home run for those hoping to have extended post-season runs.

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Week 11 begins with a big NFC East game featuring the top two teams in the Division on Thursday Night Football.

In reality, it would be a huge disappointment if both the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) and Washington Commanders (7-3) were not able to secure enough wins to earn a place in the post-season, although there is also little doubt that winning the Division would be a huge boost towards having a deep Playoff run.

It is the Philadelphia Eagles who continue to produce wins, despite the noise around the team- the fans have simply been on edge far too much this season and Head Coach Nick Sirianni may feel that he has to win the Super Bowl if he is going to be retained in the job, which really does not help.

Despite that, Sirianni has led the Philadelphia Eagles to the top of the Division after a crushing win over the injury hit Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 and that makes it five wins in a row for the Eagles. In reality, we can't really know too much about Philadelphia considering who they have beaten this season, although the thumping of the Cincinnati Bengals a few weeks ago looks the most impressive.

Washington were beaten on Sunday by the Pittsburgh Steelers and like the Eagles, the schedule has not exactly been the most taxing. There is no doubting the improvement with Jayden Daniels leading the team at Quarter Back, but the Commanders's best win came early in the season at the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals and they have struggled to beat too many good teams since then.

This is a real prove it moment for the rookie Quarter Back and the rest of the team with Washington playing on the short week and looking to reclaim top place in the NFC East.

The Commanders will be hoping Brian Robinson Jr is able to suit up having struggled to really get the ground going as it had been earlier in the season. Jayden Daniels is another threat when it comes to running the ball, but the Commanders will need all of their weapons in their bid to break down a Philadelphia Defensive Line that have really taken pride in clamping down up front.

We have seen enough from the rookie Quarter Back to expect him to make some big plays and extend drives on the ground or through the air. Jayden Daniels is facing one of the Defensive units in really good form though and he did have some issues when facing the Pittsburgh Defensive unit last week, which suggests this could be another challenging night for him.

Jayden Daniels has been well protected in the main part, especially with his capabilities of shifting the pocket, and that should help as he looks to find holes in this improving Philadelphia Secondary. It is very important for the Commanders to establish the run and see if that can open up things down the field, but overall it looks another tough match up for Washington after the tough test faced in Week 10.

At the same time, Philadelphia have to be expecting a lot more resistance from Washington than they ended up getting from Divisional rivals Dallas last Sunday. However, Nick Sirianni has to be very pleased with what he has been seeing Offensively with the team really looking a lot more confident now they have someone like Saquon Barkley running the ball as efficiently as he has been.

While there are some doubts about what Washington are going to be able to do on the ground, the same may not be true for the Eagles. The Philadelphia Offensive Line have been cracking open some big lanes for Barkley, while Jalen Hurts continues to offer a threat to tuck the ball and make plays with his legs and this is going to be a massive test for Washington's Defensive Line.

Throughout the course of the season, the Commanders have had some issues shutting down the run and recent outings have not been any different.

It should mean Philadelphia are playing in a comfortable down and distance, which will open up the playbook and the Washington Secondary may be without Marshon Lattimore again after his trade from the New Orleans Saints. The passing numbers have not looked so bad, but that may be down to the fact that teams are capable of running the ball very well against the Commanders.

They will also be dealing with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith on Thursday Night Football, as well as trying to contain Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on the ground and that balance is going to give the Philadelphia Eagles the edge in this Divisional game.

Going against Jayden Daniels, even as a rookie, is not easy considering his ability to make big plays and the backdoor cover is open, even in a losing effort. However, Washington were beaten by a Touchdown at Baltimore and were blown out at Tampa Bay, while they were pretty much second best in the defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10.

A short week is a new test for the rookie Quarter Back and the Eagles are playing very well Defensively, which should mean there is enough room for the talented playmakers to win this game and cover the mark set.

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: It is the quirkiness of the regular season schedule that AFC North leading Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) have yet to play any of their six Divisional games in 2024. That does mean six of the remaining eight games will be against those opponents, but the foundation laid down by the Steelers means that they could kick on and win the Division.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin gave a reporter short shrift when questioned about the schedule and made it clear his Pittsburgh team are always ready to face those within the Division no matter where the NFL places them during the eighteen week regular season.

Four wins in a row have really pushed the momentum behind the Steelers, although the teams beaten are perhaps not amongst those that will be hoping to reach the Super Bowl.

In Week 11, that changes significantly when the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) come to town having swept the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 thanks to a narrow win on Thursday Night Football. It means the Ravens have had something of a mini-Bye, which is important for a team that doesn't have the official Bye Week until early December.

The extra preparation time is going to be important with Baltimore hoping to turn things around in this series with their big rivals in Pittsburgh. Despite the recent seasons seeing Baltimore more likely to push towards a Super Bowl, it is the Pittsburgh Steelers who have won seven of eight games against this Divisional rival, including sweeping them in 2023.

However, the one exception in that run was a Baltimore win here in Pittsburgh two seasons ago and the road team do look the superior of the two.

It hasn't counted for much in the recent head to head, but this time the Ravens will be bringing Derrick Henry to town and that could be important in just shifting things around. The Ravens have been able to run very well under John Harbaugh, but the Offensive Line this season is boosted by the power of Henry in the backfield behind Lamar Jackson and that is going to be really important as they look for the road win to move ahead of the Steelers in the Division race.

As is the case with a lot of Divisional rivals, teams are built to stop the others doing what they want to do the most and the Steelers have long prided themselves on being a team that can stop the run. For much of the season they have been strong up front, but during this four game winning run, there have been one or two missed assignments and that would be a massive mistake against this Baltimore Offensive Line.

Lamar Jackson's dual-threat has always been something for the Steelers to focus on, but it is much more difficult knowing a power Back like Derrick Henry could be given the ball. Some may have thought his race had been run in Tennessee, but Henry has shown there is plenty left in the tank and the late Bye Week for the Baltimore Ravens could be crucial for how effective the Running Back remains to be in January and beyond.

We should see Baltimore have success on the ground and that should mean Lamar Jackson has a more comfortable day finding his Wide Receiver options. Diontae Johnson will certainy want to remind Pittsburgh of what was let go having arrived in Baltimore in a trade from the Carolina Panthers, but there are plenty of other weapons around him which will give Jackson an opportunity to have a decent passing day.

Being ahead of the chains should mean Lamar Jackson has time to move the pocket and then attack this Pittsburgh Secondary, which has allowed some solid passing numbers in recent outings.

Games between the Ravens and Steelers have tended to be very low-scoring and there has been fewer than 31 points combined in each of the last five games played.

However, there is a feeling that this one will be quite different with Baltimore likely going to be moving the ball with some consistency, but Pittsburgh also looking a lot more effective since Russell Wilson took over from Justin Fields at Quarter Back.

The difference between the two teams might be at the Line of Scrimmage with the Ravens Defensive Line continuing to clamp down on the run very effectively. This may make things very tough for Najee Harris, especially as Pittsburgh have not really been a team that has ripped off big runs consistently this season, and it may mean Russell Wilson is having to make more plays with his arm.

The Quarter Back is likely going to be faced with some pass rush pressure, but Wilson should also have some success against a Baltimore Secondary that continues to struggle against the pass. There is little doubt that this could be the weakness that eventually costs them a chance to win a Super Bowl, and even as Baltimore get healthier, it is an issue that will need to be addressed when the Bye Week comes around.

Russell Wilson has Receivers who can get open and make plays for him down the field, but being a little more unbalanced Offensively compared with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens could prove to be the difference between the teams on the day.

These are always going to be tough, grind it out games, but the feeling is that we could see more successful passes than usual and both Quarter Backs may have decent stat lines. However, the edge has to be with Baltimore to snap the three game losing run in the Series with the Offensive Line likely to offer out more solid runs compared with the Pittsburgh O-Line and the Ravens can do enough to win this one by around a Touchdown.

It will need the Defensive unit to make a late stand to do that, but they have been able to find those plays at significant times through the course of the season and another on Sunday may lead to a big road win for Baltimore.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Detroit Lions Pick: The Interceptions piled up for Jared Goff last week in a primetime spot, but the Detroit Lions (8-1) rallied for their Quarter Back and made some big Defensive plays to turn things around at the Houston Texans. They continue their path through the AFC South with another non-Conference game in Week 11, and it feels like a big chance for Goff to bounce back.

Instead of a match up against Trevor Lawrence, the Detroit Lions will be facing a Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) team led by Mac Jones at Quarter Back. He was behind Center for the narrow loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week, but Jones will have to be a lot better in this game unless he wants to lean on the Defensive unit to make massive plays to keep the Jaguars competitive.

The Offensive stats made for poor reading, but the Jaguars Defensive unit stepped up and picked up a couple of key Interceptions in the End Zone against the Minnesota Vikings. They were able to keep that NFC North Offensive unit from scoring a Touchdown, but the game was in Jacksonville and it is going to be much tougher indoors against this Detroit team looking to make amends for what was an underwhelming performance in Houston.

Winning might be what matters most, but Head Coach Dan Campbell and Quarter Back Jared Goff have set certain levels of standard here.

In reality, it may not be a game in which the Lions need their Quarter Back to dominate with the Offensive Line paving the way for the two quality Running Backs to pick up big yardage on the ground. This is going to be an area where the Lions should be able to hand off the ball for some big gains and that should ensure the team is playing out of third and manageable for much of the game.

Of course Jared Goff will want to erase the memories of the performance on Sunday Night Football in Week 10, but having the team run the ball will open things up in the passing lane for the Quarter Back to have the successes he wants. He will be without Sam LaPorta for this game, but Detroit have other weapons and they should be capable of moving the ball up and down the field.

Covering the spread will come down to how well the Lions do Defensively and they will certainly believe they can feast on Mac Jones, who barely helped the Jaguars move the ball last week.

The Lions might not be as dominant as the Minnesota Vikings have been at times, but this is a team that is very good at slowing down the run and allowing a ball-hawking Secondary to take over and create turnovers. Tank Bigsby will be missing for the Jaguars, who have a struggling Offensive Line, and it might mean the road team have to really focus on trying to get Mac Jones going.

He can have some success throwing against a Secondary that has a bend, don't break kind of approach, but Mac Jones could have a banged up Receiving corps travelling to Detroit with him. It will make it that much tougher for the Quarter Back and the Lions might just be ready to make the plays that help them pull away for a big win at home.

The last time Detroit played at home, they crushed Tennessee from the AFC South and the feeling is that this big line will still not be enough to prevent the Lions produce a dominant win both outright and at the window.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Pick: At one stage people were wondering whether the NFC North could potentially be the first Division to provide four Playoff teams, but those thoughts have disappeared over the last month. The top three are all looking like they are moving in the right direction, but the Chicago Bears (4-6) have lost three in a row and simply not recovered from the Hail Mary throw converted by the Washington Commanders, which will be replayed for years to come.

Like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chicago Bears have yet to play a Divisional rival and you can understand why the team have decided that some changes need to be made.

The first NFC North team that the Bears will face on their schedule is the Green Bay Packers (6-3), who are coming into this one out of a Bye Week which should have given key players a chance to rest. The most notable to earn that rest should be Jordan Love with the Quarter Back looking a little limited in his movement and the Packers feel Love is going to be close to full health for the big run coming up.

Two weeks ago, Green Bay saw their four game winning run ended by the Detroit Lions, but they remain in contention in the NFC North and in the Wild Card Race too.

Josh Jacobs has come into the Packers lineup in place of Aaron Jones and he has looked like he has been a part of the Green Bay teams for several years. The Offensive Line continue to bully teams up front and Jacobs should be able to pick up right where he left off before the Bye Week when facing a Chicago Defensive Line struggling to stop the run.

This should be music to the ears of Jordan Love who can work his way into the game and try and hurt a Bears Secondary that has been having health issues. With the Receivers available to Jordan Love, playing from third and manageable could set Chicago up for some big plays down the field, which is something the Packers love to bring onto the field.

Green Bay have dominated this Divisional series and have won ten in a row against the Bears and it is hard to imagine that streak is broken at Soldier Field.

After losing last week and scoring just three points, Chicago have changed Offensive Co-Ordinator in a hope of sparking things for Caleb Williams. The Head Coach, Matt Eberflus has to be on the very hot seat at this point with the fans turning on him again, and it is going to be difficult for the Bears to find consistency on this side of the ball.

Caleb Williams has hit a rookie wall, but he is getting very little time in the pocket with the Offensive Line looking more like a turnstile, and it is going to be very difficult to play from behind. The Bears might have hoped they can at least run the ball to give the Packers something to think about, but Green Bay's Defensive Line have played pretty well going into the Bye Week and they will certainly want to dare Williams to beat them.

Throwing against this Green Bay Secondary is fraught with danger anyway, never mind when a Quarter Back is under immense heat from the pass rush every time he steps back to throw the ball. That is the situation for Caleb Williams, who looked lost in the defeat to New England in Week 10 and it is very difficult to imagine this changing too much.

In recent years the Packers have not only beaten the Chicago Bears, but dominated within games and this team coming in off a Bye Week have to believe they can do the same. Jordan Love will want to show he is healthy and ready to take the Green Bay Packers forward after the successful end to 2023, and the road team can win and cover here.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers Pick: It has been an inconsistent first half of the season for many in the NFC West, but the important note is that all four teams are within touching distance of one another in a Divisional race that should go right down to the final week. Divisional games become that much more important with that in mind and the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) have dominated this series as they look to complete a sweep.

It has been a little over a month since the Seattle Seahawks (4-5) were beaten at home by the San Francisco 49ers, but they are facing them out of a Bye Week. Five losses in six games has seen the Seahawks slump below 0.500 and it is very important to turn things around considering Seattle are already 0-2 within the Division.

Having the Bye Week will have allowed Seattle to get some bodies back, but they have lost Connor Williams on the Offensive Line after he decided to retire unexpectedly. This is going to make things a bit more challenging considering the issues Seattle were having when trying to establish the run going into the Bye, while Williams being the Center will be a big loss for the passing game too.

Running the ball has been a problem for the Seahawks in recent games and they cannot expect to have a lot of success in this one against a tough San Francisco Defensive Line. That only places more pressure on the shoulders of Geno Smith at Quarter Back, who has not really had many clean pockets to operate from of late and now is going to have perhaps a couple of inexperienced players on the Line.

His numbers are still decent enough and DK Metcalf is a big threat, but Smith is going to have some challenges throwing against the 49ers Secondary if the pass rush is getting close to him. Add in the fact that the 49ers have picked up their level defending the pass and have players willing to take the risks to step in front of passes, and it could be a tough day for Geno Smith against a team that has beaten Seattle in six straight NFC West games.

The 49ers returned from their own Bye Week to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10, but it was important to also have Christian McCaffrey back from an injury that has kept him out all season. It gives San Francisco another crease to their Offensive play-calling, and only poor kicking made that win over the Buccaneers much closer on the scoreboard than it actually should have been.

No one is expecting Christian McCaffrey to dominate from the off, but he is a threat as a catcher as much as a runner and that gives opponents pause for thought. There is every chance he can have a big impact on the ground against this Seattle Defensive Line, which will just open things up for Brock Purdy at Quarter Back.

Tyrel Dodson was the Seattle leading tackler before surprisingly being let go and that is not going to help the Seahawks either against the run or the pass.

Brock Purdy should have enough Receiving weapons to spread the ball around and dissect the Seattle Secondary, especially with the Offense likely to be in third and manageable spots. He should have time when he does step back to throw the ball, although Brock Purdy will just want to clean up some of the mistakes to make sure his team are in control of this game.

In the six game winning run, Seattle have not been able to get closer than 8 points to the San Francisco and it might be tougher to do a lot better than that. The 49ers have the balance Offensively that may just see them have too much for a Divisional rival that may struggle to run the ball and it could end up seeing San Francisco come through with a solid win and a cover of this mark.

MY PICKS: Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 3 Points @ 1.86 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 6.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

College Football Week 11 Picks 2024 (Saturday 9th November)

The opening Rankings released by the Playoff Committee have tended to be a little controversial in recent years and that remains the case, even with the expanded format of the post-season that will be played this season.

The SEC has to be feel like they have been harshly treated, but some of the top teams in the other Conferences have yet to face one another and that will have a big impact in the final standings that will be released in early December. Of course, the top of the SEC has been very competitive and that has meant teams have all suffered losses, but the level of competition will not be ignored and even a two loss team from the Conference could end up getting the call to begin their journey towards a potential National Championship.

Winning a Conference Championship will be the best route in for any team playing in the Power 4 Conferences, but even the team losing in that Championship Game can expect to be given an invite.

However, it does mean that there is still little margin for error for any team that has suffered a loss and those teams will all be looking to at least sweep through the remainder of the regular season schedule.

It has been another tough year for the College Football Picks, but the frustration has been the inability to avoid the really poor week.

Week 5 and Week 10 have combined to go 1-11 from the twelve Picks made and that has destroyed the four weeks in between which have returned a profit.

There is still time to turn things around with the season being played right through to January, but a bounce back week is needed and the selections from Week 11 can be read below.

Florida Gators @ Texas Longhorns Pick: Injuries have proven to be a considerable issue for the Florida Gators (4-4), but the school have seen enough from Head Coach Billy Napier and a relatively young team to firmly give him their backing. Rumours had been rampant that the Gators could be looking for a new Head Coach at the end of the season, but by committing to Billy Napier the feeling is that the team can just focus on their performances on the field and building this school back up to the elite levels of the SEC.

They are someway behind the very best teams, but competitive losses to Tennessee and Georgia offer the Gators fans something positive to hold onto. The fact is that the team are not going to be losing too many players heading into 2025 and the bumps and bruises picked up this season could actually set Florida up for much better in twelve months time.

Consecutive games against some of the top SEC teams is going to be challenging for the Gators having lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 10 and now travelling to the Texas Longhorns (7-1) in Week 11. To make matters tougher, the Longhorns are coming out of a Bye Week and will be looking to remain up alongside a number of other SEC teams who all have one loss in the Conference.

Texas' loss is to the Georgie Bulldogs and the Playoff Committee have not held that against the team with the Longhorns in as the Number 5 Seed in the first Rankings released. The reality is that the Longhorns can be involved in the twelve team Playoff as long as they are not beaten two more times, but they can almost guarantee a place in the post-season format to crown a National Champion if they can win out through the remainder of the regular season.

Having a second shot at beating the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game will be the aim for the Longhorns, although they will not care who they face in that Championship Game as long as they are competing.

The Longhorns should be able to get the better of the Florida Gators who are missing key players up and down the roster, but blowing them out may not be as easy to do. We have to expect the Longhorns to have used the Bye Week to really prepare for what they are going to face in Week 11, but running the ball against this Gators Defensive Line is not going to be easy and so the pressure will be on Quinn Ewers and/or Archie Manning at Quarter Back.

Whoever steps back to throw should be able to have some success, but protection has broken down around them when in third and long spots and that may be the case in this game too. This is how the Gators can keep this one competitive, even if they are down a couple of key Defensive Backs in this game, and the Offensive unit may be able to make enough plays to ensure Florida at least avoid being blown out and fail to get within this number set.

Moving the ball Offensively would have been a test for Florida if they were at full health, but they will likely be going with a third string Quarter Back. DJ Lagway is a potential star of the future at the position, but he looks set to miss out along with Graham Mertz and the Gators may not be able to score a lot of points in this one.

However, they can use the Defensive unit to at least set up decent field position and having a week to work with Aidan Warner should mean they can scheme a good situation for the inexperienced Quarter Back, especially at this level of College Football. He did not play well against the Bulldogs when coming into the game last week, but Warner should be more prepared taking the snaps in practice all week and even geting up to 14 points might be enough for Florida to cover.

We are at that stage of the season when teams want to run up the score to impress the Playoff Committee, but that doesn't feel as important with the expanded format being used in 2024. Previously the four team Playoff may have needed Texas to impress with a single loss already on the record, but this time the Longhorns may just call off the dogs if they get into a strong position and especially with a big game coming up at Arkansas.

It could just leave the vulnerable to a backdoor cover with the spread set where it is and Florida can ensure the final scoreline is competitive at the least.

Miami Hurricanes @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick: There are a handful of teams that remain undefeated in the Power 4 Conferences and the Miami Hurricanes (9-0) are the sole undefeated team in the ACC. They not only remain on track for a place in the Championship Game, but the Hurricanes have been set as the Number 4 Seed in the first Playoff Rankings released and will be targeting a spot in the twelve team bracket.

Even the most ardent of Miami fans will admit that the team have had to come through some very fortunate moments to remain unbeaten in 2024. Twice in a row the Hurricanes found a way to rally for a victory when it looked certain to be a defeat on the record in Week 5 and 6, although the team now look stronger and more comfortable.

Blowout wins over the Florida State Seminoles and Duke Blue Devils will have given the Miami Hurricanes a lot of belief and this Week 11 game might be the toughest left before the ACC Championship Game. Some Syracuse Orange fans will argue against that, but the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-4) are hosting and can be an awkward opponent, even if they have lost back to back games against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.

The argument in favour of Syracuse being the toughest team left for Miami to face becomes stronger if Georgia Tech are without Haynes King again. The dual-threat Quarter Back has been a big miss for the Yellow Jackets, who have really struggled Offensively without Haynes King, and nothing is being given away about his status this week.

In reality the Yellow Jackets may not want to risk Haynes King with a single win needed to hit six for the season and likely earn a Bowl bid and that means giving him as much time as possible to be close to 100%. If he was able to suit up, the Yellow Jackets would give Miami something to think about when they have the ball in their hands, but the reality is that Georgia Tech are more likely going to have to rely on the backups.

Much will depend on the running game if the Yellow Jackets are going to make this competitive, although being able to punch through this Miami Defensive Line will be all the tougher without their starting Quarter Back. Aaron Philo, the third string Quarter Back, at least offered Georgia Tech a threat through the air, but the Hurricanes may be keen to load the box and dare Philo to do the same against them.

There have been some passing lanes that teams have exploited against Miami as they have tried to keep up with the Hurricanes, but Interceptions have been a real feature of the Hurricanes performances of late and those extra possessions can be critical as far as a line like this one is concerned.

Uncertainty might be the word to describe Georgia Tech's Offensive prospects for this game, but consistency would fit bet with Miami who have thrived with Cameron Ward at Quarter Back. He has surpassed all expectations and Ward has to be proud of his record this season having put up over 3000 passing yards and with 29 Touchdowns thrown to go with just 6 Interceptions.

That is all well and good, but Cameron Ward wants to do much more in 2024 and he should be able to have his way with this Yellow Jackets Defensive unit. It all should begin with the Miami Offensive Line who should be able to open up some big holes up front and that will mean Ward is playing out of third and manageable throughout the game.

Struggles to stop the run might have played a part in the recent passing numbers teams have put up against this Yellow Jackets Secondary, but Cameron Ward is going to want to air it out at times. There has been enough evidence over the course of the season to believe Cameron Ward can have another solid game and it may just lead to another big Miami win.

A backdoor cover could potentially come up if Miami are in a lead and pull some of the starters, but the Hurricanes want to continue to impress and see if that can help them improve their Seeding position in the College Football Playoffs over the coming month. The defeat to the Yellow Jackets last season will not have been forgotten either so the Hurricanes motivations are there to put together another solid outing and they can turnover the backups playing Quarter Back for Georgia Tech to secure an impressive road win.

Michigan Wolverines @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: Four of the top eight in the opening College Football Playoff Rankings play in the Big Ten, but finding motivation from those Rankings should be easy for the Indiana Hoosiers (9-0).

Despite the unbeaten record, the Hoosiers are Ranked behind Ohio State and Penn State, who both have suffered a defeat, and the Oregon Ducks. There is little doubt it is a fact that will be pinned to the Indiana locker room door and the Hoosiers have to feel that they are still not given the respect they deserve as they put together an impressive 2024 season.

You simply cannot downplay how well Indiana have done this season- they have never won ten games in a season and this is already the first time they have won nine games in a single season since 1967. However, Head Coach Curt Cignetti will be trying to make sure his team are focused and the target has to be earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Hoosiers will head into a Bye Week after this game and they will have a big 'prove it' opportunity when facing the Ohio State Buckeyes later this month. Before that, any game against the defending National Champions will bring headlines, even if the Michigan Wolverines (5-4) have fallen way short of the standards set last season.

Most expected the Wolverines to slip having won the National Championship, but then losing Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers. Even then, this has been a significant drop off and the Wolverines have lost three of their last four games, which leaves them needing at least one more win to earn Bowl eligibility.

Earning that win here is a huge test for Michigan, a team that has struggled Offensively and going up against an extremely confident host.

In the Jim Harbaugh era, the Wolverines have been much more efficient at running the ball, but this has been an area of struggle in recent games. The Michigan Offensive Line have opened up lanes for 3.5 yards per carry and now they will try and impose themselves on an Indiana Defensive Line that have really clamped down on the run. It is a tall order for Michigan and will put a lot of pressure on the passing game, pressure that has been a little too much for the inexperienced Quarter Backs to deal with.

Jack Tuttle had to retire unexpectedly and Davis Warren and Alex Orji have not really been able to find their groove at the position. Without a running game to aid them, it may be tough for whoever lines up behind Center, especially as Indiana's pass rush have really created problems with teams backed up against them.

Like many teams that have big leads, the Hoosiers Secondary numbers are influenced by the fact that teams HAVE to throw against them. Even with that in mind, Indiana have really impressed on the Defensive side of the ball and the pressure up front has led to turnovers being created on the back side.

Extra possessions will give Indiana every chance of being able to pull clear in this game and to put a statement win on the board.

Kurtis Rourke was back in the win over the Michigan State Spartans, but the immediate focus for the Hoosiers will be to establish the run to open up the passing lanes. There is every chance this Indiana Offensive Line are capable of doing that, especially as the Wolverines have begun to look a little worn down up front, and it should mean Rourke and the Offensive unit are in third and manageable spots throughout the game.

With injuries to key Defensive Backs, Michigan may just struggle to prevent Indiana from doing whatever they please on this side of the ball and it could make it a long day in the office for the defending Champions. Kurtis Rourke has been extremely well protected by the Hoosiers Offensive Line, and so he should be able to pick apart the Wolverines Secondary if the backups are needed for long portions of the game.

Last week the Oregon Ducks piled up big Offensive yards in the blowout of the Wolverines- this Indiana team may not be as strong as Oregon, but they are very impressive and the Hoosiers might be able to match the big win that they produced over Michigan in 2020.

The Wolverines have three wins in a row over Indiana since then, but this Hoosiers team have been good to the Picks and they can wear down and pull away for another big win.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Tennessee Volunteers Pick: Some feel the SEC has been harshly treated in the opening College Football Playoff Rankings, although those within the Conference have to believe there is time to prove those wrong.

That is less likely to be the case for the Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-7) who have had a tough season and who have lost all five Conference games played. The Bulldogs are not going to finish with a winning record, but they can play spoiler and that has to be the motivation to use to push themselves forward.

Beating the Tennessee Volunteers (7-1) would really hurt the chances of this team making the College Football Playoff, while the Volunteers have to make sure they are not overlooking Mississippi State and to the Week 12 game with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Tennessee are one of five SEC teams that have been beaten once and so it is going to be some challenge for the Volunteers to earn a spot in the Championship Game. Winning out would likely be good enough for the Volunteers, but, again, they have to make sure they don't overlook Mississippi State.

Having a young Quarter Back means there will be inconsistency from the Offensive unit and that has been the case for Tennessee in recent games. This game may be a little different for the Volunteers and that is mainly down to the struggles of the Mississippi State Bulldogs Defense, especially the Defensive Line when it comes to stopping the run.

Nick Iamaleava will really benefit from the Volunteers being able to rip off some big gains on the ground and they should have success against this Bulldogs Defensive Line allowing 5.3 yards per carry over the course of the season. In recent games against SEC rivals, that number has moved to 5.6 yards per carry and will mean Iamaleava is playing from third and manageable spots.

We may not see this Quarter Back's real development until next season, but Nick Iamaleava should have time in the pocket and there have been passing lanes to exploit against the Bulldogs Secondary. Interceptions have been a slight concern, but playing from third and manageable spots should make it that much more comfortable converting throws and Tennessee can move the ball up and down the field with some confidence.

There is going to be more to come from the Volunteers Offensively as players build experience, and the record in 2024 has been built on the impressive Defensive performances. Unlike the Bulldogs, the Volunteers Defensive Line have been very strong up front and clamped down on the run and making opponents a little one-dimensional with the play-calling just allows Tennessee to know what is coming.

Michael Van Buren Jr can have some success with the pass, but the Quarter Back is likely going to be under immense pressure from the Volunteers pass rush. In recent games it has perhaps been the reason for a couple of Interceptions thrown, and Van Buren Jr will have to be aware of the ability of the Tennessee Secondary in turning the ball over.

The Bulldogs have been a team that have been capable of scoring points to at least look competitive on the scoreboard, but that will not be easy against Tennessee. This is the last SEC game played at home by Tennessee and a couple of Interceptions may just swing this game firmly in favour of the home team who can cover this spread with a slightly wider win than Texas produced against Mississippi State.

Florida State Seminoles @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick: College Football can swing wildly between season to season for any school, although even Head Coach Mike Norvell admitted that he could not see 2024 developing as it has for the Florida State Seminoles (1-8). Twelve months ago, the Seminoles were on the way to a 13-0 record at the end of the regular season before taking a huge amount of offence by not being included in the College Football Playoff, but everything that could go wrong has gone wrong this season.

They are 1-7 in the ACC and Florida State have lost five in a row, although the feeling is that the Seminoles will stick with their Head Coach and give him an opportunity for redemption next time around.

Next up for Florida State is a trip to South Bend to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1) who have been placed at Number 10 in the opening Playoff Rankings. The loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies is one that will mean Notre Dame have very little room for error through their remaining four games, but six wins in a row will have all associated with the Fighting Irish feeling better.

Head Coach Marcus Freeman will be well aware that without a Conference Championship Game, Notre Dame have to make sure they win out in the regular season. In reality, the Fighting Irish have not played a very tough schedule, which could potentially work against them when the final College Football Playoff Rankings are released, although fans will be cheering on the likes of Texas A&M and Louisville in their own respective Conferences.

If those two teams can win the SEC and/or ACC respectively, Notre Dame's wins over them will look all the better, but for now the only focus has to be on winning out.

The Fighting Irish will lean on their Offensive Line in this home game and they will certainly feel they can establish the run consistently against this Seminoles Defensive Line. They have a dual-threat Quarter Back in Riley Leonard who can help the ground game and Notre Dame will be playing in front of the chains.

With teams pounding the run right at them, the Seminoles have not really found the answer to at least slow opponents down. That is likely going to be the case again in Week 11 and Riley Leonard should be able to make some plays against this Secondary to just ensure the chains keep moving.

The Line of Scrimmage should be an area that Notre Dame can dominate on both sides of the ball and they will certainly believe they can largely shut down this injury-hit Florida State Offensive unit. Struggles to run the ball have contributed to the fact that the Seminoles have not scored more than 16 points in any game since their opener and the Fighting Irish should force Florida State to rely on the Quarter Back's arm.

Brock Glenn will continue his role as the starting Quarter Back in place of DJ Uiagalelei, but he has not been able to spark the Seminoles.

One of the main problems have been the struggles Florida State's Offensive Line have had in protecting their Quarter Back and Notre Dame should be able to rattle Brock Glenn whenever he is in third and long spots on the field. The pressure up front should mean it is a tough passing day for the Seminoles and Brock Glenn will just have to be aware of the potential turnover creating Secondary that Notre Dame will have on the field.

No one should doubt that this is a big spread, but the Fighting Irish are at home and Florida State have simply not been able to score enough points all season.

Defensively they can keep this somewhat competitive, but a turnover or two could allow Notre Dame to take advantage of a short field to just pull clear. Covering this spread will not be easy where it is, but the Fighting Irish have been dominating teams in recent weeks and they will likely want to surpass Miami's 22 point win over Florida State to just give the Playoff Committee something to consider.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Pittsburgh Panthers Pick: Despite the blowout loss to the SMU Mustangs, the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-1) still were given the Number 18 spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings. With four games left in the regular season, Pittsburgh may give themselves a chance of earning a spot in the Playoff if they can win out, which would include wins over the likes of Clemson and Louisville.

Even doing that may not be enough for the Panthers to earn a spot in the ACC Championship Game, but they would be hard to ignore as a potential top twelve team if they hold a 11-1 record.

Head Coach Pat Narduzzi is experienced and will only be focusing on helping his team win in Week 11 when Pittsburgh host Virginia Cavaliers (4-4) who have a 2-3 record within the Conference. The Bye Week came at a good time for the Cavaliers, who have lost three in a row, and Virginia will certainly expect to be a lot more competitive than they have been in their last two defeats.

Two wins are needed for the Cavaliers to hit Bowl eligibility with six wins on the board, but it is clear they are going to need a couple of upsets with four games left. They are facing some of the best teams in the ACC and Virginia also have to play Notre Dame so it is a big challenge for the Cavaliers with that losing run to overcome.

Opportunities will be there for Virginia, although they will need Anthony Colandrea to be at his best from the Quarter Back position.

The Cavaliers Offensive Line have been having trouble in recent games and they are not expected to have a lot of joy running the ball against the Panthers. Further issues have been evident in pass protection and Anthony Colandrea has been trying to make plays while evading the huge amount of pressure around him.

He should expect plenty of pressure from the Pittsburgh pass rush, although Colandrea can still have success throwing into this Secondary which has allowed plenty of yards through the air. Anthony Colandrea will have to be aware of the ball-hawking Defensive Backs and it will be tough to find consistency Offensively when being forced to step back and allow routes to develop down the field.

Inconsistency has also got to be expected from Eli Holstein, the freshman Quarter Back who may have hit a wall in recent games.

However, Holstein may be given a bit more support from the run game and the Pittsburgh Offensive Line will also likely be able to contain the Virginia pass rush and offer their Quarter Back time in the pocket. This should allow Eli Holstein to find success throwing the ball into the Virginia Secondary that has struggled to make plays as the competition has ramped up in the regular season.

The Panthers have won six of the last seven against the Virginia Cavaliers and being back at home should help them bounce back from the blowout loss to the SMU Mustangs. They look like they could have a bit more balance Offensively compared with the Virginia Cavaliers and that may see the Panthers work their way to a double digit victory and keep alive hopes of working their way into one of the twelve places in the College Football Playoff.

MY PICKS: Florida Gators + 21.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Miami Hurricanes - 10.5 Points @ 1.83 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Tennessee Volunteers - 24.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 25.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Panthers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 10: 1-6, - 4.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 57.86% Yield)

Week 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units (6 Units Staked, + 30.33% Yield)

Week 8: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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