NFL Week 12 Picks and Previews

I am just about ready to jet off to Dallas so I won't have full previews of all the games I will be picking this week, although all the picks will be in the post.

I will make all updates as soon as I am back and in time for Week 13 picks.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12489-Green-Bay-Packers-at-Detroit-Lions.htm)

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12490-Buffalo-Bills-at-New-York-Jets.htm)

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12492-Houston-Texans-at-Jacksonville-Jaguars.htm)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12493-Pittsburgh-Steelers-at-Kansas-City-Chiefs.htm)


MY PICKS: Green Bay Packers - 6 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
New York Jets - 8 Points @ 1.95 Victor Chandler (2 Units)
Houston Texans - 3.5 Points @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Pittsburgh Steelers - 10 Points @ 1.92 BetFred (2 Units)
Miami Dolphins + 7 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Baltimore Ravens - 3.5 Points @ 2.05 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Minnesota Vikings + 9.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Denver Broncos + 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)

College Football Week 13 Picks and Previews

I'll be away from Wednesday so picks are going up a little early this week and I will have full update from the last couple of weeks once I am back before Week 14.

My picks will come out in the next 24 hours and will be posted here as soon as they are locked in:

Michigan State Spartans @ Northwestern Wildcats Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12481-Michigan-State-at-Northwestern.htm)

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Auburn Tigers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12482-Alabama-at-Auburn-Tigers.htm)

Virginia Tech Hokies @ Virginia Cavaliers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12486-Virginia-Tech-at-Virginia-Cavaliers.htm)

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Wisconsin Badgers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12487-Penn-State-at-Wisconsin-Badgers.htm)

UCLA Bruins @ USC Trojans Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12488-UCLA-Bruins-at-USC-Trojans.htm)


MY PICKS: Michigan State Spartans - 6.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Alabama Crimson Tide - 20.5 Points @ 1.90 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Virginia Tech Hokies - 5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Wisconsin Badgers - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
USC Trojans - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Georgia Bulldogs - 6 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Mississippi State Bulldogs - 17 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Florida State Seminoles - 1.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Midweek Football Picks and Preview (European and English Football)

I won't be posting much this week as I will flying out to Dallas and then on to Vegas, so my posts will literally picks and previews.

These are picks from the Champions League games to be played on the 22nd and 23rd of November:

Manchester United v Benfica Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12476-Manchester-United-v-Benfica.htm)

Napoli v Manchester City Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12477-Napoli-v-Manchester-City.htm)

Bayern Munich v Villarreal Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12479-Bayern-Munich-v-Villarreal.htm)

Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12480-Arsenal-v-Borussia-Dortmund.htm)


MY PICKS: Manchester United win to nil @ 2.63 Coral (2 Units)
Napoli-Manchester City Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Bayern Munich win to nil @ 1.92 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Arsenal @ 2.15 Pinnacle (2 Units)




November Update: 11-11, + 3.49 Units

English Football Weekend Picks (November 19th-21st)

It feels like a really long two weeks whenever the Internationals are played, but it is even longer when the majority of those are International Friendlies, games I consider to be the ultimate waste of everyone's time.

Thankfully it will be back to the Premier League this weekend and then a full midweek slate of games from the Champions League and the Europa League.

This time of the year is usually very busy as teams gear up to a full Christmas programme of games, while we also get closer to the big draws that will shape the new calender year.

I will be posting my picks during the next couple of days from the weekend list and, as with all picks, you can follow me on Twitter where I will post any updates:

Norwich City v Arsenal Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12412-Norwich-City-v-Arsenal.htm)

Swansea v Manchester United Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12413-Swansea-v-Manchester-United.htm)

Manchester City v Newcastle United Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12414-Manchester-City-v-Newcastle-United.htm)

Everton v Wolves Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12415-Everton-v-Wolves.htm)

West Brom v Bolton Wanderers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12420-West-Brom-v-Bolton-Wanderers.htm)

Stoke City v QPR Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12422-Stoke-City-v-QPR.htm)

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12425-Tottenham-Hotspur-v-Aston-Villa.htm)

Chelsea v Liverpool Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12434-Chelsea-v-Liverpool.htm)


MY PICKS: Norwich City-Arsenal Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.63 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Swansea-Manchester United English Handicap Draw (United to win by 1 goal) @ 3.60 Victor Chandler (1 Unit)
Manchester City-Newcastle United First goal after 22 minutes @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Everton-Wolves Both to score @ 1.92 BetFred (2 Units)
West Brom-Bolton Wanderers Draw @ 3.50 BetFred (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (3 Units)
Chelsea-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)


November Update: 6-8, - 1.47 Units

NFL Week 11 Picks and Previews

Week 10 Thoughts
1) Bonehead play-calling leaves me scratching my head: Now I have never coached in the NFL and I have a full-time job outside of watching sports so I don't have the time to break down tapes of the previous week games as much as a full-time coach would have, yet if I can see something on tape, I find it incredibly shocking that these people being paid a hell of a lot of money fail to see it. There were 2 occasions this week:
(1a) Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Plan: I wrote in my preview of the Eagles-Cardinals game how easy Steven Jackson had trampled all over Arizona before this game, and that should give LeSean McCoy a chance to have a big game, yet I have no idea how he only got 14 carries in a tight game.


McCoy was averaging 5.79 yards per carry, had already scored a TD on the ground, and the Eagles were missing their two top receivers, yet the play-calling did not utilise their advantage. Fine, McCoy did rip off 29 yards from 1 carry, but the Eagles were never in a hole that they had to throw their way out of, and it does make you scratch your head as to what they were thinking.

And all of this is while confirming Michael Vick had broken ribs on the SECOND play of the game...


(1b) Haven't we been through this before with the Baltimore Ravens?: After the loss to Jacksonville, the Ravens Defensive leaders expressed their surprise that Ray Rice had been used so little in the Offensive plays, yet Baltimore's Cam Cameron surpassed that feat this week by having Rice carry just 5 times.


That put immense pressure on Joe Flacco, who continues to fluctuate between the ultimate highs and valley lows, as the Ravens once again lost their iron-grip on the AFC North.


Rice is the best Offensive player on the Ravens team, so to use him so little is another head-scratching moment that has me wondering what the Offensive Co-Ordinators do all week.


2) Talking of the Baltimore Ravens: What is up with this team that has beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, the Houston Texans and the New York Jets, but have lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and now Seattle?


I did put a warning out that this team seems to play up and down to their opposition, although I was a little surprised to see another preview picking the Ravens because they 'destroy the weaker teams'- maybe last season they did, but they have been poor against the weaker teams on their schedule so far.


It was a tough spot for the Ravens as the game came between the Steelers and the Bengals, but that is no excuse to losing to a team like Seattle. Baltimore fumbled TWO kick-offs in their own half that kind of killed any momentum they picked up when reducing a 13-0 deficit by 7 points, but again there is no excuse.


The defeat also means they have a fight on their hands in the AFC North, while also losing their edge in the race for the Number 1 seed in the AFC, and I wonder if a team that has so many ups and downs can really win in the Play Offs and get to the SuperBowl, surely the aim for this veteran group this season.


In saying all that, I fully expect the Ravens to knock off Cincinnati at home this weekend- it is a 'big' game after all.


3) Congratulations Indianapolis, your QB situation is clear for the next 15 years: The Indianapolis Colts opened up a 2 game lead in the race for the Number 1 Draft Pick next April as they continued to shoot themselves in the foot in a loss to Jacksonville last weekend.


It is clear they have Andrew Luck in mind when Bill Polian says he has spoken to Peyton Manning about drafting a QB high next April.


There are some rumours that that could also mean trading Manning, but I doubt that happens. It is much more likely that the Colts look to get every last drop out of Manning in the next 3 years, allowing Luck to learn the Offense and seamlessly fit into the system in around 2015.


4) Houston looked like being a real contender in the AFC... Until this weekend: Wade Phillips has worked wonders as the Defensive Co-Ordinator in Houston and it looked like the team were heading for big things in the AFC, but they may have suffered the one injury they cannot overcome.


Houston have missed Andre Johnson for a few weeks, while Mario Williams is out, but both of those super-star players' absence has been covered as they team kept winning, but the loss of Matt Schaub this weekend could be the final straw.


That means Matt Leinart will come in as QB and I have little to no faith in him on previous performances. He is lucky enough to come into a system with Arian Foster and Ben Tate running the ball so effectively, and I do think the Texans make the Play Offs in the poor AFC South, but can I see Leinart leading the team to wins against New England? Pittsburgh? Baltimore?


I really like what the Texans have done this season, but I just think the Schaub loss will be too much to overcome, especially in January.


5) The Jets are in a tough position after being swept by the Patriots: The Jets only hope, in my opinion, is to sneak one of the Wild Card spots this season as they are now effectively 2 games behind New England in the race for the AFC East, and the Patriots have one of the weakest schedules left on paper.


That means the Jets can't falter any more down the stretch with teams like Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Diego and Buffalo also involved in the mix, while the game on Thursday at Denver is huge as a defeat would see the Broncos tie with the Jets record AND hold the head to head.


Oh, and anyone who hasn't seen what Rex Ryan feels about fans' perceptions of his team and the Patriots, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57-PDpVwjmg


Power Rankings Top 10
1) Green Bay Packers (9-0): Enough said
2) San Francisco 49ers (8-1): Proving themselves every week
3) Houston Texans (7-3): No we get to see how good the Texans are with Matt Leinart at QB
4) New Orleans Saints (7-3): In control of the NFC South and capable of out-scoring anybody on their day
5) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
6) Chicago Bears (6-3): A real dark horse in the NFC
7) Baltimore Ravens (6-3): Cannot keep losing to bad teams and expect to be taken seriously
8) New York Giants (6-3): Big game against the Eagles this week
9) Cincinnati Bengals (6-3): Lost to the Steelers, now face the Ravens... All questions of this young team will be answered.
10) Dallas Cowboys (5-4): This team looked amazing against Buffalo last time out, and are back in contention in the NFC East.


My Top 5 and Bottom 5
1) Green Bay Packers                          32) Indianapolis Colts
2) Pittsburgh Steelers                           31) Cleveland Browns
3) San Francisco 49ers                         30) Washington Redskins
4) Baltimore Ravens                             29) Seattle Seahawks
5) New Orleans Saints                          28) Minnesota Vikings




Week 11 Pick and Previews
I will be posting up picks for Week 11 over the coming days. As always, you can follow me on Twitter where I will update any time new picks are locked in place.


New York Jets @ Denver Broncos Pick and Preview ( http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12416-New-York-Jets-at-Denver-Broncos.htm)

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12459-Dallas-Cowboys-at-Washington-Redskins.htm)

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12460-Cincinnati-Bengals-at-Baltimore-Ravens.htm)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12461-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-at-Green-Bay-Packers.htm)

Oakland Raiders @ Minnesota Vikings Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12462-Oakland-Raiders-at-Minnesota-Vikings.htm)

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12463-Buffalo-Bills-at-Miami-Dolphins.htm)

Due to time constraints, I have not been able to write full previews for the remaining picks I have made, but you can find them below.




MY PICKS: New York Jets - 6 Points @ 1.92 BetFred (2 Units)
Dallas Cowboys - 7 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Baltimore Ravens - 6.5 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Green Bay Packers - 14 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Oakland Raiders + 1 Point @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Miami Dolphins - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Victor Chandler (2 Units)
Carolina Panthers + 7 Points @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Arizona Cardinals + 10 Points @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
St Louis Rams - 2.5 Points @ 2.00 Stan James (2 Units)
San Diego Chargers + 5 Points @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)





WEEK 10: 4-6, - 3.74 Units
WEEK 9: 6-2, + 7.04 Units
WEEK 8: 3-5, - 6.44 Units
WEEK 7: 5-4, - 2.61 Units
WEEK 6: 4-4-1, - 2.24 Units
WEEK 5, 5-3, + 3.15 Units

WEEK 4: 4-7, - 6.66 Units

WEEK 3: 4-3-1, + 2.77 Units

WEEK 2: 3-5, - 5.03 Units

WEEK 1: 4-2, + 2.53 Units


SEASON UPDATE: 42-41-2, - 11.23 Units

College Football Week 12 Picks and Previews

The top 2 teams in the nation continued with their surge towards a National Championship encounter in January as both the LSU Tigers and, more impressively, the Oklahoma State Cowboys remained unbeaten.

This match-up would be very intriguing as the Tigers success is based on their Defense and would be going up against the best Offense in College Football in the form of the Cowboys.

The weekend also showed up all those people who had laughed when I said the Oklahoma Sooners were not out of contention for a tilt at the big game- the Stanford and Boise State losses means the Sooners have moved up the rankings and they are sure to get a lot of votes if they knock off Oklahoma State in their game on December 3rd.

The problem for Oklahoma is trying to keep up with the Cowboys without Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley who are both out for the season. Another thing that doesn't sit well with many voters is how the Sooners lost to the awful Texas Tech team that were bludgeoned at home by Oklahoma State this weekend.

Alabama will also be feeling they are back in contention to play in the National Championship Game after another win at Mississippi State over the weekend, although they may be looking for Arkansas to knock of the LSU Tigers in the final game of the season before the SEC Championship Game is set.


In terms of the picks, it was one of the poorer weeks of the season as the finished 4-5... Hopefully we will have a little more luck than Week 11 as I look to bounce back.

The picks will come out in staggered periods during the next couple of days and you can follow me on Twitter where I update whenever anything is posted:

Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12437-Oklahoma-State-at-Iowa-State-Cyclones.htm)

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12438-Mississippi-State-at-Arkansas-Razorbacks.htm)

Wisconsin Badgers @ Illinois Fighting Illini Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12439-Wisconsin-Badgers-at-Illinois-Fighting-Il.htm)

Southern Methodist Mustangs @ Houston Cougars Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12440-Southern-Methodist-at-Houston-Cougars.htm)

Kentucky Wildcats @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12446-Kentucky-Wildcats-at-Georgia-Bulldogs.htm)

Louisiana State Tigers @ Ole Mississippi Rebels Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12449-Louisiana-State-at-Ole-Mississippi.htm)

Clemson Tigers @ North Carolina State Wolfpack Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12450-Clemson-Tigers-at-North-Carolina-State.htm)

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Ohio State Buckeyes Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12452-Penn-State-at-Ohio-State.htm)


MY PICKS: Oklahoma State Cowboys - 27 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Arkansas Razorbacks - 13 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Wisconsin Badgers - 14.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Houston Cougars - 19.5 Points @ 1.92 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Georgia Bulldogs - 30.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Louisiana State Tigers - 30 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Clemson Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Ohio State Buckeyes - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)



WEEK 11: 4-5, - 1.21 Units
WEEK 10: 5-3, + 1.74 Units
WEEK 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units
WEEK 8: 2-4, - 2.16 Units
WEEK 7: 5-3, + 1.8 Units
WEEK 6: 6-1, + 4.66 Units
WEEK 5: 3-3, - 0.21 Units

WEEK 4: 4-2, + 1.80 Units

WEEK 3: 5-1, + 3.60 Units

WEEK 2: 3-0, + 2.82 Units

WEEK 1: 4-0, + 3.74 Units


SEASON UPDATE: 45-24, + 18.40 Units

College Football Week 11 Picks and Previews

Where else can you start this week but the allegations surrounding Penn State and the fallout from that.

The allegations look bad for everyone connected with the Nittany Lions, especially considering how long they have been brushed under the carpet and the amount of damage that could have been prevented if the necessary steps had been taken years ago.

It looks like this could also be the end of Joe Paterno as Head Coach after 46 years in that position- the stories coming out at the moment are that his support has been 'eroding' as more and more allegations come out and it already looks like he will not be seeing out the season.

This is no way for Joepa to be leaving this post after a storied career, but there looks to be no way out for the Coach who should have had done more from a moral standpoint even if he did all he was legally required to do.

This story is going to run and run, but it leaves a sick feeling in the mouth already and there are plenty of heads that should be rolling once everything is taken out of the darkness and brought to public light.


On the field, we saw the 'Game of the Century' last week when LSU beat Alabama by 3 points in OT in a tight defensive battle. It was a tough game and I felt the Crimson Tide were the better team but were let down by poor field goal kicking (missing 4 FGs in the contest), but there are still some demands for the teams to meet one another in the National Championship Game and are very much in line to do so if they can run the table and see a couple of defeats for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Stanford Cardinal.

The Tigers control their own destiny after earning that tough win in Tuscaloosa, but they have to be careful with a couple of tough spots in front of them, including a game with the Arkansas Razorbacks and a SEC Championship Game, but they are the clear Number 1 in the Rankings and it would be a big surprise if they are not in the big game this season.


As always, my picks will come in staggered form throughout the week and you can follow me on Twitter when I will update any time I post some picks.

Baylor Bears @ Kansas Jayhawks Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12378-Baylor-Bears-at-Kansas-Jayhawks.htm)

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12379-Nebraska-Cornhuskers-at-Penn-State.htm)

Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Texas Tech Red Raiders Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12380-Oklahoma-State-at-Texas-Tech.htm)

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12381-Alabama-at-Mississippi-State.htm)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Clemson Tigers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12382-Wake-Forest-at-Clemson-Tigers.htm)

West Virginia Mountaineers @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12384-West-Virginia-at-Cincinnati-Bearcats.htm)

Wisconsin Badgers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12387-Wisconsin-Badgers-at-Minnesota.htm)

Miami Hurricanes @ Florida State Seminoles Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12388-Miami-Hurricanes-at-Florida-State.htm)

Tennessee Volunteers @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick and Preview (http://goonersguide.com/football-pick-12389-Tennessee-Volunteers-at-Arkansas-Razorbacks.htm)


MY PICKS: Baylor Bears - 20 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Nebraska Cornhuskers - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Oklahoma State Cowboys - 17 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Alabama Crimson Tide - 17.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Clemson Tigers - 16.5 Points @ 1.92 Victor Chandler (1 Unit)
West Virginia + 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Wisconsin Badgers - 27 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Florida State Seminoles - 9 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Arkansas Razorbacks - 14 Points @ 1.92 Stan James (1 Unit)



WEEK 10: 5-3, + 1.74 Units
WEEK 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units
WEEK 8: 2-4, - 2.16 Units
WEEK 7: 5-3, + 1.8 Units
WEEK 6: 6-1, + 4.66 Units
WEEK 5: 3-3, - 0.21 Units

WEEK 4: 4-2, + 1.80 Units

WEEK 3: 5-1, + 3.60 Units

WEEK 2: 3-0, + 2.82 Units

WEEK 1: 4-0, + 3.74 Units


SEASON UPDATE: 41-19, + 19.61 Units