Weekend Football and Fantasy Football GameWeek 9 Picks 2021 (October 22-24)

Another hugely entertaining week in the Champions League has been placed in the books, but it hasn't been great news for those playing the Fantasy Premier League game.

In GameWeek 9, the Premier League will have another Friday night fixture and that means the deadline for the Fantasy game is at 6:30pm on Friday afternoon. It is something to keep in mind as players will likely be scrambling to make decisions to cover up for the injuries that have occurred during the week.

Arsenal v Aston Villa Pick: The short turnaround between the Monday night Premier League game and the Friday night fixture at the Emirates Stadium is far from ideal for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team. They will have had a lot less time than Aston Villa to prepare for the game, but Arsenal may have a little momentum having scored very late in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

That is still a result where Arsenal will feel they have dropped points, but they have been showing some positive signs in recent home games. A lack of goals has been a slight concern, but Arsenal have now managed 5 goals in the last 2 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium and they are going up against an Aston Villa defence which has looked incredibly vulnerable.

It was a vulnerability that was clear to see in Aston Villa's 2-3 home loss to Wolves last Saturday and they also gave up some big chances to Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-1 defeat in North London earlier this month. Unsurprisingly this is a team that has created chances of their own going forward, but Aston Villa may not have it easy at an Arsenal team that have shown some sign of improvement from the early season form.

Aston Villa did the League double over Arsenal last season, but they are both fixtures in which Mikel Arteta will feel his team were hard done by.

The first goal is going to be important in this game with two teams that can lack some confidence, but I do think home advantage is going to be key for Arsenal. They have been much more positive performances in both the attacking the defensive third in recent games at the Emirates Stadium in favour of Arsenal and they will feel this opponent is one that will struggle to contain the chances.

Before the defeat a little under twelve months ago, Arsenal had won 3 in a row at home against Aston Villa and the belief is that they are playing the slightly more consistent football of the two teams. It won't come easy, but Arsenal may have just enough to secure a vital three points to keep the progression moving in a positive direction.

Chelsea v Norwich City Pick: Thomas Tuchel had made it clear that he wanted to see more from his team from an attacking point of view and he would have been much happier after the 4-0 win over Malmo in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

However, the injuries suffered by Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner is a blow for Chelsea and both are expected to sit out this weekend. It will mean Kai Havertz is likely going to lead the line, but the German international scored during the week and he is more than capable of doing that for Chelsea.

They are also fortunate to be facing a Norwich City team that have struggled for goals since being promoted to the Premier League. The Canaries have yet to score away from Carrow Road, although the positives for the manager is that Norwich City have kept clean sheets in their last couple of League fixtures played.

Those have come against Burnley and Brighton and it will be much tougher to contain Chelsea, even with a couple of key forwards likely to miss out. Chelsea have been pretty effective getting forward at Stamford Bridge and they have scored at least three goals in 4 of their 7 games played here this season.

Chelsea have beaten the likes of Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Southampton here in the Premier League and they should be too good for Norwich City. I do think the manager will be demanding his team focus defensively to make sure they don't offer Norwich City much hope and the feeling is that the home team will be able to win this fixture with a clean sheet.

In the away games played this season, Norwich City have not really generated a huge attacking threat. Set pieces may be their best route to success in this one, but Chelsea are a solid team and well organised as they showed in their battling win at Brentford last Saturday.

It is unlikely that Norwich City will pose the same kind of threat as Brentford did and I think Chelsea should be able to secure a win to nil in this one.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United Pick: Steve Bruce might not be the greatest manager of all time, but he should have been afforded a lot more respect from the Newcastle United faithful considering his success in keeping them in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. The former Manchester United Captain has managed to do that despite being given very little financial support from the previous owner, but the fans have tired of Bruce and the inevitable Sacking was confirmed by the new owners this week.

It will be interesting to see how the players react to the news considering they will no longer have Steve Bruce as a shield for their own sub-par performances. Individual mistakes and poor decisions have hurt Newcastle United and that was evident again in the 2-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.

The squad does look healthier going into this fixture and Graeme Jones has enough familiarity with the players to give Newcastle United a chance of a first victory of the season. They are a group that can be underestimated, but Newcastle United have pace and quality in the final third that will make them dangerous while a new manager is head-hunted.

A new ownership has spoken about taking Newcastle United to the pinnacle of English Football, but relegation is not going to be part of the plan. That means there is pressure on the players with a January transfer window fast approaching, but they have shown little to believe the current squad is good enough to get out of trouble.

Games like this are winnable ones, but Crystal Palace will feel the same and this is a squad that looks to be enjoying their football under a new manager. Patrick Vieira might feel his team deserve a lot more points than they currently have on the board, but the football has been encouraging and they look capable of getting forward and scoring goals.

Mistakes have been costly for Crystal Palace so far and has led to some dropped points, but they have been scoring plenty of goals and this team love playing at Selhurst Park. The first goal is going to be important, but Crystal Palace have shown enough to believe they are going to be moving up the League table sooner than later, especially with a good looking fixture list coming up, beginning with this game.

I think you can make a reasonable case for both teams in this fixture, but Crystal Palace look to be playing with a confidence that is at a higher level than Newcastle United. Patrick Vieira's team are unbeaten at home in the League and they have created enough chances in those games to believe they could have earned more than a single win.

If The Eagles can get off to a flying start, they might be able to overwhelm the Newcastle United players who have uncertainty around their futures at the club. Last season Newcastle United did win here, but Crystal Palace can bounce back this time around and I think they can find a way to earn a victory.

Everton v Watford Pick: Until Newcastle United appoint a new manager, there will be rumours linking Rafael Benitez to the job at St James' Park and that is neither good for the manager, nor for his Everton team. I don't think that played a part in the 0-1 defeat to West Ham United last Sunday, but more questions will be asked if Everton are to drop points against Watford this Saturday.

Injuries are a bigger problem for Everton who are going to be without another key player this weekend with Abdoulaye Doucoure set for some time on the sidelines. The former Watford midfielder has had a big impact for Everton this season with a new role given to him, and his absence will be a blow for a team that could be without both of their first choice attacking players.

Everton showed they still have enough depth to beat struggling teams when they saw off Norwich City here last month and they are a clear favourite to beat Watford.

Claudio Ranieri will have another week to prepare his squad having only recently taken charge of Watford, but the 0-5 home loss to Liverpool shows how much work has to be done. His squad were badly outplayed in a narrow loss at Leeds United earlier this month, but Ranieri is likely to make Watford a little more organised and a little more stubborn.

That is if he gets the time he will likely need, but this Watford ownership has shown little patience in their time at the helm of the club. I am not sure Claudio Ranieri is really the right choice to get Watford moving up the standings either and they are a team that have given up some huge chances in recent games.

If Watford can frustrate Everton, they could get the fans to just make it a difficult atmosphere for the home players to express themselves. That may be the game plan, but Everton have shown enough at Goodison Park to believe they will find the goals to edge to the three points as they recover from the last setback on the previous Sunday.

Everton have shown they are still able to create chances without key performers in the line up and I think they will get the better of a Watford team that have considerable work to do if they are to get up to par defensively.

Leeds United v Wolves Pick: A couple of key players will be returning for Leeds United this weekend and they will need Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha to try and inspire the rest of the squad to put some consistency behind their performances and results.

Moving away from the bottom three as soon as possible will just ease any growing tensions that this second season the top flight is going to be a remarkably difficult one. There were some expectations of Leeds United to kick on from the 2020/21 campaign, but they have struggled for consistency and Marcelo Bielsa will want his team to start turning things around.

The fixture list does look kinder in the weeks ahead, but Leeds United cannot take anything for granted and will have to work hard to put the points on the board.

Wolves are the visitors to Elland Road this Saturday and they have done enough to suggest they are going to cause some major problems for Leeds United. Last Saturday Wolves came from 2-0 down to earn a deserved 2-3 win at Aston Villa and that is only going to give the entire squad a boost in confidence ahead of this next away game.

Bruno Lage has come in as manager and has promised to make Wolves a more attacking outfit and so far he has been rewarded with some strong performances. The club are moving in the right direction in the standings and Wolves will be confident with 4 away wins in succession behind them.

They have been scoring goals and creating chances in those games, but the more adventurous approach has left Wolves a little more open at the back. Those spaces have been exploited by teams at times over the last month, and Leeds United have enough quality to believe they can do the same here.

Both Premier League games were low-scoring ones between these clubs last season, but there were plenty of chances on display in both fixtures. Better finishing will make this a more entertaining game for those looking for goals and I do think there will be at least three shared out between the teams on the day.

My narrow edge is with Leeds United with Phillips and Raphinha likely to start, but Wolves will not be easy to see off and can play their part in what could be one of the more entertaining games in the League over this weekend.

Southampton v Burnley Pick: A narrow, but deserved, win over Leeds United means there are only three Premier League teams that are still searching for a win after Southampton's victory last weekend.

They created plenty of chances and Southampton were able to secure a 1-0 victory, although it does mean they have only scored twice at home all season. Adam Armstrong was taken out of the starting line up to try and reinvigorate the starting eleven and his replacement scored the winner last Saturday.

It will be encouraging for all associated with Southampton and they are strong favourites to secure another three points at St Mary's this weekend. However, you do have to wonder if the team have enough goals in the squad and I certainly think it gives Burnley a chance to spring a surprise.

Burnley were able to avoid their annual hammering at Manchester City last Saturday, and it was arguably their best performance against that club in a long time. They created some chances, but Burnley have not looked themselves from a defensive point of view and they have now conceded at least twice in all of their away Premier League games played this season.

That puts pressure on them up the other end of the field, but Burnley have looked a little more capable than Southampton in finding a consistent avenue to goal. Burnley have not scored in 3 of their last 4 Premier League games, but they have had a tough fixture list and Sean Dyche will be encouraged by the 2-2 away draw at Leicester City.

Last season Burnley blew a 0-2 lead here in a 3-2 defeat, but prior to that they had won 2 of 3 at Southampton. I think this fixture will be close and the first goal is going to be important, but Burnley look like they are capable of at least containing Southampton considering the struggles Ralph Hasenhuttl's team have had in putting the finishing touches to their football.

Southampton might struggle to score more than once in this fixture and that should mean Burnley have every chance of avoiding defeat. There has been some inconsistent performances from both of these teams, but The Saints look plenty short here.

Brighton v Manchester City Pick: When the fixture list was released in June, not many would have predicted this to be a match between two clubs occupying top four spots in the Premier League table.

4th placed Brighton will be hosting 3rd placed Manchester City at the Amex Stadium in front of the television cameras, but it is a big ask for the hosts to beat the defending Champions.

Graham Potter has to be very pleased with what he has seen from his Brighton team over the last two months, but the recent results have just seen the progress slowing. They needed an injury time goal to earn a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace and Brighton have followed up with back to back goalless draws with Arsenal and Norwich City.

Now they have to take a big step up in terms of level of opposition and Brighton will have to be better at both ends of the field if they are going to earn a positive result. They did beat Manchester City here in May, but Brighton were 0-2 down and had been playing a team reduced to ten men for over 80 minutes.

Barring something like that happening again, Manchester City should have too much for Brighton here. Like their hosts, Manchester City have been relatively strong defensively, but the difference is that they have shown a real cutting edge in recent games that could see them secure the maximum points.

Manchester City have enjoyed playing Brighton knowing their opponent will be trying to get the ball down and play their own football. Ultimately it is Pep Guardiola's team who have the superior players that can fashion the big openings and Manchester City have secured some comfortable wins over Brighton since the latter returned to the top flight.

The neutrals should enjoy the football on display, but Manchester City should have the quality at both ends of the field to wear down Brighton and secure a good looking win here.

Brentford v Leicester City Pick: This game has been pushed back to Sunday because of Leicester City's participation in the Europa League, but they have had an additional day to prepare with their Match Day 3 fixture moved to a Wednesday.

Leicester City are travelling back from Moscow so will need that time, but this is a confident team having scored eight goals in wins over Manchester United and Spartak Moscow. The chances being created in those wins are highly encouraging for Brendan Rodgers and the entire squad should be playing with more confidence.

Scoring goals has not really been a problem for Leicester City who have managed to hit the back of the net at least twice in 6 of their last 8 games in all competitions. They have also scored in their last 11 away Premier League games and will be encouraged by some of the chances that the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal have managed to create at this Stadium.

However, Brendan Rodgers had not been overseeing a lot of wins of late and that is largely because of the injuries that have decimated his first choice defensive options. They might be flying in the final third, but Leicester City have needed all of that attacking threat and that is because they have been struggling for clean sheets.

While scoring in 11 away Premier League games in succession, Leicester City have conceded in all of those games too. The Foxes have conceded at least twice in 6 of their last 8 games in all competitions as well and Brentford have shown an attacking threat that makes it feel like they are going to cause plenty of problems here.

Better finishing and a less inspired Edouard Mendy would have resulted in Brentford earning a positive result against Chelsea last weekend. They have enjoyed playing teams that may give it a go and Brentford have scored at least two goals when hosting Arsenal and Liverpool here, and I do expect the team to play with a positive attitude in this one too.

Leicester City did win here 1-3 in the FA Cup last season and I am expecting goals in this one too. Both teams should hit the back of the net, or at least have plenty of chances to do that, and I think the attacking instincts of the two managers will mean at least three goals are shared out on Sunday afternoon.

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: There is no love lost between these London rivals and both West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur fans will be going into the fixture with some confidence in their own team.

Despite some of the negative headlines, Tottenham Hotspur are as high as 5th in the Premier League table. They are still a work in progress under a new manager and Tottenham Hotspur have had some inconsistent performances throughout this season, but the 2-3 win at Newcastle United has moved them back into the top five.

West Ham United also had an important away win in the Premier League last Sunday and they are also moving up the standings. Unlike Spurs, West Ham United won a European tie on Thursday and David Moyes clearly has faith in his squad that secured the win over Genk with some key players earning rest.

They have played well for much of this season and West Ham United continue to be a dangerous team going forward. David Moyes will be pleased with the back to back clean sheets since the October international break, but they have not always looked secure in their defensive third so West Ham United will need to be efficient in their attacks.

I expect them to cause problems for Tottenham Hotspur who have been conceding plenty of away goals. The win at St James' Park will be encouraging, but Tottenham Hotspur are still finding their way under Nuno Espirito Santo and some of their attacking performances have been underwhelming.

Tottenham Hotspur have quality in the attacking areas that can't be dismissed, but I do think West Ham United can back up the win they had over this rival last season.

My one concern with West Ham United is the fact they have lost both Premier League games played after playing in the Europa League. Both defeats came at the London Stadium as West Ham United conceded in the final few minutes to Manchester United and Brentford, but they played well enough to deserve more in both games.

That is encouraging enough to think West Ham United can be on the right side of the Asian Handicap and I do think the favourite can edge to the victory in this live game.

Manchester United v Liverpool Pick: This remains the biggest game in English Football and the world will be tuning in when Manchester United host Liverpool in a huge game for both clubs.

Both are coming in off impressive 3-2 Champions League wins during the week, although they were earned in different ways. Manchester United had to show some resiliency and a huge belief to overturn a 0-2 deficit in the win over Atalanta at Old Trafford, while Liverpool blew a 0-2 lead at Atletico Madrid before rallying for a 2-3 victory of their own.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just eased some of the pressure that has been building on him, but he isn't out of the woods just yet and Manchester United need a big performance for the manager. They can't afford to allow Liverpool to get into the kind of lead that Atalanta were given on Wednesday and Manchester United have to find a balance that makes them more solid defensively, while also bringing an attacking intensity to the field.

Manchester United should have some success going forward because Liverpool have not really convinced at the back. Atletico Madrid created solid chances against them and Brentford did the same in a recent Premier League game and I do think Manchester United are capable of causing problems, especially at Old Trafford with the fans behind them.

The worry for Manchester United has to be the amount of goals Liverpool have been scoring and especially with the really weak defensive performances of the last week. Liverpool have scored at least three times in 8 away games in a row and they have arguably the top player in the world in their ranks.

Mohamed Salah scored the fourth goal in Liverpool's 2-4 win at Old Trafford in May and I do think they are going to be very dangerous going forward in this one. There may be some issues at the back, but Liverpool have options in attacking areas and all three of their main forwards are in good form and should be well rested for the late Sunday afternoon kick off.

After the pressure that has been on Manchester United, you wouldn't write them off from upsetting many and beating Liverpool here. However, it is hard to imagine either of these teams winning this game without needing to score at least twice considering what we have seen from both at the back.

Both teams have scored in 7 of the last 8 between the clubs at Old Trafford and I do think that is likely going to be the outcome of this one. Neither manager will be overly content to take a point before kick off though and I think an attacking game will be the outcome with both managers likely to believe that going forward and scoring goals will cover some of the defensive vulnerabilities that have been on display.

Neutrals are likely to enjoy the game a lot more than the fans who have to deal with a different kind of tension. I would not be surprised if this is the third game in a row between Manchester United and Liverpool that ends with three or more goals produced and that feels the obvious angle considering how open both have been in defensive areas.

MY PICKS: Arsenal to Win

Chelsea Win to Nil

Crystal Palace to Win

Everton & Over 1.5 Goals

Leeds United-Wolves Over 2.5 Goals

Burnley + 0.5 Asian Handicap

Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap

Brentford-Leicester City Over 2.5 Goals

West Ham United - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Manchester United-Liverpool Over 2.5 Goals

Fantasy Football GameWeek 9

One of the main reasons that most long-term fantasy managers will tell you that shouldn't be planning too many transfers too far ahead is because you just never know when the injury bug will come in and hurt your squad.

The fixtures coming up for Chelsea meant most were going to be looking to double or, more likely, treble up with players from Thomas Tuchel's squad. Back to back wins this week will have only strengthened that, but I always wait towards the end of the week to make transfers and it is a policy that will have paid off.

My transfer this week was going to be used on removing Cristiano Ronaldo and replacing him with Romelu Lukaku, but the Belgian player and Timo Werner have both suffered injuries in Chelsea's win over Malmo on Wednesday. Both are expected to not only miss this week, but they could be out right through to the November international break and that means it is a transfer I am obviously no longer considering.

Injuries can change some plans, but it may open the door for other players to become fantasy options and the player who could most benefit is Kai Havertz.

The German international has not really been as involved as he would have liked for Chelsea in the early part of the 2021/22 season, especially after scoring the winning goal for the club in the Champions League Final at the end of the last campaign. However, Kai Havertz did manage to get on the scoreboard in the win over Malmo when coming on as a substitute and a midfield player in the Fantasy Premier League game is almost certainly going to be leading the line for Chelsea with games against Norwich City, Newcastle United and Burnley to come.

Kai Havertz can be a little inconsistent, but he should have every chance of securing some important points over the next three GameWeeks and my moves over the last month does mean I have the chance to upgrade one of my midfield options for the Chelsea player.

First I am going to be listening to the Thomas Tuchel press conference to get a feeling as to how long Lukaku and Werner could potentially be missing, but Havertz is an option as I have been looking to move on Said Benrahma.

West Ham United have a tough fixture list coming up so I am not keen on doubling up on their squad and still feel Michail Antonio is the key player for them from the underlying numbers. My initial plan was to remove Benrahma and once again bring in Bryan Mbeumo who has settled into the Premier League with Brentford.

The Bees are beginning to create a lot of chances and I do love how they use Mbeumo, but this may be a player that I look to target in GW10 rather than this week. I have yet to take a hit this season so that is a potential avenue to bringing him into my squad, but I will have a real think about whether that is going to be plan that brings in a return this week or whether it should be something I wait on.

I think those decisions will come down to the wire for me, but I am pretty happy with the shape of my squad going into GW9 so I am not sure I need to take the hit to bring in a player unless I feel it is going to be a long-term selection. The Brentford assets feel they can be longer-term picks, but I think the large part of the squad looks to be in decent shape.

The Captain choice is perhaps the hardest decision.

Going with my head the easiest selection has to be Mohamed Salah considering his form, his performances against the bigger teams he has opposed, and the fact that Manchester United look really messy at the back. Before the Romelu Lukaku injury I think he would have been the player I would have transferred in and given him the armband, especially as I hate Captaining anyone playing against Manchester United.

Realistically Salah is the best choice at the moment and I think he is someone you can set as Captain and leave on current form. It seemingly doesn't matter who Liverpool are playing and Mohamed Salah is also on Penalties.

His only real rivals this week for the armband would be Raphinha or Cristiano Ronaldo from my squad, although a more risky decision would be to give it to either of the Chelsea defenders I have or possibly even Joao Cancelo.

I am not in a position where I need to take unnecessary risks right now, but I have to make peace with my decision in the hours leading up to the deadline. Looking at the way I am going to set my team up ahead, I do think a hit could be the right move, but you can see my final decision and starting eleven at around 645pm on Friday.

College Football Week 8 Picks 2021 (October 21-23)

We are past the halfway mark of the College Football season for many of the schools playing around the nation and now the focus may begin to turn to the College Football PlayOff.

It is key for teams to not get too far ahead of themselves if they are going to avoid the banana skins that are littered on the schedule for every team, but you also have to acknowledge that players can just begin to get excited about possibilities in front of them.

Things can change quickly in College Football though and it will be fun to see how the remainder of the regular season pans out.

Tulane Green Wave @ SMU Mustangs Pick: Some of the biggest schools in College Football have already fallen from the ranks of the unbeaten and that may have paved the way for a team from outside the Power 5 Conferences to earn a spot in the PlayOff at the end of the regular season. Most of that attention is focused on the Cincinnati Bearcats, but the SMU Mustangs (6-0) are also unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference and Head Coach Sonny Dykes has to be given a lot of credit for the role he has played in improving the Mustangs.

The SMU Mustangs have had one winning season in six, but the last two seasons under Sonny Dykes have seen the school produce a 17-6 record and they have been perfect halfway through their regular season schedule. However, we are going to learn plenty about the SMU Mustangs in the weeks ahead with the team set to face their biggest rivals for the American Athletic Conference Championship and with three of their hardest games being on the road.

With that in mind it could be a spot where the Mustangs overlook an opponent that has a losing record, but Sonny Dykes has usually got them to focus even when playing teams they are expected to beat. Under this Head Coach, SMU have won all eight Conference games at home when facing a team with a losing record in the Conference and, more impressive, they have produced a 7-1 record against the spread in those games.

The Mustangs will be hosting the Tulane Green Wave (1-5) who have dropped both Conference games played this season and will be hoping that the Bye Week has given them a chance to turn things around. Willie Fritz has led the Green Wave to three consecutive Bowl Games and they have not had a losing record since 2017, but they may not be able to avoid that this season with the next three games looking incredibly tough.

Work will have to have been done to make Tulane more effective on the ground and at least provide some balance to their Offensive play-calling which has been lacking. The Offensive Line have not been able to open consistent holes on the ground and they are not likely to get a lot of change from the Mustangs Defensive Line which is going to put pressure on Michael Pratt at Quarter Back.

Michael Pratt has not played badly, but his Offensive Line has struggle to contain the pass rush and being in obvious passing Downs should give the Mustangs a chance to get after the Quarter Back in this game. Rushing the passer will mean Michal Pratt is likely going to have to get the ball out of his hands quicker than he would like, and that could lead to turnovers and drives stalling.

He should have some success throwing the ball against the Secondary, but the Mustangs are capable of making enough plays to get the ball back in the hands of their powerful Offensive unit.

Unlike the Green Wave, the SMU Mustangs should be able to have success moving the ball on the ground and that is going to be very important for them if they are going to end up the surprise American Athletic Conference Champions. Sonny Dykes has made it clear that teams are likely to load the Secondary and force the Mustangs to have to be patient, but the Green Wave Defensive Line is not one you would feel is good enough to clamp down on the run.

In recent games, Tulane have given up over 215 yards per game on the ground at a very healthy 5.2 yards per carry and it should mean Tanner Mordecai is in a position to have another big outing at Quarter Back. The Mustangs want to be stronger at running the ball, but they have been good all season and I do think Tanner Mordecai will find himself in third and manageable spots on the field.

The SMU Offensive Line have protected the young Quarter Back very well and the time given to Tanner Mordecai has seen 26 Touchdown passes thrown. The Green Wave Defensive unit have not been able to have much success slowing the run, but the Secondary have seen some huge plays made against them too and it feels like the balanced Mustangs can have a lot of success in this one.

Tulane have a decent record against the spread, but they were beaten by 17 points in their last visit to Dallas in 2019.

The Green Wave are also 3-7 against the spread in their last ten as the road underdog and I think the SMU Mustangs can return from their Bye with a good looking win before the big games coming up for them.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ Navy Midshipmen Pick: There are most definitely some schools out there that may decide to pack in a season if they have made the same kind of start as the Navy Midshipmen (1-5), but players at this school are likely going to fight until the end. This almost certainly going to be a third losing season under Ken Niumatalolo, but the Midshipmen have been competitive in some of their losses to the better teams they have faced.

An eight point loss to the unbeaten Houston Cougars and a seven point loss to the unbeaten SMU Mustangs backs that up, but Navy were blown out by the Memphis Tigers in Week 7. This is now the fifth tough game in a row and you do have to wonder if the players are feeling a little wear and tear.

They may also be playing a potential College Football PlayOff team this week when hosting the Cincinnati Bearcats (6-0) and it is going to be very difficult to slow down a team who are playing with style points very much on their mind. The Bearcats know merely being unbeaten may not be enough to earn a place in the PlayOff, although the longer the Houston Cougars and SMU Mustangs can maintain their own unbeaten runs will be a boost for whoever can win the American Athletic Conference Championship as an unbeaten team.

Head Coach Luke Fickell will know only too well that a single defeat will be costly and the Cincinnati Bearcats showed how strong they can be by blowing out the UCF Knights at home in Week 7. Road games are naturally much more difficult, but Cincinnati look like they have the schedule to not only win games, but win by such margins that the PlayOff Committee will find it hard to ignore them.

Desmond Ridder and the Offensive unit will always get the headlines, but the Cincinnati Bearcats have really impressed from a Defensive standpoint and now have a chance to lay down a marker to the rest of the Conference. Playing the triple-option is a challenge and it does mean games can feel like they are being shortened with the clock moving all the time, but Cincinnati did blow out the Navy Midshipmen in 2018 having lost on their last visit here in 2017.

It will be the reminder that the Coaches will lay out for the players to make sure they are focused and I do think the Bearcats are capable on the Defensive Line to contain Navy. So far this season this Midshipmen Offensive unit have struggled to match the standards that have been set by the triple option Offense on the ground and they are only picking up 3.7 yards per carry over their last three games.

That has been a season long problem for Navy and they are not expected to get a lot of change from the Bearcats Defensive Line which has prided itself on being able to clamp down on the run. There has not been a lot of confidence in Navy when they have been forced to throw the ball so the key for the Bearcats will be to also put up plenty of points and make the home team move away from the game-plan.

The expectation is that Cincinnati will be able to do that with plenty of success and the signs that Navy may be feeling the intensity of a very tough run of games was clear to see as they allowed the Memphis Tigers to score early and often in Week 7. The Bearcats will be looking to pummel the ball right at the Navy Defensive Line and this Offensive Line will feel they can win in the trenches judging by what we have seen all season.

Establishing the run has made life very easy for Desmond Ridder at Quarter Back and he should be faced with little pass rush pressure as he looks to move the ball through the air. It should give the Bearcats the balance on both sides of the ball to put up some big points and I am not sure Navy will be able to stay with them here.

You have to respect the effort you are likely to get out of the Navy Midshipmen, but Cincinnati are 5-1 against the spread in their last six on the road and I think they are a team on a mission. It is unlikely that Cincinnati will take their foot off the gas as they look to keep their name in the headlines and I think the Bearcats can cover a huge mark on the road.

Kansas State Wildcats @ Texas Tech Red Raiders Pick: Neither of these teams are likely going to push for the Big 12 Championship Game, but that will not reduce the motivation for Conference opponents. The Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2) have not played this opponent very well and they are looking for some momentum before they take on the Oklahoma Sooners next time around, while the Kansas State Wildcats (3-3) have dropped three games in a row.

Those defeats have just made it a slightly more difficult path to become Bowl eligible, but Kansas State have dominated the head to head and will feel they can win on the road. Two seasons ago they were able to win by 3 points on the road in Lubbock, and the Red Raiders have not really been able to use the motivation of losses to this opponent to turn things around.

It has been tough for the Red Raiders playing in the Big 12 and they have not had a winning run in this Conference for a long time. At 2-2 in the Conference, Texas Tech have an opportunity and they will feel they have made enough improvements on both sides of the ball which can give them every chance of winning this game.

A big question for the Texas Tech Red Raiders is whether backup Quarter Back Henri Colombi can continue operating at the level he has been. The team have also been moving ahead with a backup Running Back, but the Red Raiders have not really missed a beat through those injuries and they will certainly feel they can get the better of the Kansas State Defensive unit.

Balancing the Offense is key to a lot of teams and the success they can have and I do think Texas Tech are able to do that here. The Red Raiders have been able to establish the run and the Wildcats Defensive Line has struggled to clamp down on the run as the strength of opponent has improved through the course of the regular season.

It has just paved the way for teams to be able to have success moving the ball through the air and I do think Henri Colombi is going to continue his strong run at Quarter Back. The Wildcats Secondary have given up some big plays, while they have generated very little pass rush which should mean the Red Raiders are able to move the ball up and down the field and score plenty of points.

At the same time, I do think Kansas State are going to have Offensive successes even if Skylar Thompson is banged up. There is plenty of respect for the Quarter Back on the other sideline and Skylar Thompson should be able to have more chances of throwing the ball down the field if his Offensive Line can just pave the way for strong gains on the ground.

Over the last three games it has become a little more difficult for Kansas State to establish the run, but they are facing a struggling Texas Tech Defensive Line. It should give the Wildcats more of an opportunity and I think Deuce Vaughn may have one of his better games running the ball, which should in turn make it more comfortable for Skylar Thompson behind Center.

The Red Raiders Secondary have played pretty well in recent games, but that might be partly down to their inability to stop the run. A limited pass rush should mean Kansas State have plenty of time to throw the ball down the field if they can find themselves moving on the ground and I do think this will be a close game.

Ultimately it may be a slightly more balanced Texas Tech team that can finally see them get the better of the Wildcats. They have the consistency and better momentum than the sliding Kansas State team and that may be enough for the home field advantage to pay off for Texas Tech.

In recent years Kansas State have been a hard team to oppose when they are set as the underdog, but this has become a pick 'em spread and I think Texas Tech edge to the win.

Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Iowa State Cyclones Pick: The Big 12 Conference is going to look very different in the years to come and if the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns were to leave today, these two schools may end up being the ones that compete for the Championship Game on an annual basis.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0) remain unbeaten in 2021, but it says all you need to know about their performance level when they are such a considerable underdog to the Iowa State Cyclones (4-2). A couple of disappointing setbacks have hurt the Cyclones, but they have a 2-1 record in the Conference and the Cowboys are at 3-0 and so a win for the home favourite will see them move into the inside lane when it comes to the race for the Championship Game.

It means there is a lot of pressure on both of these teams as they prepare to meet in the biggest game in the Conference this week and I think the upturn in performance level of the Cyclones on both sides of the ball means Iowa State are right to be set as the favourite in this game.

Strong Defensive performances have been the key to the successes the Cowboys have had this season, but Iowa State have looked dominant in their last two games and they will feel that, coupled with home field advantage, gives them a real edge. The Iowa State Defensive unit have just picked up their own level of play and that may see them stifle what has been a relatively low-key Oklahoma State Offense.

The key to the game will be in the trenches and the Iowa State Defensive Line have certainly found a way to clamp down on the run and make it very difficult for opponents to strike the kind of balance they would want. They should be aided by what has been an inconsistent Oklahoma State Offensive Line which has only opened holes for 3.8 yards per carry and clamping down on the run will shift the pressure onto the passing game.

Jaylen Warren may take some issue with the comment about the running ability of the Cowboys considering the improvement he has made, but it won't be easy to find a lot of running lanes against this stout Iowa State Defensive Line. It will likely be up to Spencer Sanders to have to make plays with his arm to just weaken the amount of effort the Cyclones are putting into stopping the run, but the home team have to be favouring their Secondary over the Oklahoma State Receivers too.

They are not the most effective pass rush, but the Cyclones have been confident in stopping teams having consistent success throwing the ball by keeping them in third and long. The Secondary have only allowed an average of 154 passing yards per game this season and I do think Cowboys are going to have some real difficulties moving the ball with any kind of consistency.

It will mean turning to the Defensive unit which has only allowed a little under 20 points per game this season, but that is a side of the ball that Head Coach Mike Gundy is going to believe in. The problem is they are facing Brock Purdy and the Iowa State Offensive unit which has finally found their groove having underachieved earlier in 2021.

Brock Purdy has nine Touchdown passes in his last four games and he is being well backed by Breece Hall and the powerful Iowa State Offensive Line which has been able to more than simply establish the run. The Cyclones have been wearing teams down up front and Hall has been able to punish them by bursting through the holes that have been created and it is going to be the big test for both of these teams.

All season the Cowboys Defensive Line have made it very difficult to run the ball against them, but if Breece Hall and the Cyclones can establish this aspect of their Offense, I do think the entire team is going to very tough to stop.

Brock Purdy will need the running game to just slow the Cowboys pass rush and give him time to make plays against this tough Secondary. Oklahoma State have allowed just 183 passing yards per game over their last three games, and that is a big improvement over the early season performances which will be encouraging for the road underdog.

However, Brock Purdy will be the best Quarter Back they have faced and he has gotten himself going after a slow start to the season. It is his plays, coupled with the Offensive Line's bullying performances, which suggest the Cyclones can produce a big win. I just don't think the Cowboys have the Offense to keep up with the home team here and eventually it will lead to a double digit win for Iowa State against this unbeaten opponent.

I have nothing but respect for Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys who tend to thrive in the underdog role, but my feeling is that the Cyclones are too good on the trenches and that can make the difference for them on the day.

MY PICKS: SMU Mustangs - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bearcats - 27.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 7 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Washington State Cougars + 4.5 Points @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Pittsburgh Panthers - 3 Points @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Houston Cougars - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

South Carolina Gamecocks + 19.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 7: 5-4, + 0.59 Units (9 Units Staked, + 6.56% Yield)

Week 6: 3-3, - 0.27 Units (6 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 5: 5-6, - 1.41 Units (11 Units Staked, - 12.82% Yield)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.44 Units (8 Units Staked, + 18% Yield)

Week 2: 7-3, + 3.45 Units (10 Units Staked, + 34.50% Yield)

Week 1: 5-6-1, - 1.45 Units (12 Units Staked, - 12.08% Yield)

NFL Week 6 Picks 2021 (October 14-18)

Another week of the NFL is set to be played with the majority of the games taking place over the course of several hours on Sunday.

Bye Weeks have begun and there are not a lot of games that appeal from the NFL Picks point of view.

I will be at the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as my Miami Dolphins come to town, but it may not be the most enjoyable spectacle. However, I do hope to build on the recent run which has produced four winning weeks in succession as the season has gotten off to a very positive start following the horrible Week 1 beginning.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins Pick: Fans in Europe are going to be excited about the return of the NFL to London, especially after missing out last season as the world had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. They will remain excited despite the fact that the four teams heading over to London are amongst the worst in the NFL and most will be heading back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 6 hoping to see a much better game all around than the one between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets.

It is not easy to try and suggest that will be the case when the Miami Dolphins (1-4) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) meet, but these two teams are familiar to fans in London and they will feel there are some positives ahead of this Week 6 game which can lead to a strong outing.

This was supposed to be a season when the Miami Dolphins took the next step in their development and returned to the PlayOffs, but four straight losses have knocked the confidence of the team. Tua Tagovailoa is back at Quarter Back after sitting out the last three games, but the Offensive play-calling is going to have improve markedly if the Dolphins are going to be able snap their poor run.

Brian Flores has done a good job as the Dolphins Head Coach, but a dual Offensive Co-Ordinator plan has simply not worked, while the Miami Dolphins continue to be linked with a move to trade for Deshaun Watson. That isn't going to help Tua Tagovailoa, but there hasn't been enough from the second season Quarter Back to believe he is the answer for a franchise that has been waiting for a long time to replace Dan Marino.

It has been difficult for whoever has been lining up for the Dolphins behind this Offensive Line which has struggled all season. The Offensive Line has not only struggled in pass protection, but they have also not been able to open big holes on the ground and the Dolphins may struggle to impose themselves on the Jacksonville Defensive Line and that could be key to helping figure out how this game will break down.

Miami are likely going to need Tua Tagovailoa to be close to his best if they are going to win this game and it is hard to know how he is feeling having just returned from a serious injury that saw him miss time. He will be without DeVante Parker and Will Fuller is also absent, which will make it more difficult to expose what has been a vulnerable Jacksonville Secondary.

Tua Tagovailoa should be able to make some plays, but he will benefit massively if the Dolphins can earn a few yards on the ground and avoid being in third and long spots. The Jaguars may not have the best pass rush, but they should still be able to get to Tagovailoa who is not the most mobile of Quarter Backs and it may end up being the best way to stall drives and force Field Goals rather than giving up Touchdowns to the Dolphins.

The Jaguars are used to playing in London as an organisation, but Urban Meyer will be the latest Head Coach leading the team on this side of the pond. The Head Coach has struggled in his first season as a Head Coach in the pro ranks, while off field issues have only clouded the respect the players have for him and there are rumours that Urban Meyer could be fired with a Bye Week coming up.

We will learn plenty about how the locker room feels about Urban Meyer during the course of this game in London, but you have to like the chances of the Jacksonville Jaguars moving the ball and scoring enough points for the upset. Trevor Lawrence looks to be improving, but the Jaguars may not need the rookie Quarter Back to have to push too hard considering what we have seen from the Miami Dolphins Defensive unit.

Xavien Howard looks like he will be missing on this side of the ball so Lawrence should be able to find his Receivers in the Secondary, but the main game plan has to be establishing the run. The Dolphins Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run all season and James Robinson is coming in off a game when he produced a yard shy of 149 on the ground against the Tennessee Titans.

James Robinson and the Jacksonville Jaguars should be able to establish the run against the Miami Dolphins and that will only up the passing lanes for Trevor Lawrence. The Quarter Back has made some mistakes, which are to be expected, but he should have some time in the pocket with his mobility and especially if the Jaguars are able to run the ball as expected.

With one of their top Defensive Backs on the sidelines, Miami may then struggle to stop Jacksonville making some big plays through the air and I do think the Jaguars are in a position to snap their long losing run which has extended to twenty games after the blow out home loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.

Both franchises are familiar with the London game on the schedule, but both have failed to cover the last two times they have played in the United Kingdom capital. The Dolphins did blow out Jacksonville on the road in 2020, but the Jaguars had more yards on the day and this Miami Defensive unit has not played to the same kind of level.

There is a fear that the Jacksonville Jaguars players may have given up on Urban Meyer and feel like a poor performance could see the Head Coach canned, which may see them offer very little effort in this one. However, I do think the Jaguars match up well with the Dolphins on both sides of the ball and trying to snap the ugly twenty game slide should be motivation enough and will be added to by the fact that the Jaguars will be looking for revenge for the blow out loss in 2020.

Having a full Field Goal start looks appealing enough here.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Pick: The NFC North Divisional lead is on the line in Week 6 when the two leading teams meet at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers (4-1) and the Chicago Bears (3-2) are the only two teams in the Division with a winning record, and both are 1-0 in the Divisional games thanks to a win over the winless Detroit Lions.

Tough road wins were secured in Week 5 so there is momentum behind both teams, although the Chicago Bears know they have more to prove to the nation and to their main Divisional rivals. They have never beaten the Green Bay Packers in the four attempts against Matt LaFleur and there is a marked difference about the level the Offensive units can produce on any given Sunday.

Both Defensive units have played well in their own way, but this is an area in which the Green Bay Packers are a little banged up. The question is whether Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears Offensive unit can take advantage and I have to admit that I think they will struggle to score points if the Defense is not able to create short fields for them.

Justin Fields is clearly going to be a decent Quarter Back, but the rookie is having teething problems early in his career and I am not sure the Bears Offensive game-plans are the most impressive. The pressure is going to be on the young player because the Chicago Bears could be down to a third string Running Back in this game and that may make it that much more difficult for the Bears to exploit what has long been an issue for the Green Bay Defensive Line.

Clamping down on the run is something that is still very much a work in progress for the Packers Defensive Line, but the Bears are already without David Montgomery and look to missing Damien Williams this week too. In the last three games, Green Bay have looked a little more stout against the run, which will give them further confidence, and the it may force Justin Fields to beat them from third and long situational spots.

We have seen inconsistent throws from Justin Fields already this season and he is not being helped by the Offensive Line which does not offer a lot of time in the pocket. Going through his progressions and working those out at the same time as seeing time run out rapidly has hurt the Quarter Back and Green Bay have a pass rush that can get to Fields and stall drives.

With the Offense likely to have some issues moving the ball, Chicago have to hope their Defensive unit can step up and try and keep the team in the game. It was the Defense that played really well in the back to back wins over Detroit and Las Vegas and Chicago have allowed just 23 points combined in those victories, but this is a game against Aaron Rodgers and the powerful Packers Offense and I am not sure the Bears will have the same level of success.

A fierce pass rush has been the key for the Bears, but now they are going up against a Packers Offensive Line which will be stronger and healthier than it has been. The experience of Aaron Rodgers means he can decipher where the pressure is coming from, while he will also make quick decisions about where he is throwing the ball and that should help ease the pass rush.

Further to that, Green Bay have had success running the ball and they should be able to establish Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, which forces the Chicago pass rush to just second guess themselves and slow them down another step. Moving the team into third and manageable spots should also mean Aaron Rodgers is able to attack the Chicago Secondary which has one or two holes to exploit despite the struggles of Jared Goff and Derek Carr.

Aaron Rodgers is significantly better than both of those Quarter Backs and I do think the Packers will be able to move the ball and punch in Touchdowns rather than settling for Field Goals.

This is a pretty big spread for a road favourite, but the Packers are 17-5 against the spread in their last twenty-two games here. The favourite is also 4-1 against the spread in the last five in the series between these NFC North rivals and I do think the Green Bay Packers can extend those numbers.

Chicago have to be respected for being a tough home underdog to deal with, but they have a poor record against Divisional rivals in recent games and especially compared with how well Green Bay have matched up against those teams in the NFC North. The backdoor cover is a slight concern, but I think the Packers can score enough points to win here by at least a Touchdown mark and take a strong hold of the Division even at this early stage of the 2021 season.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Football Team Pick: Winning a Super Bowl and then reaching the big game again and coming up slightly short will put a bullseye on the back of any team in the NFL. That is perhaps part of the reason the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) have struggled to open the 2021 season, although they have not really helped themselves as turnovers have hurt and the Defensive unit have struggled to make any stops.

They will be heading to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Football Team (2-3) who also have a losing record and are coming in off a disappointing defeat to the New Orleans Saints. This may not be a Conference game, but both of these teams are already 2 games behind their Divisional leaders and that means both the Chiefs and the Football Team should be highly motivated to produce a win.

Backing a top Quarter Back off a loss is usually a productive method and Patrick Mahomes is certainly one of top Quarter Backs in the NFL. However, Patrick Mahomes may be the first to admit that some of the Kansas City Chiefs problems are of his own making with too many Interceptions beginning to hurt a Defense that has struggled to get off the field.

Patrick Mahomes should have a chance of bouncing back here and two weeks ago he did lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a road win over the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC East. He is going to be without a couple of key skill players, although Tyreek Hill may yet suit up, but this should not hinder Kansas City too much and especially not against an underperforming Washington Defense.

In recent games there have been signs that the Washington Defensive Line are beginning to knuckle down when it comes to stopping the run, but the concern about stopping Mahomes has left Kansas City the opportunity to pick up big gains on the ground. Patrick Mahomes himself is able to scramble away from pressure and help move the chains and I do think Kansas City will be able to at least establish the run to try and make life easier for their Quarter Back.

The Washington Defensive Line was supposed to be a strength of the team, but players have not played up to the level that was expected and Patrick Mahomes should have time to hit his playmakers down the field. Even without Hill, I would expect the Quarter Back to have a strong game and I do think Kansas City will score a fair few points, which means it is up to Taylor Heinicke and the Washington Offensive unit to try and keep up with them.

Just like the Chiefs, the Washington Football Team are pretty banged up Offensively and that leaves them vulnerable to the home loss here. Taylor Heinicke has not played badly, but he is a downgrade on Ryan Fitzpatrick and Washington have had issues in getting enough consistency from their Offensive unit to produce a winning record on the season.

Washington's Offensive Line have usually given Taylor Heinicke time to make his throws, but they have not been as efficient opening up holes on the ground. It does mean that Heinicke has been asked to push with his throws to keep the chains moving and the Quarter Back has made mistakes.

Taylor Heinicke will be pleased to see the issues Kansas City have been having stopping teams though and I do think he will be able to hit some of his Receivers, although injuries could mean the top names that he would like to throw to are missing from the game. While I would expect the guys suiting up to make some plays, Taylor Heinicke may not always be confident in those Receivers and that could see him hold onto the ball a little longer than he would normally.

There will be times Taylor Heinicke is able to help Washington move the chains, but in a shoot out I do have to like Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs securing a road win.

The Chiefs are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven following a defeat and this may be a rare cover for Kansas City who have been a money pit since the last few weeks of 2020. The Football Team are 1-4 against the spread in their last five here and I think they may be too banged up to keep up with Kansas City on the scoreboard and the road favourite can cover what is a big mark.

MY PICKS: Jacksonville Jaguars + 3 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (2 Units)

Green Bay Packers - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Detroit Lions + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Cleveland Browns - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Denver Broncos - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Week 5: 4-2-1, + 3.28 Units (14 Units Staked, + 23.43% Yield)

Week 4: 7-3, + 6.46 Units (20 Units Staked, + 32.30% Yield)

Week 3: 7-3, + 6.68 Units (20 Units Staked, + 33.40% Yield)

Week 2: 6-5, + 0.98 Units (22 Units Staked, + 4.45% Yield)

Week 1: 3-6, - - 6.46 Units (18 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

College Football Week 7 Picks 2021 (October 16th)

Another week of College Football is potentially another week to see upsets that are changing the College Football PlayOff situation as we reach the mid-way mark of the regular season.

Last week it was the Alabama Crimson Tide who were knocked from their pedestal and another big Saturday is ready to go.

Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers Pick: It may only be less than two years since the LSU Tigers (3-3) ended the season as National Champions under Head Coach Ed Orgeron, but the 5-5 record in the 2020 season has been followed by a poor start to 2021. The hot seat is warming up considerably underneath Ed Orgeron, who has admitted that he knows full well that the Tigers fans would have been expecting much more from their team than they have seen.

The pressure is on the Head Coach to guide the Tigers out of this difficult time, but injuries have seen them banged up on both sides of the ball and back to back losses to Auburn and Kentucky will have dented the confidence.

No one should disregard the Kentucky Wildcats and the level they are playing at, especially as they remain unbeaten and also beat the Florida Gators (4-2) this season. That defeat likely ends Florida's hopes of returning to the SEC Championship Game with both the Wildcats and Georgia Bulldogs looking too strong in this Division, but Dan Mullen will be looking to play spoiler for the Bulldogs later this season and that means putting some momentum behind the performances.

The Gators will get to fully prepare for the Georgia Bulldogs as they have a Bye Week before that game at the end of the month, and that should mean Florida should be fully focused on this game. They are a big road favourite, but the Gators will also be motivated by the upset home defeat to the LSU Tigers in 2020 and I do think Florida can put their hosts under an immense amount of pressure.

Emory Jones has grown at Quarter Back for the Florida Gators having been given the tough task to replace Kyle Trask, while the future may be bright at this position from what we have seen from Anthony Richardson. We may not need to see a lot of the Quarter Back throwing the ball in this game though and that is largely because the Florida Offensive Line has been very strong up front and been able to open up some gaping holes for the team to rush the ball with considerable success.

Sometimes you do have to wonder if they can bully the big Defensive Lines you will face in the SEC, but the Gators have rushed the ball for 5.6 yards per carry in their last three against SEC opponents and that does not include the almost 250 rushing yards produced in the narrow loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. That is encouraging from the Florida side of the ball, but they should also feel confident of imposing themselves on a LSU Defensive Line which has struggled to clamp down on the run all season and who have allowed 6.1 yards per carry and over 200 ground yards on average in their last three games.

Running the ball should open things up for Emory Jones or Anthony Richardson behind Center and the LSU Tigers are going to be without a couple of key Defensive Backs in this game. The Tigers have not been able to stop teams finding balance Offensively and I do think the Florida Gators are going to move the ball with success through much of the four Quarters to be played.

The question then becomes whether the Tigers can do enough when they have the ball to keep this one close and I am not convinced that is going to happen. Kayshon Boutte has nine Touchdown receptions this season, but the injury bug has hurt the Tigers here too with the Wide Receiver expected to miss the remainder of 2021 and that is a huge blow for them.

LSU have not been able to run the ball like they would want to and they are not likely to get a lot of change out of the Florida Defensive Line that has given up 3.2 yards per carry this season. The LSU Offensive Line have only created holes for a little over 83 yards per game on the ground at 2.9 yards per carry, and making the Tigers one-dimensional should give Florida a significant edge on this side of the ball.

Things may have been different for the Tigers if Myles Brennan had not been injured before the season began and the Quarter Back may not return in 2021. Max Johnson did start the upset over Florida and has 17 Touchdown passes with just 4 Interceptions this season, but it is going to be difficult to move the ball with consistency against the Gators without his top Receiver.

The Quarter Back has some solid numbers which suggest he will have some joy, but Max Johnson is likely to be under pressure from the strong Florida pass rush, especially if the Tigers leave him in third and long situations. As the level of competition has ramped up, LSU's Offensive Line have not only struggled in run blocking, but they have given up plenty of Sacks too and the feeling is that the Gators will make those plays which stifle drives.

Make no mistake, this is a huge spread for any team to cover, but especially so for a road favourite in a very tough Conference. I have to respect the fact that the Tigers are rarely set as a double digit underdog against any team other than Alabama, but injuries look to have put a muzzle on this team.

The Gators should be able to run the ball right through LSU and I expect the Defensive unit to step up and force Max Johnson into quick throws to stunt any scoring drives.

You also would be foolish to ignore the fact that Florida have not covered in their last five as the road favourite, while LSU are 10-4 against the spread in their last fourteen as the underdog. However, I do think the Tigers are too short-handed to compete with an improving Florida team and the revenge factor should see the Gators over the edge with a win and a cover in Louisiana.

UCF Knights @ Cincinnati Bearcats Pick: We have yet to see a team outside of the Power 5 Conferences being offered a place in the four team College Football PlayOff, but there is every chance things will change in 2021. After moving up to Number 3 in the latest Rankings, some of the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0) fanbase will believe their team is in control of their own destiny and the bare minimum expectation is that this team will head off and retain the American Athletic Conference Championship won last season.

Teams in the top ten have been falling regularly, but the Bearcats will know there is plenty to work for them to still do if they are going to be invited into the PlayOffs. Any defeat would end their hopes and Head Coach Luke Fickell has been reminding his players that they can not lose focus despite some big wins already in 2021.

Road wins over the Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish would have been much more highly regarded if those two teams had performed to the level many expected, but Cincinnati earned plenty of style points when blowing out the Temple Owls in their opening Conference game in Week 6. The Bearcats biggest chance to impress remaining on the schedule is the potential game between unbeaten teams when they are due to host the SMU Mustangs in November, but Luke Fickell won't be happy if his players are looking too far ahead.

Luke Fickell has been really impressive since taking over as Head Coach here and his Bearcats team are 36-6 since the beginning of the 2018 team. Last season they had an unbeaten regular season before a narrow loss to Georgia in the Bowl Game and now they are big favourites to beat a UCF Knights (3-2) team which is in transition.

The last time a non-Power 5 team had a legitimate claim to a place in the PlayOffs, it was the unbeaten UCF Knights in 2017 and 2018 who were ignored. The school produced a 25-1 record in those two seasons and had won twenty-five games in a row before losing to the LSU Tigers in the Bowl.

Gus Malzahn has left the SEC to take over as Head Coach here in replacement of Josh Heupel who has joined that Conference with the Tennessee Volunteers. Losses to Louisville and Navy will have hurt the momentum, but the Knights did beat the East Carolina Pirates in Week 6 and will at least arrive in Ohio with some belief in being able to cause an upset.

It would have been a hugely challenging task to have success even if the Knights were fully healthy, but Dillon Gabriel has been lost at Quarter Back and that means Mikey Keene and his inexperience playing in a hostile environment. He did not play badly in leading the win over the Pirates in Week 6, but this is a completely different challenge against a Bearcats Defensive unit which has plenty of experience returning and who have been producing at a high level.

You have to believe the game-plan will be to make Keene beat them through the air and the Bearcats have been able to clamp down on the run throughout this season. The Knights Offensive Line have played well, but Cincinnati will believe they can win in the trenches, especially if loading the line and forcing Mikey Keene to have to make reads and go through his progressions at Quarter Back.

The Knights may have some success, but the inexperienced Quarter Back will have to make the plays and I am not sure he will be able to move the ball with consistency against this Cincinnati Secondary. The Bearcats can put a strong pass rush together and keeping the Knights in obvious passing Downs will be key for them to get off the field and give the ball to an Offense which has been looking very productive.

Cincinnati are much more experienced Offensively than their counterparts with the Knights, especially in the Quarter Back room where Desmond Ridder continues to impress. He will be backed up by Jerome Ford at Running Back and the Knights have seen their Defensive Line give up some big plays on the ground as the level of competition has increased, which is only encouraging for the Bearcats who have produced 4.9 yards per carry.

Keeping the team in front of the chains has made Cincinnati dangerous and Desmond Ridder has 12 Touchdown passes with 2 Interceptions thrown. The Offensive Line has protected their Quarter Back effectively and the Knights have not been able to generate a pass rush that is likely to rattle Ridder and that balance could see the Bearcats pull away and put another statement win on the board.

I do think Cincinnati are capable of covering this number and it is interesting to hear Desmond Ridder speak about the blow out defeat the Bearcats had at unbeaten UCF in 2018. In the two strong UCF seasons in 2017 and 2018, they beat Cincinnati by 28 and then 25 points and the fact is that the Bearcats haven't forgotten that and are likely going to earn some revenge for those losses.

It should mean they keep their foot on the gas and even the game coming up in Week 8 at the Navy Midshipmen should not be a major reason to not want to embarrass what has been their main rival in this Conference.

The home team is 5-1 against the spread in their last six in this series, while the Knights have failed to cover in their last four road games and are 2-8 against the spread in their last ten Conference games.

There is no doubting how big this spread is, but the Bearcats are motivated to remind the College Football PlayOff Committee about their aspirations and suitability to be involved in the post-season deciders to find a National Champion. That, coupled with the blow outs suffered in 2017 and 2018 that haven't been forgotten, should see the home team play hard until the very end of this game and I think the Cincinnati Bearcats will have the balance Offensively and the power Defensively to cover the mark set.

Michigan State Spartans @ Indiana Hoosiers Pick: Not many were expecting the kind of improvements we have seen from the Michigan State Spartans (6-0) in 2021, but Head Coach Mel Tucker has clearly got the team working for him in his second season at the helm. Mel Tucker has only overseen seven wins in his first two seasons as a Head Coach, but he is one win away from matching that total this season, although the demands of his team is to not lose focus and continue to improve.

The surprising start coupled with some of the top teams falling means the Spartans are back in the top ten of the Rankings, but the last time they were Ranked as high as this did not end well. That was in 2016 under Mark Dantonio and the Ranking sparked a long losing run, something the Spartans will be looking to avoid with some very tough games coming up.

Michigan State fans will be looking for the team to have their most wins in a single season since 2017 when they secured ten, but the Spartans had been just 16-21 in their last three seasons before this surprising beginning. Three road wins have been secured and the Spartans are 3-0 in the Big Ten East, although they have to make sure they are not overlooking this opponent with the big game with the Michigan Wolverines next on deck.

However, that is coming after a Week 8 Bye and the Spartans are the road favourites to remain unbeaten when they visit the disappointing Indiana Hoosiers (2-3). Tom Allen has led Indiana to eight wins in 2019 and he oversaw a 6-2 record in the shortened 2020 season, while they were expected to challenge the likes of Ohio State in this Division, but instead it is going to be a tough task to reach the six wins needed to make it three Bowl Games in succession.

A vastly experienced Indiana team returned in 2021, but they may be without Michael Penix Jr at Quarter Back. Coming out of a Bye will have given Indiana has much time as they need to get Michael Penix Jr ready, but there will have been a lot of soul searching too after the Hoosiers were blown out by the Penn State Nittany Lions without scoring a point.

If Michael Penix Jr cannot go, it will be Jack Tuttle taking the keys for the Offensive unit and this is a Quarter Back with limited experience at this level. The positive for Jack Tuttle is that he will be throwing into a Michigan State Secondary which has given up some big yardage throughout the season, but the negative is that the Spartans Defensive Line could put all the pressure on the Quarter Back's shoulders.

Teams have had considerable success throwing against the Secondary and that is one of those areas that Mel Tucker would like to see his Spartans team improve if they are going to challenge for the Big East Division. However, Michigan State have been able to clamp down on the run and force teams to become one-dimensional against them and the feeling is that they are going to be able to do the same with Indiana.

The Hoosiers Offensive Line have not been able to get a lot of consistency from their rushing Offense and putting Jack Tuttle behind the chains is going to mean he is dealing with what has been a fierce Michigan State pass rush. That is when the inexperience may really show and it is where the Spartans Defensive unit can make some big plays and give their team every chance of winning this game and covering the spread.

Most Michigan State fans will accept that bigger tests are to come for them, but the games that have been completed has underlined the kind of balance that the Spartans have had Offensively. That is so important to teams who want to go on and win Divisions and it makes it tough to believe this Indiana Defensive unit can slow down the Spartans.

Payton Thorne has been consistent at Quarter Back and the Spartans Offensive Line have opened up big holes for Kenneth Walker to exploit. The latter arrived in a transfer from Wake Forest and had over 1100 rushing yards for the Demon Deacons and put those up at 5.4 yards per carry, and Walker has come in here to produce 913 yards in 2021 at 7.1 yards per clip.

Kenneth Walker has 9 Touchdowns on the ground and he is facing an Indiana Defensive Line which has allowed an average of 4.3 yards per carry in their last three games. I expect the Spartans to impose themselves in the trenches and that will only make that much more comfortable for Payton Thomas who has almost 1600 passing yards that go along with 14 Touchdowns thrown and just 2 Interceptions.

With very little pass rush being produced, the Indiana Secondary have been carved up at times and I do think Payton Thomas can back up Kenneth Walker and give the Spartans the balance to be very difficult to stop when they have the ball. This should give them every chance to cover as the road underdog and earn revenge for an embarrassing 24-0 home loss to the Hoosiers in 2020.

That motivation cannot be ignored even if Indiana have been very successful with rest under Tom Allen's guidance as Head Coach. The Hoosiers have covered in their last four off a Bye Week, and they are 7-3 against the spread in their last ten home games, but they are only 3-10-1 against the spread in their last fourteen as the home underdog.

Add in the fact that Indiana are 0-7 against the spread when facing an opponent who not only have revenge on their minds, but who have won back to back games going into that revenge meeting. At the same time, Michigan State are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine as Conference favourites of less than 6 points with revenge on their side and I do think the Spartans can be picked as the road favourite here.

Michigan State have covered in their last six as the road favourite and they are 4-0-2 against the spread in 2021. The favourite has also improved to 12-4 against the spread in the last sixteen between these rivals for the Old Brass Spittoon with Indiana covering as 7 point road favourites last season.

I think the Bye Week coming up should mean we see the very best of the Spartans and I also believe they are capable of making the big plays on both sides of the ball to remain unbeaten. They can then prepare for the huge game with their big rivals Michigan on Halloween weekend at the end of the month with plenty of confidence in how they are performing.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Missouri Tigers Pick: This might not have been the season the Texas A&M Aggies (4-2) fans would have been hoping for, but the team are well on course for another Bowl appearance under Jimbo Fisher. They would have been hoping to challenge for the SEC West Divisional title, but the Aggies started off poorly in the Conference.

The entire atmosphere around the team will have changed in Week 7 when the Texas A&M Aggies upset the Alabama Crimson Tide at College Station. Even with that win behind them, the Aggies are still an underdog to make the SEC Championship Game, but it will give the team something to build upon as they get set to face a former Big 12 rival in the latest Conference game.

A trip to Columbia is never going to be easy, but the Missouri Tigers (3-3) are just 0-2 in Conference games and were blown out by the Tennessee Volunteers in their first home SEC game. The Tigers have previously won the SEC East since joining this Conference, but they have been beaten by the Kentucky Wildcats and the focus for the team is reaching six wins and making sure they eligible for a Bowl Game in December.

One of the main issues that have troubled the Missouri Tigers has been stopping teams from putting up big points and that has put a lot of pressure on the Offensive side of the ball to keep up on the scoreboard. They have tried to do their best to do that and Tyler Badie is one of the top Running Backs in the nation at this level- he has an ability to not only pound the ball on the ground, but Badie is a real threat catching the ball out of the backfield and his all-purpose yards and Touchdowns scored are impressive.

The Tigers have been pretty good on this side of the ball, but the Offensive Line will have a tough task in imposing themselves on an Aggies Defensive Line which has held teams to 3.9 yards per carry as they have entered Conference play. With the performances of the Tigers Offensive Line, the feeling is that they will have some success, but it won't be consistent and that will mean needing a bit more from Quarter Back Connor Bazelak.

He has played pretty well this season, but Connor Bazelak will want to improve on this Touchdown-Interception ratio which stands at 12-5 so far this season. Connor Bazelak has shown improvement from 2020 and he has been well protected by his Offensive Line, while I do think there are considerable holes in the Aggies Secondary that can be exploited.

Avoiding mistakes will be key for Connor Bazelak in a game that could see both teams move the ball up and down the field with success.

Texas A&M will have bigger expectations on their shoulders after the win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 6, but Jimbo Fisher will be looking for his players to remain focused having already been beaten by Arkansas and Mississippi State in SEC play this season. They will still have backup Quarter Back Zach Calzada leading the Offensive unit having produced his best game of 2021 since coming in for Hayes King.

Zach Calzada had struggled in the first two games started, but he had a strong showing against the Crimson Tide and will be looking to pick up from where he left off. The benefit for the young Quarter Back is that the Aggies Offensive Line should have their way with the Missouri Defensive Line that has struggled to contain the run all season and being in third and manageable spots should see Texas A&M have plenty of success.

Isaiah Spiller might have less than 500 rushing yards and only three Touchdowns, but I think he will have a strong outing in this one. The Aggies are very much expected to be involved in a back and forth with the Missouri Tigers, but this may still be too many points for the home team to be receiving.

The emotional win over the Alabama Crimson Tide will be difficult to replicate for the Aggies and it is hard to see them laying so many points on the road considering the two SEC defeats already suffered. This is more of a selection that is going against the spot for the Aggies, despite the fact that the Missouri Tigers have failed to cover in their last six at home.

This feels like a game that will see both teams have Offensive success and, with that in mind, it is hard to lay more than a Touchdown worth of points with the road team. Missouri have not covered this season, which is a worry, but I think they can score enough points to stay with an Aggies team that may find it tough to back up what is arguably the biggest win they will have this season and especially with the SEC West title likely beyond them anyway.

Kentucky Wildcats @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: There won't be many who will be surprised to see the Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) at the top of the SEC East, despite the fact they lost their four season grip on the Division in 2020. Now they may be the favourites to win the SEC Championship and represent the Conference in the College Football PlayOff, while a win in Week 7 will put Georgia in a very strong position to win the SEC East before heading into a Bye Week.

Most would have figured the Week 9 game against the Florida Gators would be the biggest obstacle between the Bulldogs and the Divisional title, but the 2021 season has offered up a surprise. That team is the one that will be visiting Athens on Saturday when the Kentucky Wildcats (6-0) arrive with an unbeaten record and the same 4-0 record within the Conference as the Bulldogs.

If they can somehow pick up the upset as a huge road underdog, the Wildcats will be in pole position to win the SEC East and I think Mark Stoops' team would be expected to do enough to win the Division considering what is left on the schedule. Some may feel Kentucky could have built their record on a weak schedule, but the Wildcats will head into Week 7 off the back of consecutive wins over the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers and Mark Stoops needs to be given credit having rejuvenated this school on the Football field having led them to at least seven wins in four straight seasons before the 5-6 record last season.

In saying all that, this is a massive challenge for the Kentucky Wildcats who are facing what many consider to be the best Defensive unit in the SEC and very arguably the best Defensive unit in College Football. The Bulldogs have allowed a total of 33 points in their six games played this season and only 23 points have been given up in their four Conference wins.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Kentucky Wildcats having belief in themselves to challenge those Defensive numbers, but it is a tough match up for them. Much of their success is based on a strong ground game, but the Wildcats are facing a Defensive Line that has been clamping down on the run for fun all season and it is going to be a tall task for Chris Rodriguez Jr to help the Wildcats get much more out of this Defensive Line than any other team has managed.

Will Levis has played well at Quarter Back and has been managing games well, but the problem will be that he will have to do a lot more than he is comfortable with if the Wildcats are struggling to run the ball. The Quarter Back has thrown 11 Touchdown passes, but Will Levis has added 6 Interceptions to that and now will have to be aware of the Georgia Secondary which have been able to make the big plays and turn the ball over.

Nothing we have seen so far this season suggests Kentucky are going to have a lot more Offensive joy than the other opponents that Georgia have played and I do think they are going to have drives stall. Short fields can be produced by the Bulldogs Defensive unit with their ability to force Quarter Backs into pushing too hard and making mistakes, and it is a particular worry for the Kentucky Wildcats that they have scored a total of 3 points in their last two games against the Bulldogs.

It has to be part of the reason the Bulldogs are being asked to cover such a big spread and the question is whether Georgia can produce enough points to do that. The Defensive unit should play their part, while the Bulldogs Offensive Line have been bullying teams up front and helping the team put up some big numbers on the ground.

I have to respect the performance level of the Kentucky Defensive Line, which is talented, but they have been challenged a little more in recent games. The Florida Gators Offensive Line had some success establishing the run and the feeling is that the Georgia Offensive Line is stronger and can get their talented Running Back corps going.

That is the foundation from which Georgia can play their best Offensive Football, even with a potential backup Quarter Back being behind Center. Stetson Bennett is experienced at this level and has played well enough over the last two weeks, but it is a clear drop off from JT Daniels who looks like he may be sidelined at least one more week with a chance to get healthy in the Bye.

Stetson Bennett has not needed to do a lot aside from making sure his Running Backs have gotten the ball in his last two starts, but he did produce 231 passing yards in the win over Auburn in Week 6. Managing the game is key and Bennett has 8 Touchdown passes with 2 Interceptions this season having struggled in his last few starts in 2020, and I expect the Quarter Back to have time in the pocket as long as the Georgia Bulldogs continue to smash teams on the ground.

The Kentucky Secondary has played pretty well and only given up an average of 210 yards per game through the air in their last three. However, they do allow a large completion rate and the feeling is that the Bulldogs can establish the run and not need Stetson Bennett to make too many plays to get their side of the scoreboard moving.

This could be a fun game if the Wildcats are at their best and they have covered in their last two games against the Georgia Bulldogs, although they have lost those games by an average of 16 points per game. The 21 point defeat here two years ago is the closest margin of victory in the last four games between these teams in Athens, but I think this Bulldogs team is capable of doing a little better and covering the decreasing spread.

Mark Stoops is a Head Coach that also needs plenty of respect and he does tend to get the best out of his Kentucky team which means they are a very competitive underdog. However, Georgia have been very good as a favourite under Kirby Smart and the feeling is that the Bulldogs will win in the trenches on both sides of the ball, which ultimately will see their team making the big plays to eventually pull clear of a massive mark.

TCU Horned Frogs @ Oklahoma Sooners Pick: He didn't just enter the season as the Heisman favourite, but many believed Spencer Rattler would be the first Quarter Back taken in the next NFL Draft. Things have not worked out even close to expectation levels and Rattler was benched in Week 6 after the Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) fell into a big hole against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry.

Fans had already begun to tire of some of the Rattler inconsistencies and they have been hoping Lincoln Riley would have turned to Caleb Williams sooner than he has. But now the level of expectation around Caleb Williams will have gone through the roof after the top Quarter Back prospect coming out of High School helped the Sooners rally and remain unbeaten in their late victory over the Longhorns.

Lincoln Riley has yet to state who will be the starting Quarter Back for the Sooners, but at this stage it would be a bigger surprise if Caleb Williams is not the choice of the Head Coach. Being at home will help Williams who will be dealing with a new level of expectation after the strong outing in the win over Texas, while Spencer Rattler has to be wondering what the future will hold for him.

The Sooners will be hosting the TCU Horned Frogs (3-2) who have been inconsistent this season and who will need to avoid a second Big 12 loss if they harbour real ambitions of playing in the Championship Game. Head Coach Gary Patterson has had to deal with injury, but they have snapped a run of back to back defeats in Week 6 and will be looking to carry the momentum over to this game.

His Defensive mindset should help in preparing the Horned Frogs to try and slow down the Oklahoma Sooners Offensive unit, while Gary Patterson will feel he can give Caleb Williams a couple of looks that may confuse him. However, this has not been the kind of Horned Frogs Defense that we have become used to seeing under Patterson and you do have to wonder if they have the confidence to stop the Sooners moving the ball up and down the field.

Caleb Williams is a dual-threat Quarter Back, which will make it that much tougher for the Horned Frogs to contain the Oklahoma Offense, and I do think the Sooners could have one of their more consistent outings. The Offensive Line is likely going to be bully the TCU Defensive Line around, especially as the latter have allowed an average of just shy of 280 yards per game on the ground in their last three games.

Those yards have been picked up at an eye-watering 6.0 yards per carry and there is little doubt that the Oklahoma Sooners will be able to exploit those holes and especially with a Quarter Back like Caleb Williams behind Center. With the Sooners likely operating in third and manageable spots, Williams is likely going to have a strong showing throwing the ball too and I do think the Sooners are going to put up some big points in this game.

The question then becomes whether the TCU Horned Frogs can keep up with their hosts, but that will be much more difficult if both Max Duggen and Zach Evans are unable to suit up. Both are questionable for the game, but at this point you would expect the Horned Frogs to give their starting Quarter Back and starting Running Back all of the time they need to make sure they are ready to go.

Without them you would expect the Sooners to pull away for a pretty comfortable win, but even with both Duggan and Evans in the line up, it won't be easy for the Horned Frogs to have a consistent success Offensively. The Sooners have given up some big points in their last couple of games, but they do look to match up pretty well with what the Horned Frogs are going to want to do in this game.

TCU like to run the ball and use that to open up the passing lanes, but the Oklahoma Sooners have a tough Defensive Line and are more exploitable through the air. The Defensive Line should be able to make enough plays against Zach Evans or his replacement to at least put TCU in a difficult position to sustain drives and that may lead to a good looking win for the Sooners.

I would expect Max Duggan to have some big throws, but the excitement around the Oklahoma Sooners should see the fans make it difficult for TCU to sustain their drives. The Sooners should have too many points for a TCU team who have lost to the SMU Mustangs and Texas Longhorns already this season and three of the last four wins for the Oklahoma Sooners in this series have come by 19 or more points.

The favourite is now 5-1 against the spread in the last six in this series.

The Oklahoma Sooners are 7-3 against the spread in their last ten Big 12 Conference games, while the TCU Horned Frogs are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven road games as the underdog. In what should be a high-scoring game, the Sooners should have the consistency to finish off more drives with Touchdowns than the TCU Horned Frogs and that should see them pull clear for a strong win.

MY PICKS: Florida Gators - 12 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bearcats - 21 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michigan State Spartans - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Missouri Tigers + 11 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 21.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Oklahoma Sooners - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders - 18 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet

Mississippi State Bulldogs + 17.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Iowa State Cyclones - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 6: 3-3, - 0.27 Units (6 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 5: 5-6, - 1.41 Units (11 Units Staked, - 12.82% Yield)

Week 4: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.44 Units (8 Units Staked, + 18% Yield)

Week 2: 7-3, + 3.45 Units (10 Units Staked, + 34.50% Yield)

Week 1: 5-6-1, - 1.45 Units (12 Units Staked, - 12.08% Yield)