Another distinctly average week on the prediction front last time round with only four correct forecasts resulting in a £4 loss and overall prediction profits down to £16.50. The disappointment was of course tempered by one of the correct predictions as England took a well-deserved 1 - 0 lead in the Ashes series in Australia.
This week the predictions cover Barclays Premier League Football, Heineken Cup European Rugby and NFL American Football.
In the premier league the top four teams from last season who all progressed through to the Champions League knockout stages this week take on each other. The league table is taking a familiar look with last season's top five all in the top five positions again and so this weekend becomes perhaps the most significant so far this season. On Sunday Spurs in fifth place host third place Chelsea and this is difficult to call as Chelsea are on their worst run in years and Spurs whilst playing attractive football don't keep clean sheets. My prediction therefore is a draw but one that should contain goals! On Monday Arsenal (league leaders) with the league's best away record travel to Old Trafford and Manchester United (second place) with the best home record. Again, I can't see beyond a draw.
This means that Manchester City in fourth place can make further progress and no doubt will be thrilled to be travelling to bottom of the table West Ham where an away win is my prediction. Most of the rest of the games involve local teams in the North West or Midlands and one of these sees Everton host Wigan where I'm predicting a home win. My final prediction is at Newcastle, under new manager Alan Pardew, who host Liverpool. Like many neutrals I like Newcastle but have been less than impressed by the way they have treated Chris Hughton and in a sense would not be bothered to see them lose this weekend, but having said that it is not really the new manager's fault he has been offered the job and so based on recent form will predict a draw between these two famous clubs.
After the Autumn Internationals and one week of Premiership rugby the Heineken Cup returns this weekend with some intriguing fixtures that could go a long way to defining the final tables. Though away wins in this tournament are rare, this week I am going for three away wins which has the potential to make me look rather foolish - some would say no change there then!! My predictions are for Leicester to win in Perpignan, the Ospreys to win at Munster (who are pretty much invincible in Limerick) and Wasps to triumph at the Dragons.
In the same vein I am also predicting away wins in a couple of this week's NFL matches as the New York Giants visit the Minnesota Vikings and in Chicago where the visitors are the New England Patriots.
An intriguing weekend of sport is in prospect and in summary the predictions are:
Barclays Premier League Football
Everton to beat Wigan at 1/2
Manchester City to win at West Ham at Evens
Newcastle to draw with Liverpool at 12/5
Spurs to draw with Chelsea at 5/2
Manchester United to draw with Arsenal at 13/5
Heineken Cup Rugby
Leicester to win in Perpignan at 23/17
Ospreys to win at Munster at 7/2
Wasps to win at the Dragons at 8/15
NFL American Football
Giants to win at the Vikings at 4/6
Patriots to win at the Bears at 8/13
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