Martin Griffiths – Sports Handicapper

Here we go again with the Patriots in a Conference final but this is clearly not the same New England that we have seen in previous years, they are still a very good team but their aura of invincibility has gone and this game tonight could see the end of an era.

The Patriots beat the Chiefs earlier in the season but the Chiefs have simply been the better team overall, they run up the points for fun, they have an extraordinarily confident quarterback and with the creaking Patriots defence now more vulnerable than it has ever been I do see Kansas winning this game and by more than the three points on the spread.

Home advantage is there but in all fairness to the Patriots they will probably feed off of that, they are relishing the underdog tag and all the negative comments about them but there is a reason for those negative comments, it is because they are valid, Tom Brady has aged, the defence is weaker than before and their offense is not as consistent as it was.

If the Chiefs play like we all know they can then they will win, I am confident they will be able to repel the Patriots offense far more than New England will be able to contain the Chiefs offense and it would not surprise me to see the Chiefs win by double digits.

All things considered, I am going with the Chiefs -3

Massive game for both teams with the winner progressing to the Superbowl and it is the Rams that I am going with to at least cover the spread in this game and in my opinion, to probably win.

I know that the Saints saw off the Rams earlier in the season but over the last month or so I have not seen the same explosive Saints that I saw earlier in the season, in fact, in their last six games the most they won by was 14 points against Tampa Bay and apart from that game the most they have won by over that period is the six points gap they had over the Eagles last week, they have, in fact, lost twice in their last six games and won three of the other four by just three points, they basically appear to be a team that has already peaked.

The Rams have their vulnerabilities, we all know that, but they can still be explosive, they have won their last three games on the bounce by margins of 22. 16 and 8 points and I expect to see them in that sort of form again today.

It will be a close game for sure, the Saints do have home advantage but for me, they are a team that is slowing down, whereas the Rams still have that spark about them and for me, that will be the difference today.

This game will be won by the offense today and the Rams offense is simply more potent at this minute in time and for that reason, I am backing them on the spreads today.

Take the Rams +3

Two of the better Italian teams meet today in Naples and with home advantage and the better form I am backing Napoli to emerge with the win.

Napoli are second in Serie A, 12 points ahead of 5th placed Lazio, they enter this game on the back of 12 wins and 3 draws at home in the league, in fact, they have not lost at home since March 2018.

Lazio is quite decent on the road but two wins from their last six away games in Serie A shows where their vulnerability is and over the last seven meetings between these teams, both home and away, they have come away with six losses and just one draw.

Napoli are formidable at home, they are in great form and they are playing a team today that has been unable to beat them in quite a while now with mixed current form.

All things considered, I am backing Napoli to win today.

Napoli -0.5

A lot will be made of the fact that Harry Kane is injured and will not be playing for Tottenham today and his loss is huge but Tottenham has enough top-class players in their side that they can cope without him against today's sort of opponent.

Tottenham will also be without Son Heung Min, Kane's able sidekick and back up but they are a far superior side to Fulham and with players like Alli, Eriksen, Lamela and Moura all more than capable of scoring goals they still have enough firepower to overpower Fulham today.

Tottenham is the best away side in the Premier League, they have collected 30 points from a possible 36, they are third in the standings and a win today will keep their slim title hopes alive.

Fulham is second bottom, they have won just three times at home this season, they have just two wins in their last 19 league games and enter this game having lost their last three games on the bounce.

Despite being without their first two choice strikers I cannot see anything other than a convincing Tottenham win today

Tottenham -0.75