Kazeka1886

Storm are 2-2 after suffering back-to-back losses following 2 wins to start the season, while Panthers are a perfect 4-0 with 2 impressively convincing performances. Storm rarely lose 2 games in a row under Bellamy, so they should be very alert for this one, especially given how well the Panthers have been playing. Panthers were dominant in all aspects of the game in each of their matches and look like prime contenders once again. However, their head-to-head meetings are usually tight and well contested, and Storm won the last 4 in the regular season, while the Panthers' last win came by 8 points in the 2024 Grand Final. Panthers are the better side here, but this will be a step up in class for them considering how hungrily Storm will play after back-to-back losses, so got to expect a great game that should hang in the balance through the whole 80 minutes, making Storm plus a big head start a better side to be on.

Storm is allowing 17.5 points per game defensively, while Panthers are allowing the league's best, only 7.5 points per game, having conceded just 6 tries in their first 4 games. Their head-to-head matches are normally very tight and well contested as 20 of the last 26 games between them stayed below this margin. Storm should look to slow the ruck down to lower the pressure Panthers can put on them offensively. This should lead to a playoff-like tempo and a battle for field position between two fierce defenses, which should result in a lower-scoring game and an under.

Crewe is 7th with 63 points, holding the final spot that leads to the playoff for promotion, with 5 teams behind them within 3 points. On the other side, Accrington Stanley is 15th with 48 points, safe in the middle without much chance to move up or down. Crewe is in very good form, having won 6 of their last 10 games, including 3 of their last 5 road trips, while Accrington Stanley is winless in their last 8 games with 2 draws and 6 losses. Crewe scored 6 goals in their last 2 games, while Accrington Stanley failed to score in their last 4 games. Crewe won their first H2H match of the season and also won on their last visit here, so got to feel like the visitors will be the more motivated side and will eventually find a way to secure all 3 points.

Blackpool is 20th with 45 points, sitting 2 points above the relegation zone where Exeter lies with 43 points, so this is a huge game in the battle for survival. However, Blackpool is in much better form of late, having picked up 7 points in their last 3 games, and they are undefeated in their last 4 home games with 3 wins. Conversely, Exeter is winless in their last 14 games, having lost 6 of the last 8 of those games. Blackpool won all 6 previous H2H encounters against Exeter at home on Bloomfield Road, and at the moment, the hosts have all the momentum, which should see them edge out this one for 3 hugely important points.

Boreham Wood is 4th with 78 points while Wealdstone is 12th with 51 points. Boreham Wood is undefeated in their last 5 home games with 4 wins and 15 goals scored in that span. On the other side, Wealdstone lost 7 of their last 10 road games, getting outscored 1-15 in those 7 losses. Boreham Wood is undefeated in their last 6 H2H meetings with 5 wins, including the first match of this season and the last match they played here, both convincing 4-goal victories, so got to expect Boreham Wood to dominate here and win this one.

Leicester is 22nd with 39 points, sitting 1 point below safety, with note that 6-point deduction pushed them there. On the other side, Preston is right in the middle, sitting in 13th place with 52 points being 11 points below the places that lead to the playoffs for promotion and 13 points clear of danger. Leicester has been better of late, winning points in 5 of their last 7 games, while Preston lost 8 of their last 13 games, including 4 of their last 5. This is a huge game for Leicester, being the "easiest" home game left on the schedule, with 2 of the 3 remaining after this coming against top-5 sides. Going against a not-very-motivated Preston, who can't move up or down much until the end of the season which their recent results reflect, simply got to expect a highly motivated Foxes side to get the much-needed 3 points.

Luton is 11th with 55 points, sitting 5 points below the final spot that leads to the playoff for promotion, while Peterborough is right behind them in 12th with 5 fewer points. Luton is undefeated in their last 4 games with 2 wins, and they have been excellent of late at home, being 6-3-1 in their last 10 games at Kenilworth Road. Conversely, Peterborough has only 1 win in their last 7 games and they are winless in their last 5 road games with 3 losses. Luton is undefeated in their last 5 head-to-head meetings with 4 wins, and they won their last 3 home league matches against Peterborough, so got to give the edge to hosts and back Luton to win this one.

Norwich is 10th with 54 points, while Portsmouth is 21st with 40 points, sitting just 1 point above the relegation zone. Norwich is in superb form, having won 10 of their last 13 games, and sit just 9 points below the final spot that leads to the playoffs for promotion after being in the relegation zone for most of the first half of the season. On the other side, Portsmouth is really struggling of late, being winless in their last 6 games with 5 losses, of which the last one was a huge 1-6 thumping at QPR, while the lone point in that span came against another struggling side, Blackburn, who have just 3 points more than them. Norwich won their first head-to-head match of the season at Fratton Park and, at the moment, they just look much better than Pompey, so got to expect the Canaries to have the upper hand in this one and win in the end.

Walsall is 11th with 61 points, sitting just 2 points below the final spot that leads to the playoff for promotion, while Gillingham is 17th with 16 fewer points but comfortably 14 points above the danger zone. Walsall is undefeated in their last 4 games with 2 wins and 2 draws, while Gillingham lost 10 of their last 13 games, including the last 5 in which they were outscored 2-16. Walsall is undefeated in their last 4 head-to-head meetings at home, with 3 wins, so got to expect the more motivated hosts to have the upper hand in this one and win.

McCarthy has an excellent record here at the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, being 5 for 6 with 4 top-20 finishes, highlighted by runner-up finish in 2024 when he lost a playoff after firing a 9-under-par round of 63 on Sunday. He is coming off back to back fine displays, finishing T26 at the Valspar Championship and T12 last week at the Houston Open, where he shot 4 rounds of 68 or better and fired bogey-free weekend rounds of 67-66. He is very good in windy conditions, and Texas weather is always challenging and windy, so got to expect another strong showing from Denny this weekend.

Mitchell has been playing very consistently for a while now, having made the cut in the last 13 events he played in. He has 3 top-15 finishes this year, the last one coming just last week at the Houston Open, where he closed with a bogey-free round of 65. He is 4-for-4 here at TPC San Antonio with finishes of 26, 17, 14 and T12 last year, when he opened with a superb 8-under-par round of 64, so with the good form he brings to a course where he normally plays well, simply got to see nice value backing Keith to be right in the mix come Sunday afternoon.

Hisatsune is playing very well this season, having made the cut in 8 straight events with 3 top-10 finishes, highlighted by T2 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He was T5 here a year ago despite shooting just 73-74 over the weekend. Ryo ranks 3rd for Greens in Regulation on the PGA Tour this season, and his putter looked really good on these tough greens to put on last year here at TPC San Antonio, so got to feel like Ryo should go well again this week and earn another strong result.