Sutton Takes on Football Manager: Who Will Predict Better This Weekend?

In the ongoing prediction showdown at BBC Sport, Chris Sutton isn't just up against the usual competition; he's taking on a digital rival this week. Enter Football Manager 27, the latest installment of the beloved management simulation, set to launch on November 10. The FM27 game engine has simulated this weekend’s matches, and its predicted outcomes, complete with goalscorers, are already in. Joining the fray is Miles Jacobson, the studio director at Sports Interactive, the brains behind Football Manager. Are you on board with their forecasts? You can throw your hat in the ring and make your own predictions below. The most common scoreline chosen for each match contributes to the scoreboards and tables featured at the bottom of the article. Nail the result—whether it’s a win, draw, or loss—and you’ll bag yourself 10 points. If you get the exact score, that’s a whopping 40 points! Feeling inspired to predict more? Dive into BBC Sport’s new Match of the Day predictor game, which runs weekly and includes six fixtures from both domestic and European competitions. One of the standout features in Football Manager 27 is the enhanced customization for your manager's appearance, including representation for wheelchair-using managers for the first time. "We’re incredibly proud of this feature," Jacobson shared. "While it might seem minor to some, for wheelchair users, being represented in a game they love is monumental. Seeing the joy in their reactions through social media was truly emotional for me." FM27 aims to create a more immersive experience, introducing a new training system dubbed Tactical Effectiveness. "This mirrors real life when a new manager brings a fresh approach. Players need time to adapt to new tactics," Jacobson explained. "As a manager, you must choose whether to dive deep into complex strategies or start with the basics and build from there. It’s akin to what Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner mentioned after their recent defeat—he’s urging his players to heed his instructions." Chris Sutton and Miles Jacobson shared their insights with BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. The AI predictions were generated via Microsoft Copilot Chat, which was simply prompted to predict the weekend's Premier League scores. At Hill Dickinson Stadium, Coventry is making its mark among the newly promoted teams, securing three wins in the Premier League. That’s as many as sixth-placed Brentford has managed. Despite their mixed performances, Coventry's fearless approach has earned them valuable points. However, I don’t see them troubling Everton, especially with Frank Lampard back at the helm of his former club. While Everton isn't a high-scoring team, their experience should see them edge out Coventry. Sutton predicts a 2-0 victory for Everton, and interestingly, FM27 concurs with the same scoreline. Jacobson added his thoughts, saying, "Both teams are in decent form, but I leaned towards Everton winning. Their defense is solid, and Coventry may find it tougher to penetrate than they did against Sunderland. I'm going with a 2-1 for Everton." Moving to Elland Road for the 12:30 kick-off, Tottenham has a strong historical record against Leeds, losing just once in their last 15 Premier League encounters. I have a belief that certain teams just have a knack for performing against specific opponents. Personally, I always struggled at some grounds while thriving at others. So, I’m not backing Leeds to win this one. Instead, I expect Tottenham to maintain their momentum. Their recent form has seen them rise in confidence, although I don’t believe they’ll clinch a fourth straight win. Leeds, despite some unfortunate losses, have been struggling to find the back of the net. It should be a tightly contested match.