Saturday, August 31, 2013
Manchester City vs. Hull City (NBCSN, 7:55 a.m. ET/4:55 a.m. PT): We all know what happened last Sunday in Wales when mighty Manchester City was shocked by The Little Engine That Could, Cardiff City, 3-1 in the Bluebirds first game in England’s top flight of football in over 50 years. So no doubt the Sky Blues will be on their best behavior and in a very foul mood here heading into this mismatch at the Etihad. Surprisingly, the Tigers have as many wins and points as City but no doubt this is a sentence that will only have a shelf life of about six days my friend so best digest before the mold grows. Hull edged Norwich City, 1-0 at the KC Stadium in its home opener—despite being down a man—thanks to a Robbie Brady penalty kick in the first half but now reality returns with a date in Manchester with a mad team that looked extremely flat and unmotivated at Cardiff City. The moneyline odds here are way too steep (-600) for a straight bet so a small bet on City -2 goals (-110) is probably the way to go as the Sky Blues defense is usually pretty solid despite often suspect goalkeeper Joe Hart. Manager Manuel Pellegrini and his team won’t want to fall too far behind rivals Manchester United and Chelsea so overdue goals from Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko and maybe one from one of the new summer signings should stem the tide of the home team’s paranoia for a least a week.
BET: Manchester City -2 -110
PREDICTION: Manchester City 3 Hull City 0
Cardiff City vs. Everton (NBC Sports Network Extra, 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT): So, so, so tempted to take a shot on the big home underdog Cardiff City on the three-way line (+240) or even the pick ‘em line (+140) in this one after seeing how much the raucous crowd helped their boys upset City on Sunday but will resist out of simple respect to Marouane Fellaini’s growing mane which has to be the place they hid Jimmy Hoffa’s body in. With Everton in town on Saturday, the Bluebirds have a chance to further impress the football world but no doubt the Toffees won’t underestimate the Welsh side here. But after a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion and goalkeeper Ben Foster, hard to back Everton here knowing how much Cardiff City’s first win meant to them. Instead, prefer to recommend the under here as goals will probably be hard to come by with both sides doing everything possible to avoid a loss in this situation. Also, the draw (+240) may be worth a look for the more savvy gamblers, or punters if you’re feeling sexy Sammy.
BET: Under -2½ -125
PREDICTION: Cardiff City 1 Everton 1
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Liverpool vs. Manchester United (NBCSN, 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT): It’s September already Susie? Wow. It was just August a paragraph ago so better start your Christmas shopping soon as Santa Claus will be stuck in your chimney before you know it Bubba. But back to the business at hand: trying to win a dollar or two for swiss cheese, cat food and sensible shoes. If there is a must-watch game in the English Premier League this weekend, this showdown at Anfield would be the one. Liverpool is off to a nice start courtesy of two 1-0 wins via Daniel Sturridge goals and the Reds are just one of three teams—along with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United—to have yet to allow a goal this season, thanks in great part to new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who sounds like he would be better suited being a sous-chef. Liverpool may be the surprise team in the Premier League this season but wins over Stoke City and Aston Villa, although impressive, aren’t enough to get too cocky about just yet. Now a win against the defending champion Red Devils? That would certainly be worth chirping about in Merseyside. United comes in off an extremely boring 0-0 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday and, at press time, still had Wayne Rooney wearing the shield. Despite both sides coming off clean sheets, lean toward the over here as seven of the last 10 in the series have gone over (31 total goals) and the Red Devils will be motivated after a very likely City win over Hull on Saturday and their tie with the Blues. David Moyes’ team is 6-1-3 in the last 10 against Liverpool and won 2-1 at Anfield in this fixture last season, a scoreline which has actually happened the last three league meetings, all Red Devils victories. Let’s not go out on a limb and say that happens a fourth straight time sister.
BETS: Manchester United +185 (Three-way), Manchester United Pick, Even, Over -2½ -115
PREDICTION: Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur (NBCSN 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT): The second-best game of the weekend follows with this North London derby from the Emirates—a rivalry which has existed since the Gunners 1913 move to the Highbury area according to the good folks over at Wikipedia. Good enough for me. But we have some not-so serious handicapping to do here Jimmy and despite Spurs not having allowed a goal as of yet, gonna go with the recent series trends and back the over which has gone over nine of the last 10 times and eight straight (45 total goals). And there have been 17 goals in the last three meetings so banking on a total of three here doesn’t seem too greedy. Despite Arsenal being much-maligned by almost everyone, everywhere all of the time, siding with the homeboys here despite Tottenham’s slight 4-3-3 edge over the last 10 showdowns. The beat-up Gunners looked decent in their UEFA Champions League qualifier at Fenerbahçe last Tuesday as well as in their 3-1 win at Fulham over the weekend. Arsenal hosted Fenerbahçe in the return CL leg mid-week, but despite the possible wear-and-tear and injuries, this gritty team seems to just win when it has to. The pick ’em line (-180) seems the route to go as André Villas-Boas and his boys will definitely put up a good fight and may even earn the draw but knowing that Arsenal has trounced Spurs, 5-2 in the last two meetings at the Emirates in league play, feel better about taking Arsene Wenger’s club here in the last game on the board this weekend.
BETS: Arsenal Pick -180, Over -2½ -140
PREDICTION: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1
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