Bundesliga Round 1

Bayern are the class of Bundesliga once again and have their opponent outclassed in this one. The question isn’t if they’ll win but rather by how much and will they play it hard until the end. I’m reluctant to get involved with a side in this one but will lean to the Over 3.5 as the Reds should score at least 3 themselves and a fourth is not unlikely nor would I count out HSV sneaking one into the back of the net.

FC Augsburg- Hertha Berlin
FC Augsburg -.5 and a total of 2.25

Hertha Berlin managed a poor offensive showing last season to match their constantly atrocious defense. Without the addition of a striker this offseason, it’s difficult to see any improvement on the horizon. Augsburg should come through at home and I will back them to win against this bottom of the table side.

Hoffenheim lost a first round match in the DFB-Pokal to second tier side 1860 Munich just a few days ago. I can’t see that as a sign of confidence for the start of a new campaign. Bayern have the offense to put a few in the net and open with a comfortable win at home. Bayer laying a goal is the play.

Darmstadt are newly promoted and would like to stay longer than these first 34 matches. Promoted sides do not normally fare well in this league and are usually relegated back in short order but we are looking at one match not an entire campaign. The Lilies had the top defense in the second tier last season and defense should once again be their strength. Calling the offense a weakness is an understatement as last seasons 44 goals does not look promising when moving up to the top tier where those goals will be harder to come by. Hannover are a side in decline and may find themselves fighting relegation in a few months. Offense is a problem for Hannover as well and losing Lars Stindl to Monchengladbach will cost the Reds the leadership that he brought to the team. The value here is with Darmstadt and in a low scoring affair I will take the Under 2.5 and the Lilies on the DNB.

Ingolstadt – Mainz
Mainz -.5 and a total of 2.25

Ingolstadt have ascended to the top flight of German soccer in just a shave over a decade since the team was founded. They will need improvement on defense if they are to survive their first campaign against the big boys. As for Mainz, the talent may be there but Schmidt is still putting it together with new transfers in the fold. If this match were happening a month or more into the season I would be solidly on Mainz but in the opening week I like the over 2.5 at plus odds.

Schalke – Werder Bremen
Schalke -.25 and total of 2.75

Werder Bremen look to start better than the 2014/15 campaign which saw them take 10 matches to notch their first win. Schalke are looking to move up the table this season but start out against a side that might be better than most are led to believe. No play on a side but lean to the under.

B.Monchengladbach- B.Dortmund
B Dortmund -.75 and total of 2.5

These two sides find themselves grouped together with a few others, all chasing Bayern this year but none real close to catching them. Dortmund took their supporters through highs and lows last season and will look to avoid that roller coaster of emotion in this campaign. Monchengladbach are coming off a solid campaign, finishing 3rd in the table, and we should get a solid showing from them here. Monchengladbach on the goal line is the play and put a bit on the draw as it holds holds value as well.

Wolfsburg – Eintracht Frankfurt
Wolfsburg -1.25 and a total of 3.25

Wolfsburg are coming off a tremendously surprising campaign topped off by a recent win over Bayern in the Super Cup final. This side is solid and look to repeat last season’s success. With the arrival of striker Max Kruse, Wolfsburg will be a side to watch and have the best chance at overtaking Bayern at the top. Frankfurt are simply outclassed here so take Wolfsburg laying the goal.

Koln managed to survive immediate relegation after being promoted to start the last campaign with a strong middle of the table finish. The defense is a strength but the offense will be a question mark until we see how they fare without Ujah. With so many new faces, Koln must mesh together quickly to avoid falling behind and getting on the fast track to the drop zone this season. Stuttgart narrowly escaped a drop last campaign with a win over Paderborn in the last week. With Zorniger calling the shots, expect a bit more from Stuttgart this year but probably not this early. Koln getting half a goal is the play along with the under.