EPL Round 23
The Super Bowl may be taking center stage here in the States but the Premiership stops for no one!. James Kempton is back with his gambling game capsules for a busy weekend highlighted by a showdown at the Etihad between the top two teams in the EPL table.
Hull vs Newcastle
Pick and 2.25
Until Newcastle appoint a manager you either go against them or avoid them. On the Pick line I will shade with the home team and even on an under 2.25 line I’m happy to side with limited scoring at the KC Stadium.
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Pick Goals 2.25
Another game where on a Pick line I’m happy to support the home team Crystal Palace. Everton will win again this season but until I see it with my eyes I cannot back them against a home team with significant momentum.
Liverpool vs West Ham
Liverpool -0.75 Goals 2.75
The Hammers are resilient, don’t concede many goals, and bar the really elite teams I can’t have them laying more than half a goal against any EPL team. Liverpool are not an elite side and on the goal line I particularly like the under 2.75 as I can’t see Liverpool carving the away team up at will.
Manchester United vs Leicester City
United -1.5 Goals 3
This game is priced so accurately that I don’t even want to try and figure it out. My only thought would be to the goal market and if you believe Leicester can prevent United from keeping a clean sheet then an overs ticket will probably cash. I’m just not sure they can…
Stoke vs QPR
Stoke -0.75 Goals 2.5
Twenty nine goals have been scored in QPR’s away games while Stoke have conceded 12 times at home this season… keeping just two clean sheets in the five matches where they’ve hosted bottom half placed teams. Give me an over 2.5 goals ticket in this game.
Sunderland v Burnley
Sunderland -0.25 Goals 2.25
I’d be happy to be on the home team minus just a quarter of a goal in this spot. This is a big game for the Mackems and they know how badly they need a win. However, my preferred bet is with the over 2.25 goals as Burnley fill me with no confidence that they can limit Sunderland to just a single goal.
West Brom vs Spurs
Pick Goals 2.25
West Brom have improved since Tony Pulis took over at the Hawthornes but straight up I’m happy to side with Pochettino’s men. Baggies backers may want to hang on as late as possible as the money is sure to come in for Spurs with the line trending towards the away team as a short -0.25 favorite by kick off.
Chelsea v Man City
Chelsea -0.5 Goals 2.75
The game of the weekend with both sides humiliated in the FA Cup last Saturday. Chelsea did get by Liverpool mid-week scoring in extra time of their Capital One Cup match. If you need a manager to spark a response from his players then look no further than Jose. All the value is with the home side in this one but be be advised no Diego Costa up front will challenge their attacking punch.
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal -1.75 Goals 2.75
This could have been very messy for Villa as they cannot seem to buy an EPL goal but the Gunners operating without Alexis Sanchez puts them at a major disadvantage covering the handicap. I’d originally have said the home team could cover the over on their own but without Sanchez this may be a game to swerve.
Southampton v Swansea
Southampton -0.75 goals 2.25
On paper this should be one of the most attractive games of the weekend. The Swans are 2-3-5 on the road and in three of those five games they were beaten by more than one goal. Those stats suggest it will be a close home win so I am taking the home team but only straight up rather than laying the goals.
