Soccer Saturday – Manchester City vs. Stoke City

Manchester City are sixth in the table, six points shy of a place in the top four. The Citizens are coming off a hard fought 4:3 victory over Sunderland last weekend. Stoke City meanwhile lost 1:0 to Aston Villa on the away.

Soccer Betting Line:

Manchester City  -1  -135   -225   3  O +120   U -140   Draw   +325    
Stoke City  +1  +115   +650 3  O +120   U -140   Draw   +325    

Match Time: 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday December 29, 2009
Venue: City of Mcr. Stadium

Soccer Betting Verdict: Manchester City are enjoying an undefeated run at home in their last seven. They extended their streak with a dramatic win over Sunderland on Saturday. The seven-goal thriller was highlighted by Roque Santa Cruz’s winning goal in the 69th minute – five minutes after Jones levelled the score for Sunderland.

Mark Hughes fought hard to get Cruz from Blackburn Rovers to Man City. Seems like he knew what he was doing. Hughes also made the gutsy decision to drop underperforming duo Robinho and Adebayor (about time if you ask me especially where the former was concerned).

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Indeed, Hughes has done a lot to shape and build the squad. And on Saturday, as he watched his Citizens rip apart the Black Cats with undisguised pride, they were a credit to him as a manager. So it is not without some surprise the news of his sacking is received.  

The Citizens are looking ahead to life without Mark Hughes as Roberto Mancini is set to take over the reins on Boxing Day. How this change is going to affect the locker room is anybody’s guess. Things are a little shaky in their camp but good news is that they are still performing well at home – albeit not at title-race level.

Stoke City can be a frustrating outfit to play against at the best of times. They are not enjoying the best of times right now though. They are 11th in the table on 21 points after 17 cycles. In their last six they have been inconsistent, hauling five points with a 1-2-3 mark. On the road, they are after back-to-back losses.

Soccer Free Picks: Man City have no excuse not to win this match. They have home edge as well as “on paper “edge. The future might be a little uncertain right now with all the ins and outs in their camp, but they have to focus on what matters most: winning matches. Man City at -225 is the better play. Stoke City are a long shot bet, so much so that I would recommend avoiding them on the money line.

EPL Betting: West Ham United vs. Portsmouth FC

Relegation rivals West Ham United and Portsmouth FC are set to collide on Saturday in a match that will be of huge importance to both in gaining valuable survival points. West Ham United held their own admirably against Chelsea FC at the weekend, taking a point of the Blues – a result that was decidedly better than most would have expected of them considering the miserable season they are having. Portsmouth, on the other hand, outdid West Ham United by taking all three points from a struggling Liverpool FC during last week’s Premier League action. Still, the result was not enough to pull Portsmouth out of the trenches.

So, a good week for the Hammers and Pompey all things considered, but can the bottom two sides make it count this week?

Soccer Betting Line:

West Ham United -½ +115 +115 2½ O +105 U -125 Draw +225
Portsmouth FC +½ -135 +240 2½ O +105 U -125 Draw +225

Match Time: 08:00 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday December 26, 2009

Venue: Boleyn Ground

Soccer Betting Verdict: This match is going to be a nervy affair as neither side wants to move in a negative direction. Perhaps, none more so, than West Ham United, who are 19 th in the table but only a point clear of 20 th Portsmouth. A loss for the Hammers would be calamitous, as they would hit the Premier Leagues rock bottom.

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West Ham United snapped a three-match losing streak against Chelsea FC when they drew 1:1 with the Blues at Boleyn Ground. They have to take some confidence from that result and make it count against Portsmouth surely. But fact is they have been moving in the wrong direction in the table for some time and there have been few convincing signs that they are on the mend.

While West Ham United have been on a decidedly negative trend these past few months Portsmouth has managed to turn things around in a positive way. They have improved on form recently but because they lost so much ground at the start of the season, the results are yet to affect the bottom line. Indeed, if they continue with some measure of success during the next few weeks they will see it reflected in a much better standing in the Premier League table.

Soccer Free Picks: West Ham United are given the edge in this match (+115 at BetOnline) and because they have been better at home than on the road they have a good shot to win this match and widen the gap between them and relegation rivals Portsmouth. In their last six home matches, they have gone 2-2-2.

Portsmouth have been unable to get any sort of run going – unless you considering a losing streak a run. They have managed to claw their way back within a few points of safety with interspersed wins and draws at home and on the road. Last week they managed a coup with a victory over Liverpool and you have to believe they will fancy their chances against West Ham United. As such, they do seem rather tempting at +240 to win outright. For my part, I like the draw between these two sides only because both will be fearful to risk too much. So the draw at +225 is the recommended play.

Soccer Saturday Parlay – Sunderland take on Everton, Wigan battle Blackburn

Weekend English Premier League action is a jam-packed affair with two cycles of fixtures running from Saturday to Tuesday. Indeed, soccer bettors are spoiled for choice. Here is a quick look at two fixtures set to get underway on Saturday Sunderland vs. Everton and Wigan Athletic vs. Blackburn Rovers.

Match Time: 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday December 29, 2009

Venue: Stadium of Light

Soccer Betting Line:

Sunderland AFC pk -140 +140 2½ O +115 U -135 Draw +225
Everton pk +120 +190 2½ O +115 U -135 Draw +225

Soccer Betting Verdict: Sunderland are after a heartbreaking loss to Manchester City. They very nearly managed to share in the spoils but for a late goal by Cruz that carried the Citizens to victory. This latest disappointment is just another in a string of disappointing results. Nothing seems to be going Sunderland’s way. In their last six matches, they have managed to haul only four points.

Good news for the Black Cats Everton is just as off the boil off as they are. They managed only three points in their last six. Two outfits decidedly on a negative trend. Can’t see a win in this match.

Soccer Free Picks: Draw +225 | Under 2 ½ -135

Soccer Betting Line:

Wigan Athletic pk -145 +135 2½ O +120 U -140 Draw +225
Blackburn Rovers pk +125 +200 2½ O +120 U -140 Draw +225

Match Time: 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday December 29, 2009

Venue: DW Stadium

Soccer Betting Verdict: Only a point separates Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic in the table. The home side are 16th in the table after 17 cycles on 18 points while the visitors are 13th in the table after 18 cycles on 19 points. This match is crucial to both sides, as they will be looking for survival points.

Both will try to avoid losing ground in the standings and as such, this should be a cautious affair. If the lay of the land is not determined in the first 60 minutes, watch them play the score. This is another match with a high probability of ending in a draw.

Soccer Free Picks: Draw +225 | Under 2 ½ -140

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Arsenal and Manchester United in Sunday Premier League Action

Arsenal are gearing up for a tough battle against Aston Villa while Manchester United has a slightly easier prospect ahead against Hull City. While Arsenal are after a convincing 3:0 win over Hull City at the weekend Man U are after a wretched performance against Fulham that saw them humbled 3:0 at Craven Cottage. After last weekend, Arsenal moved within two points of Man U in the table.

If they continue on this positive trend, they stand a chance to overhaul Man U. In fact, Aston Villa, fourth in the table right now, is level on points with Arsenal; they too stand to shake things up after this weekend with a win over Arsenal. Man U has to be feeling the pressure just about now and if they want to hold on to their place in the standings they need to snap the negative trend against Hull.

Soccer Betting Line:

Arsenal FC -½ -140 -140 2½ O -135 U +115 1½ O -120 U Ev Draw +260
Aston Villa +½ +120 +400 2½ O -135 U +115 1 O +120 U -140 Draw +260

Match Time: 8:30 AM Eastern Time Sunday December 27, 2009

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Soccer Betting Verdict: Arsenal and Aston clashing on Sunday has to be the highlight of the Christmas weekend. Arsenal are the untouchable favourites in this match and one has to give them the edge. They are 7-0-1 at home for the season. They have won five of their last six home matches. The only loss came to Chelsea.

Aston Villa are flying-high right now and enjoying an undefeated run in their last six. They have been however better at home than on the road. Of course, if they have serious title aspirations this is the match in which to prove they are viable challengers. A win is not out of their reach.

Soccer Free Picks: Arsenal -140 | Over 2 ½ -135

Soccer Betting Line:

Hull City +1 +125 +750 2½ O -125 U +105 1 O +130 U -150 Draw +325
Manchester United -1 -145 -250 2½ O -125 U +105 2 O Ev U -120 Draw +325

Match Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time Sunday December 27, 2009

Venue: Kingston Comms Stadium

Soccer Betting Verdict: Manchester United are having all sorts of problems with their D. This was plain to see in their last match against Fulham. Nevertheless, Fergusson is one of the best managers in the league and one has to think he will come up with something to address the problem.

Man U are looking to save face after their last outing and they certainly have the firepower up front to do so. Fortunately, Hull City are struggling this season and unlike Fulham, they look unthreatening. Man U should recover lost ground easily.

Soccer Free Picks: Man U -250 | Over 2 ½ -125