Premier League Betting – Bolton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa

Bolton Wanderers are above the relegation zone but they are still not safe with 37 points. Six-points separate them from third-from-bottom Middlesbrough, which is a comfortable gap, but their fans would breathe so much easier if they had 40 points in the bag. A few more points would assuage all their fears.

The vast majority of football experts insist Bolton are a safe bet to secure another season in the Premier League but a run of just one victory in their last six leaves them still off the mark. Most recently, they missed the opportunity to allay fears when they lost at Portsmouth 1:0.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are fifth in the table with 54 points and, therefore, assured of their place in England’s top-flight league for another season. Yet, they are struggling for form badly. They are going through such a troubling phase that they have all but undone all the hard work from earlier this season. Two months ago, Aston Villa were flying-high in the race for a fourth spot and a Champions League qualification spot. Now they are mired in a slump, on an 11-match winless streak in all competitions and leaking points something awful that they are in a scrap with sixth placed Everton, who are nipping at their heels, a point adrift in the table at 53, just to finish in fifth spot.

So how will these two sides, badly struggling for form, fare on Saturday when they meet at Reebok Stadium?

Soccer Betting Line:

Bolton Wandererspk +120 +190 2½ O Ev U -120 1 O -120 U -110 Draw +220

Aston Villa pk -140 +140 2½ O Ev U -120 1 O -140 U +110 Draw +220

Match Time: 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time Saturday April 25 2009

Venue: Reebok Stadium

Soccer Betting Verdict: Neither team impresses with any confidence right now. Bolton are in danger of being pulled into the relegation frame if they do not pick up the pace soon. Aston Villa are just abysmal lately. Their current predicament is baffling and thoughts of what might have been are so upsetting as to eclipse concerns about their ability to hold on to fifth spot. However, if they do not put things right quickly they will slip to sixth (methinks they are delaying the inevitable as Everton are in much better form and deserve to finish the season fifth).

Best Soccer BETS: As to this upcoming fixture, any outcome is theoretically possible given confidence is in tatters and form has all but disappeared for both sides. Playing the win is a toss-up. Therefore, the recommended wager is unassuming draw or a low-scoring affair on the totals Under 2.5 goals -120.

Soccer Free Picks: Draw +220| Under 2.5 goals