Football continues this week with Premier League games and more.
So which team should you bet on and what are the big storylines? Our analysts are here to provide you with all the information you need.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
Manchester City handled Manchester United quite well last week (6-3) with hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. This time they get Southampton. Does it make sense to bet on Foden (+150) or maybe even Kevin De Bruyne (+175) on any goal? Will goals keep coming for City or do you dare go under 3.5 total goals for the game (+100)?
Paul Carr: This feels like a match where City can call their score. Playing a City attacker to score a goal is reasonable as long as he’s in the starting XI. It’s hard for me to see Southampton score as the Saints have the fifth-least goals expected and the third-worst shots in the league this season. City have scored in every game and have at least 1.8 expected goals in all but one, while conceding four goals in eight games. City will score and Southampton won’t, so I’ll take a City win at -117 to nil.
Wolves have sacked Bruno Lage – apparently fearing, even after just eight games – that he is not the one to keep them from relegation. Are they right to worry? They are currently (+260) facing relegation. More specifically, Wolves are up against Chelsea (+850) this weekend. Anyone believe in some magic for wolves after the reorganization?
Automobile: Yes, Wolves are right to worry about relegation as they match a league low with three goals and the underlying numbers, with the second least goals expected and second worst shots in the league. Keeper Jose Sa wasn’t bad; He just wasn’t as superhuman as last season. I don’t like any of the prices for this game. If I had to play something I would look at under 2.5 (-110). In three games under Graham Potter, Chelsea haven’t created many big chances (1.2 xG per game) or conceded (0.4 xG per game) and Wolves are unlikely to change that. A Chelsea win to keep clean (+103) isn’t a bad reputation either.
DanielThomas: Wolves are clearly hoping for the new manager’s resurgence and they could perhaps get him against a Chelsea side who have clinched their first Champions League win of the season. I think the win took it out of Potter’s hands, so I’m imagining a draw.
Brighton have scored eight goals in their last two EPL games and can now really try to make a statement that they are in the top four of the table against Tottenham. Do you expect this to be a high score affair? Over 3.5 goals (+230)?
Automobile: I like over 3.5 goals at +230 considering how open both teams’ games have been lately. At least six goals have been scored in each of Brighton’s last two games and at least 2.9 expected goals have been scored in four of Brighton’s seven games this season. At least four goals have been scored in Tottenham’s last two games and 3.4 expected goals have been scored in four of their last five. That’s a long way to describe the fact that both teams create and concede a lot of scoring chances. Both teams look for good shots on the counterattack so this could be reticent early on and then open up once a goal is scored.
Thomas: I don’t think anything with Spurs is going to be a high-scoring affair right now. They just don’t mix and Brighton have a really good chance of taking advantage of that. I’m going to win Brighton.
What’s your best bet for the weekend?
Automobile: I’m a record broken but give me both teams to score in Bournemouth-Leceister City (-140). Of Leicester’s last 30 away games, 27 have netted both teams. That trend is being tested by a Bournemouth side who have a league-low 51 shots (24 fewer than any other team) and 3.7 goals expected (half of all other teams) this season. But Leicester’s leaky defense should be up to the task, having conceded a league-high 22 goals and allowed the league’s third-best shots this season.
Thomas: In the duel with the Sevilla Athletic Club, I would take the helm. Sampaoli is back in charge of the hosts combined with Atheltic scoring points for fun. I think this will be a very entertaining high score game.