Match day 30 of the Premier League is halved with a number of teams still involved in FA Cup fixtures this weekend. With it though comes a psychological advantage for some sides to get a lead over their rivals on the ladder. In particular it gives Leicester and Tottenham a chance to extend further ahead of 3rd placed Arsenal whilst Manchester City can jump ahead of Arsenal into 3rd if they beat Norwich first up this week. As for upsets that could but are unlikely to happen, a win for Newcastle against the league leaders would take them out of the relegation zone – big incentive but a big ask as well. So there might only be 5 matches this weekend but there’ll still be plenty to talk about.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 11th March
Norwich ($6) versus Manchester City ($1.61), Draw ($3.8)
There’s not really a whole lot of hope we can give Norwich at the moment and the prospect of facing Manchester City won’t help things either. Man City got back to winning ways over one of Norwich’s fellow relegation battlers Villa last week 4-0 and this could prove to be a similar outcome as they look to build on that momentum. Norwich to be fair have been fighting hard and have lost by no more than a goal in their last 3 games but for me this looks a much different prospect with this Man City’s to lose.
Predicted score: Manchester City 3-0
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals at $1.68 (80%)
Next Best: Manchester City to win at $1.61
Bournemouth ($1.91) versus Swansea ($4.4), Draw ($3.3)
Form for both of these sides has been pretty good in recent weeks with both on 2 game winning streaks. Bournemouth have wins over Newcastle and Southampton in their last 2 whilst Swansea beat Norwich and Arsenal. It makes for what should be a pretty good battle between two sides high in confidence. With Swansea currently enjoying an 9 point gap on the drop zone, they may not be as desperate for the win when they were staring down the barrel of getting closer to the drop zone before that Arsenal win away from home. Bournemouth though look like a side desperate on making sure they reach that 40 point safety barrier to ensure survival for another season. There’s little chance of them dropping at the moment but you can never be too sure and with that I think they’ll be the more determined of the 2 to get the win here.
Predicted score: Bournemouth 2-1
Best Bet: Half-time Draw at $2 (75%)
Next Best: Bournemouth to win at $1.91
Stoke ($2.7) versus Southampton ($2.7), Draw ($3.25)
A tough trip away for Southampton who’ve been struggling for results in recent weeks after being on such a good run of form. They’ve lost 2 of their last 3 with their latest a draw at home to relegation battlers Sunderland. The latest problem for Southampton to face this week though is a Stoke side in good form and away from home. Stoke have won 3 of their last 4 with their latest an away draw at Chelsea who were previously on a strong 3 game winning streak. Regardless though, this should be a pretty tight contest. Southampton haven’t been in the best form but there’s no reason other than Stoke’s recent form that they can’t get something from this. I don’t see them winning but I do see them bucking the trend and getting a point.
Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.56 (80%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.91
Aston Villa ($7) versus Tottenham ($1.5), Draw ($4.1)
If Manchester City wasn’t tough enough, Villa now face another tough ask in trying to turn their season around with the visit of Tottenham this week. The problem though is that it looks like the players have given up and that 4-0 loss to Manchester City may have just been the final blow to their horrible season. Still 9 points off safety, the task to survive looks impossible here and with Tottenham attempting to chase down Leicester in a title battle, there should only be one winner.
Predicted score: Tottenham 3-0
Best Bet: Tottenham to win at $1.5 (95%)
Next Best: Over 2.5 goals at $1.86
Leicester ($1.61) versus Newcastle ($6), Draw ($3.8)
People are still waiting for Leicester to stumble, including myself for my own bias given Tottenham are still in the title hunt, but the fact is they aren’t stumbling and they don’t look like they will at the moment. If they keep picking up results, even by 1-0, that’s all they need and the healthy 5 point gap over 2nd placed Tottenham is a very handy one. They have a favourable matchup here too with Newcastle a side struggling to climb their way out of the relegation zone and a loss for them here will increase the pressure. With that though I do think Newcastle will try and keep this tight which might keep the score low but in the end I don’t see that being enough to stop a Leicester side on a roll in a dream season.
Predicted score: Leicester 1-0
Best Bet: Leicester to win at $1.61 (85%)
Next Best: Under 2.5 goals at $2.03
