Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12-18-22 | France v. Argentina | 2-2 | Push | 0 | 3 h 43 m | Show | |
My selection is on France pk (90 minutes) over Argentina at 10 am et on Sunday. I'll take a flyer on France in the World Cup Final on Sunday as it looks to secure its second straight title going back to 2018. Argentina has been a great story in this tournament with Messi taking his last run at the trophy for his country. The fact that it has done so after many wrote it off following a tournament-opening loss to Saudi Arabia is impressive to say the least. I've been more impressed by France's complete body of work in this tournament, however. Even against a cagey Morocco squad in the semi-final round, when it was under siege for much of the contest, the French held strong and ultimately prevailed by a 2-0 score. You'd be hard-pressed to find any France starter rating out poorly in this tournament. Even goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has seemingly gotten stronger as the tournament has gone on, saving his best for that semi-final victory over Morocco. I do think Argentina has some weakness on its back line, particularly on the right side. Keeper Emiliano Martinez was strong against Croatia but has had an up-and-down tournament. While there's a good chance this contest ultimately needs extra time to decide, I'm willing to back France at a lower price as it looks to halt Argentina's five-game winning streak and claim the title of 'best in the world' once again. Take France pk (8*). |
|||||||
12-09-22 | Brazil v. Croatia +1.5 | 0-0 | Win | 100 | 23 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Croatia +1.5 goals over Brazil at 10 am et on Friday. I don't think we see Croatia - which was a finalist in the 2018 World Cup - go away quietly the way South Korea did at the hands of mighty Brazil in the knockout stage. Keep in mind, the Checkered Ones enter this match riding a 10-game undefeated streak and know how to keep the opposition in check with four of their last five contests staying 'under' 2.5 total goals. Croatia has proven to be incredible difficult to break down in this tournament with the foursome of Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol and Sosa rating out near the top in terms of defensive back lines. Keeper Dominik Livakovic is also coming off his best performance of the tournament in the knockout stage thriller against Japan. Brazil turned in its most dominant performance of the tournament in a rout of South Korea but now has nowhere to go but down in my opinion. I still feel it can be had in the back and with Croatia's Ivan Perisic coming off a 'turn back the clock' performance, he's the man to watch in this contest. Take Croatia +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
12-06-22 | Switzerland +0.5 v. Portugal | 1-6 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Switzerland +0.5 goals over Portugal at 2 pm et on Tuesday. I'll take a flyer on Switzerland grabbing a half-goal against Portugal here as I believe there's a considerably better than 50/50 chance that this one is all-level (or the Swiss leading) after 90 minutes. Portugal has impressed in the tournament so far but it's not as if it has been blowing the doors off the opposition. Switzerland has been down this road before, giving tougher opponents all they can handle in previous tournament. In other words, I don't believe the stage is too big for the Swiss here. They were in a pressure-packed situation against Serbia last Friday and came through with flying colours. I believe both sides will ultimately prove difficult to break down in this one, with a 1-1 result after 90 minutes a quite likely outcome. The status of Swiss keeper Yann Sommer will obviously be important to keep an eye on leading up to the match. If he's able to man the goal, I would consider sprinkling a little on the Swiss three-way moneyline as well here. Take Switzerland +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
12-06-22 | Spain v. Morocco +1 | Top | 0-0 | Win | 100 | 4 h 32 m | Show |
Knockout Stage Game of the Year. My selection is on Morocco +1 goal over Spain at 10 am et on Tuesday. I think a lot of casual bettors saw all they needed from Spain in its boot-stomping 7-0 rout of Costa Rica two weeks ago. Since then, the Spaniards have managed a draw against Germany and a defeat at the hands of Japan to ultimately finish second in their group, leading to a date with upstart Morocco in the knockout stage on Tuesday. This is likely the matchup that Spain actually wanted - that was evident in its late game activity when trailing against Japan last time out. I do think this could be a 'be careful what you wish for' situation, however, as Morocco can give it trouble in my opinion. Here, we'll note that Morocco in now undefeated in its last nine matches across all competitions. It has successfully put the opposition on its back foot more often than not, striking first in six of its last eight contests. So again, its short-term success in this tournament hasn't been a fluke by any means. Of course, facing Spain is no easy task as it has scored first in five consecutive matches. With that being said, this is a side that has only managed to come away victorious in five of its last 10 contests overall with three of those victories coming by more than a single goal. I believe there's a good chance we see these two sides all square through 90 minutes, similar to what we saw from Japan and Croatia yesterday. But rather than play the 'draw' we'll give due respect to Morocco and catch a little insurance in the process. Take Morocco +1 goal (8*). |
|||||||
12-05-22 | South Korea +1.5 v. Brazil | 1-4 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on South Korea +1.5 goals over Brazil at 2 pm et on Monday. While it faces a considerable challenge in this contest, I'm not going to write off South Korea just yet. Yes, Brazil entered as the tournament favorites and despite the stunning loss to Cameroon at the end of group stage play we haven't really seen anything to indicate it should be knocked from its pedestal. However, we're catching an insurance goal here, and also being offered a plus-money return. South Korea has produced some thrilling moments already in this tournament, needing a victory over Portugal, and getting it after trailing 1-0 to advance in its final match of the group stage. I don't expect it to back down here. I actually like the fact that it was severely outclassed when these two teams met back in June (Brazil won that contest 5-1). Adjustments are obviously necessary and I'm confident we'll see those adjustments pay dividends for South Korea. Take South Korea +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
12-05-22 | Croatia v. Japan +0.5 | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 4 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Japan +0.5 goals over Croatia at 10 am et on Monday. We've seen a straight-forward and rather uneventful first four matches in the knockout round of this tournament but I expect that to change on Monday. First on the card is World Cup 2018 finalist Croatia taking on Japan in a favored role. I don't believe there's much separating these two squads and in a match that projects to be very low-scoring (the standard total is set at 2.0), I'm confident the Samurai Blue can keep proceedings level through 90 minutes. Croatia has of course been here before and while it has gone undefeated through three matches in this tournament, I haven't been overly impressed, with its lone victory coming off a Canadian squad that wasn't necessarily ready for the big stage. In its other two matches, Croatia failed to find the back of the net and I think it could be hard-pressed to do so again here. Japan has failed to record a clean sheet in any of its last four matches but there's comfort in the fact that it yielded just a single goal in all four of those contests. Take Japan +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
12-02-22 | Portugal v. South Korea +0.5 | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 3 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on South Korea +0.5 goals over Portugal at 10 am et on Friday. Portugal has impressed through two matches in this tournament, securing all six points in victories over Ghana and Uruguay. I do think it faces a more cagey affair here against a desperate South Korea squad that currently sits last-place in Group H, needing a win and help to advance in the tournament. It's not as if Portugal's success has been long-lived. It has won just three matches in a row going back prior to the start of the World Cup. I like the fact that South Korea's back line rates out exceptionally well in this tournament, despite the fact that it yielded three goals last time out against Ghana. Remember, the South Koreans opened the tournament with a clean sheet in a nil-nil draw against Uruguay. I do think it's only a matter of time (and time is clearly running out) before South Korea shows some creativity in attack and ultimately pushes Portugal in that regard here. There's simply too much talent up front for the South Koreans to go away with a whimper. Take South Korea +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
12-01-22 | Germany -2.5 v. Costa Rica | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -115 | 6 h 29 m | Show |
Group Stage Game of the Year. My selection is on Germany -2.5 goals over Costa Rica at 2 pm et on Thursday. We actually won with Costa Rica +1 goal against Japan in its most recent match so there is some level of respect for the CONCACAF side but I simply feel it's a 'wrong place, wrong time' situation against a vastly superior German squad on Thursday and will confidently lay the 2.5 goals with Die Mannschaft here. Despite the 1-0 victory last time out, I still have Costa Rica rating out poorly through two matches in this tournament to date. Keeper Keylor Navas might be the weakest link of all, which obviously spells trouble as he tries to keep a loaded German offense that's just bubbling under the surface and poised for a breakout performance here. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a Costa Rican side that is just one game removed from a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Spain. Unlike yesterday's match between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, where the Mexicans needed to win by margin and couldn't quite close the deal, the Germans will undoubtedly be poised under the pressure and I look for them to do a much better job of capitalizing on their opportunities here. Costa Rica doesn't have that same level of talent or creativity up front as the Saudis possessed, even if it did take the latter until the final stages to finally secure a goal yesterday. German keeper Manuel Neuer hasn't been at his best through two matches in this tournament but this is a big spot for him to rise to the occasion and quite honestly, I don't expect him to be challenged much at all here. Take Germany -2.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
11-30-22 | France v. Tunisia +1.5 | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 1 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Tunisia +1.5 goals over France at 10 am et on Wednesday. Short on time with kickoff fast approaching but we’ll take a shot with Tunisia now that +1.5 prices are more widely available. Tunisia the forgotten team in this group after a 1-0 loss to Australia. Still have a shot at advancing but need a win along with a DEN-AUS draw. Not outside the realm of possibility given how this tourney has proceeded. Tunisia can be a frustrating squad to break down and a positive result isn’t an absolute necessity for the French here. Take Tunisia +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
11-28-22 | Uruguay +0.5 v. Portugal | 0-2 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on Uruguay +0.5 goals over Portugal at 2 pm et on Monday. I can't help but feel Portugal will be hard-pressed to pick up a full six points in its first two matches of this tournament as it faces the prospect of a cagey affair against Uruguay on Monday. Portugal impressed in its opener and ultimately prevailed thanks in part to a somewhat questionable Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. If there was something negative to say about that overall performance, it was its form on the back line with Cancelo, Dias, Pereira and Guerreiro looking less than air-tight in defense. Keeper Diogo Costa rated out poorly in that 3-2 victory over Ghana as well. We won with the 'under' in Uruguay's tournament-opening 0-0 draw against South Korea. I do expect Uruguay to break the seal and find the back of the net for the first time in this tournament on Monday. However, this does project as a relatively low-scoring affair with the total set at 2.0. Depending on the earlier result between South Korea and Ghana, a draw should suit both Portugal and Uruguay just fine here. Noting that four of Uruguay's last five matches across all competitions have stayed 'under' 2.5 total goals, we'll confidently back it plus the half-goal here. Take Uruguay +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
11-27-22 | Morocco +0.5 v. Belgium | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 18 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Morocco +0.5 goals over Belgium at 8 am et on Sunday. I didn't come away one bit impressed by Belgium's tournament-opening 1-0 victory over Canada. That could have been a much different match were it not for a missed penalty from Alphonso Davies early on and the reality was, the Canadians took the play to the Belgians for the majority of the game's 90 minutes. Morocco may be considered an upstart off its draw with Croatia to open this tournament but I believe it is capable of going on a deep tournament run. Undefeated across its last seven matches in all competitions, look for Morocco to give Belgium all it can handle on Sunday, with a draw benefiting both teams in reality. Take Morocco +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
11-27-22 | Costa Rica +1 v. Japan | 1-0 | Win | 115 | 15 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on Costa Rica +1 goal over Japan at 5 am et on Sunday. It doesn't get much worse than Costa Rica's 7-0 drilling at the hands of Spain in its World Cup opener earlier this week. That result should have bettors flocking to lay the goal with Japan - which pulled off a stunning 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Germany (we won with the 'over' in that match) - ahead of Sunday's match. I believe it's the wrong move, however. The Japanese took full advantage of an over-aggressive Germany attack, countering to perfection late in the second half to secure the match-winning goal. I fully expect to see Costa Rica settle into a frustrating defensive shell in this match, turning the tables on Japan as it looks to take advantage of the favored side's aggressiveness here. Despite what we saw from both sides earlier in the week, I believe the 'draw' is in play here. Take Costa Rica +1 goal (8*). |
|||||||
11-25-22 | Senegal v. Qatar +1 | 3-1 | Loss | -135 | 11 h 55 m | Show | |
My selection is on Qatar +1 goal over Senegal at 8 am et on Friday. Host Qatar looked lifeless in its tournament-opening loss to Ecuador - the team that many had picked to finish in last place in this group. Needless to say, a far more inspired effort will be required in order for the hosts to keep their slim hopes of advancement in this tournament alive as they face Senegal on Friday. Senegal put forth a valiant effort but ultimately fell on two late goals against Netherlands in its opener. I believe grabbing the insurance goal with host nation Qatar is the right decision here, especially considering both squads have seen four of their last five matches stay 'under' 2.5 total goals. Last Sunday's match marked the first time in five contests that Qatar didn't strike first. I do think we see it find the back of the net for the first time in the tournament on Friday, ultimately giving Senegal all it can handle in a cagey affair. Take Qatar +1 goal (8*). |
|||||||
11-25-22 | Iran +0.5 v. Wales | Top | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 1 m | Show |
World Cup Game of the Week. My selection is on Iran +0.5 goals over Wales at 5 am et on Friday. Entering this tournament, I felt that Wales would be hard-pressed to come away with a victory in a sneaky-tough group that includes USA, England and Iran. It managed to earn a draw against the Americans (we won with the draw in that match) thanks to a late converted penalty by Gareth Bale but I expect it to be given all it can handle against Iran again on Friday. The Iranians fell in a blowout against England in their World Cup opener. They were never competitive in that affair but I'm confident we'll see them bounce right back in a far more favorable matchup here. Despite the setback, we did see flashes of brilliance from the Iran attack. Here, I'm confident it will have more freedom to operate as it's unlikely to be under constant siege at the hands of a far more manageable Wales offense. Noting that Wales has conceded the first goal and also gone winless across its last six matches in all competitions, I'm comfortable grabbing the half-goal with Iran here. Take Iran +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
11-24-22 | Ghana +1.5 v. Portugal | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on Ghana +1.5 goals over Portugal at 11 am et on Thursday. Despite still boasting plenty of star-power, Portugal has been a bit of an afterthought heading into this tournament. Rightfully so, in my opinion. Should Cristiano Ronaldo even be given the starting nod up front given his recent form? Probably not but he'll be right there nonetheless. The Portuguese will have their work cut out for them trying to break down a typically tough last line of defense for Ghana. In their last seven matches across all competitions, only Brazil has managed to find the back of the net against the African side. It's been a case of 'feast-or-famine' for the Portugal offense in recent months. I think we're talking about a side that would be absolutely thrilled to come away with three points from this opener but I don't believe the path to that result is going to be straight-forward at all. Noting that the 'under' 2.5 total goals has cashed in four of Ghana's last five matches overall while it has rippled the net first in five of its last six contests, grabbing that insurance goal, even with the juice, is the right decision here in my opinion. Take Ghana +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
11-23-22 | Croatia v. Morocco +0.5 | 0-0 | Win | 100 | 7 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on Morocco +0.5 goals over Croatia at 5 am et on Wednesday. Just a straight fade of a veteran Croatian side after it delivered five consecutive outright victories in as many matches heading into this tournament, not to mention the fact that the Checkered Ones reached the World Cup final back in 2018. I believe Morocco can be that upstart squad in Group F as it looks to build off an encouraging, albeit fruitless appearance in the 2018 World Cup. Like Croatia, Morocco enters this tournament playing well also. It hasn't exactly been the year of the upset, even after yesterday's stunner from Saudi Arabia, but I believe Morocco is capable of pulling off the minor upset in this Group F opener on Wednesday. Take Morocco +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
11-22-22 | Poland v. Mexico | 0-0 | Push | 0 | 13 h 11 m | Show | |
My selection is on Poland pk over Mexico at 11 am et on Tuesday. With glaring weaknesses at the back-end, Mexico will be hard-pressed to make it out of the group stage in this tournament. My own ratings have Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa as one of the weakest netminders in the entire tourney. This is a tougher than it seems opening match against a Polish squad that has suffered nothing but disappointment on the world stage but brings plenty of optimism into this particular tournament. With Robert Lewandowski leading the charge up front, a quick strike is never far off (even though he’s yet to score at the World Cup in one previous appearance). In stark contrast to that of Mexico, Poland actually boasts some true defensive stalwarts at the back-end not to mention a quality keeper between the sticks. We’ll back Poland on the goal-line to avoid an outright loss should the match end in a draw but my hope is we won’t need that insurance. Take Poland pk (8*). |
|||||||
11-02-22 | Celtic +2 v. Real Madrid | Top | 1-5 | Loss | -120 | 7 h 25 m | Show |
Champions League Game of the Month. My selection is on Celtic +2 goals over Real Madrid at 1:45 pm et on Wednesday. Real Madrid blanked Celtic 3-0 when these two squads met in early September. While the Scottish side's hopes of advancing to the final 16 have been dashed, I do expect it to still put up a better fight as these two take part in a return match in Madrid on Wednesday. Celtic enters this contest having gone undefeated in its last five matches across all competitions. To illustrate its fine form, it has struck first in each of those five contests while carrying a lead into halftime in four of them. This will obviously be a stiff challenge for Celtic as Real Madrid searches for a victory to wrap up first place in Group F. With that being said, the Spanish side will be without Karim Benzema and might not have its usual fresh legs here in Champions League action, noting that it just wrapped up a month of October that featured nine fixtures. While Celtic have nothing to play for in this particular tournament, there is the matter of pride and after being shut out at the hands of Real Madrid on home soil two months ago, I'm confident we'll see it rise to the occasion here. It's worth noting that to find the last time Celtic lost a match by 3+ goals, you would have to go all the way back to that previous date with Madrid. Take Celtic +2 goals (10*). |
|||||||
11-01-22 | Napoli +0.5 v. Liverpool | 0-2 | Loss | -103 | 10 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on Napoli +0.5 goals over Liverpool at 4 pm et on Tuesday. We previously won with Napoli in this same matchup back in early September and while we're not being offered such a generous price this time around - rightfully so - I still won't hesitate to go back to the well with the Italian side catching a half-goal. Napoli has incredibly gone undefeated across its last 28 matches in all competitions. It sits atop the Group A table in Champions League play, three points clear of today's opponent, Liverpool. Note also that Napoli has gone undefeated in its last four contests against the Reds, finding the back of the net at least once in all four matches. While some figure Liverpool is 'due' in this spot, that's not a word that belongs in our handicapping arsenal. Take Napoli +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
10-04-22 | Sporting Lisbon +0.5 v. Marseille | 1-4 | Loss | -145 | 5 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sporting CP +0.5 goals first half over Olympique Marseille at 12:45 pm et on Tuesday. Sporting has been the class of Group D with convincing clean sheet victories over both Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt. It will need to avoid letting its guard down on Tuesday as it travels to France to challenge winless Marseille. I like its chances of at least getting off to a strong start in this one. Note that Lisbon has scored first in five of its last six matches across all competitions while Marseille has conceded the first goal in four of its last five contests. Noting that Sporting is just one match removed from a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Boavista in Primeria Liga play I don't envision it coming out flat here. There are advantages all over the field for Lisbon but particularly up front as Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincao have been excellent while Marseille defenders Mbemba and Gigot have looked vulnerable. Marseille keeper Pau Lopez has been strong in his last few matches but not as sharp in Champions League play. Meanwhile, Sporting keeper Antonio Adan has recorded three consecutive clean sheets in Champions League action. Here, we're only asking for Sporting to keep it level through 45 minutes. Take Sporting CP +0.5 goals first half (8*). |
|||||||
09-27-22 | Iceland +0.5 v. Albania | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 7 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on Iceland +0.5 goals over Albania at 2:45 pm et on Tuesday. You have to go back seven matches to find the last time Albania posted a victory while Iceland has gone undefeated in its last five matches across all competitions. In fact, Albania hasn't found the back of the net more than once in any of its last 10 matches and when you consider it hasn't recorded a clean sheet in any of its last five meetings with Iceland, you can understand why it faces a tough hill to climb laying a half-goal here. There's nothing left to play for in Group 2 as Israel has already wrapped up top spot and the promotion that goes along with it. I don't expect Iceland to simply roll over, however, as it looks to take something away from this trip. Albania did deliver a 4-2 victory over Iceland on home soil back in 2019 but that was with a much different side that boasted plenty of firepower up front. Here, Albania is shorthanded at the midfield position with Endri Cekici and Keidi Bare sidelined due to injury. Take Iceland +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
09-22-22 | Moldova v. Latvia -1 | 2-1 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Latvia -1 goal over Moldova at 12 noon et on Thursday. Latvia sits atop the Group 1 standings, five points ahead of second-place Moldova, which happens to be its opponent today. Credit Moldova for taking care of business against the group's weaker teams, Liechtenstein and Andorra but there's little to glean from its 2-0-1 mark in those three contests. Latvia enters this contest having reeled off victories in each of its last five games, going undefeated across its last eight overall. It has also recorded three straight wins in this series against Moldova. While the Latvians are particularly stout at the back-end with wing defenders Roberts Savalnieks and Raivis Jurkovskis in terrific form, the Moldovans have issues in that department. Goalkeeper Dorian Railean has been less than impressive, particularly in the squad's last two matches, including a 4-2 home defeat against Latvia. Defenders Bolohan and Craciun are exploitable as well. In a match that projects to be relatively high-scoring, I'm confident laying a goal with the tougher defensive side with home field being an added bonus. Take Latvia -1 goal (8*). |
|||||||
09-21-22 | Ukraine v. Scotland | Top | 0-3 | Loss | -100 | 31 h 0 m | Show |
Nations League Game of the Month. My selection is on Ukraine pk over Scotland at 2:45 pm et on Wednesday. While things are anything but normal back home, many Ukrainian players have at least gained some return to 'normalcy' with the return of league play and now they have the opportunity to once again play for their country in another key Nations League fixture on Wednesday in Glasgow. Ukraine has gone undefeated across its last three matches since suffering a bitter 1-0 defeat against Wales to miss out on World Cup qualification. Note that it has managed to strike first in seven of its last nine matches across all competitions and now faces a Scottish side that has played far too loose with four of its last five matches going 'over' 2.5 total goals. I say it has played too loose as it simply doesn't have the offensive firepower to consistently prevail in relatively high-scoring affairs. I like Ukraine's move to Andriy Lunin between the sticks. He is a Real Madrid man even if he hasn't had much opportunity with the Spanish side to this point. No Zinchenko for Ukraine on Wednesday but it still boasts a first class side with Yaremchuk, Yarmolenko and Mudryk, who has performed well for Shakhtar Donetsk recently. While Scotland is always a tough out in Glasgow, I do expect Ukraine to rise to the occasion here, noting that it currently sits just a single point ahead of the Scots atop the Group 1 standings with a return match on deck in Krakow. Take Ukraine pk (10*). |
|||||||
09-15-22 | Manchester United v. Sheriff +2 | Top | 2-0 | Push | 0 | 15 h 8 m | Show |
Europa League Game of the Month. My selection is on Sheriff Tiraspol +2 goals over Manchester United at 12:45 pm et on Thursday. We won with Sheriff Tiraspol plus a half-goal in an away match against Omonia in Europa League action last week. Here, we get Tiraspol playing on its home soil in Moldova, knowing it has a monumental opportunity to stage an upset against mighty Manchester United. Sheriff checks in having reeled off three consecutive shutout victories, undefeated across its last eight matches. Manchester United dropped a 1-0 decision against Real Sociedad last week and now faces an uphill battle to climb the Group E standings. While the Red Devils are being priced as a massive favorite here, I believe Tiraspol is well-positioned due to its stingy nature. Note that Sheriff has seen four of its last five matches total less than 2.5 goals. Here, we're being given a massive head start with a two-goal cushion with the home side. Take Sheriff Tiraspol +2 goals (10*). |
|||||||
09-14-22 | Salzburg +1.5 v. Chelsea | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 19 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Red Bull Salzburg +1.5 goals over Chelsea at 3 pm et on Wednesday. We're getting excellent value backing Salzburg with an insurance goal at a near pk'em price on Wednesday. The upstart Austrian side, which boast a roster with an average age of less than 24 years, has gone undefeated across its last eight matches, scoring first in all eight of those contests. Salzburg has carried a lead into halftime in four of its last five contests. Meanwhile, you would have to go back seven matches to find the last time Chelsea recorded a clean sheet. I believe they'll be hard-pressed to accomplish that feat here as well, which would mean the Blues would need at least three goals to cover the standard goal-line being offered here. We've seen Chelsea play fairly loose lately with five of its last six matches going 'over' 2.5 total goals and I believe that plays into the hands of Salzburg in an underdog role on Wednesday. Take Red Bull Salzburg +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
09-14-22 | Benfica +0.5 v. Juventus | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 19 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Benfica +0.5 goals over Juventus at 3 pm et on Wednesday. I have to take a flyer with Benfica plus the half-goal here, noting that the Portuguese side has incredibly reeled off 17 consecutive victories heading in. Juventus hasn't been its usual defensively sound self lately, failing to record a clean sheet in its last three matches, going winless over that stretch. Keep in mind, the Italian side has an average age north of 29 years. It will have its hands full with a Benfica squad that has struck first in eight of its last 10 matches across all competitions. Juventus desperately needs to at least come away with a point in this match noting that Benfica and PSG sit atop the Group H table following their respective victories last week. In a match that figures to be of the low-scoring variety, I'm comfortable grabbing the half-goal insurance with the visitors. Take Benfica +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
09-08-22 | Sheriff +0.5 v. Omonia Nicosia | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sheriff Tiraspol +0.5 goals over Omonia Nicosia at 3 pm et on Thursday. I expect goals to come at a premium in this match (as indicated by the low posted total), for a couple of different reasons. The trends support such a call as Omonia Nicosia has seen seven of its last eight contests feature two goals or less while it's the same story for Sheriff Tiraspol in five of its last six matches. But more than that, these two teams will be desperate to come away with at least a point given the difficult nature of this group, which also features Manchester United and Real Sociedad. Neither team can afford to come away empty-handed here so I can't help but feel a draw is in the best interest of both. Also note that Sheriff enters this match having gone undefeated across its last six matches. While Omonia does have the benefit of playing this one at home, I'm not sure its enough to warrant the favorite tag. Take Sheriff Tiraspol +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
09-07-22 | Bayer Leverkusen v. Club Brugge KV +0.5 | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 17 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Club Brugge +0.5 goals over Bayer Leverkusen at 3 pm et on Wednesday. There's not a lot to choose between these two sides but it is worth noting that Club Brugge has gone undefeated across its last five matches, winning four in a row entering Wednesday's clash with Bayer Leverkusen. I like the aggressiveness we've seen from Club Brugge early in recent matches as it has found the back of the net first in eight of its last 10 contests. Leverkusen has played a fairly wide-open style with six of its last seven matches reaching more than 2.5 total goals. Both teams are young and relatively inexperienced in Champions League play but Leverkusen is actually slightly younger with an average age just slightly over 25 years. I'm not convinced the German side is ever able to put this one away in Belgium. Take Club Brugge +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
09-07-22 | Liverpool v. Napoli +0.5 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 18 h 36 m | Show |
Champions League Game of the Month. My selection is on Napoli +0.5 goals over Liverpool at 3 pm et on Wednesday. We're being offered excellent value with Napoli catching half a goal in the first leg of this Champions League matchup on Wednesday. Keep in mind, this match will take place in Naples, where Napoli took down Liverpool on two previous occasions in Champions League action in 2018 and 2019. Napoli enters Wednesday's match riding an incredible 16-match undefeated streak. Also note that Liverpool has conceded first in five of its last seven matches overall. Give me the younger Italian side with a chip on its shoulder as an underdog on its home pitch on Wednesday. Take Napoli +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-14-22 | Latvia -1.5 v. Liechtenstein | 2-0 | Win | 107 | 4 h 52 m | Show | |
My selection is on Latvia -1.5 goals over Liechtenstein at 2:45 pm et on Tuesday. It's difficult enough for teams in the higher Nations League divisions to get up for these last matches prior to a much-needed summer break, let alone a bottom-feeding minnow such as Liechtenstein. While Latvia paces the D division, Liechtenstein sits at the bottom, having managed just one goal in three Nations League matches - that coming against fellow minnow Andorra. Latvia only managed to defeat today's opponent by a 1-0 score in their previous meeting on June 6th. It wasn't for lack of trying, however, as the Latvians pressed for 90 minutes, possessing the ball at a 62% clip while firing an incredible 20 shots from inside the box. They made a whopping 376 accurate passes in the match compared to 196 by Liechtenstein. While Liechtenstein does have the benefit of home field advantage for this rematch, I expect Latvia to be all-business as it looks to wrap up a perfect group stage in convincing fashion. Take Latvia -1.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
05-28-22 | Real Madrid +0.5 v. Liverpool | Top | 1-0 | Win | 100 | 32 h 36 m | Show |
Champions League Game of the Year. My selection is on Real Madrid +0.5 goals over Liverpool at 3 pm et on Saturday. There's something special about this Real Madrid squad. It hasn't faced an easy road to reach this Champions League Final - not by any stretch of the imagination. Los Blancos have had to outlast the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City, erasing second half deficits in a number of matches thanks in large part to the heroics of one of the world's best players in Karim Benzema. Now comes arguably the toughest test of all as Liverpool has gone undefeated across its last 18 matches. I'm confident Real Madrid will be up for the challenge. I understand the overwhelming support for Liverpool in this match. After all, Real Madrid could certainly be considered 'lucky' to be here given the nature of its recent Champions League victories. Liverpool on the other hand hasn't left much doubt. There's also the matter of this match being played in France, rather than Madrid where Los Blancos delivered their unthinkable comeback victories. Note that while Los Blancos last two matches resulted in rather uninspiring draws against Cadiz and Real Betis, those lackluster performances weren't unexpected as they had already wrapped up the La Liga crown and were already preparing for this showdown with Liverpool. There's really nothing negative I can say about the Reds here. They field a tremendous level of talent across the board. If there is perhaps one advantage Real Madrid might have it is in the last line of defense as keeper Thibault Courtois has been outstanding and can tilt the scales in a match such as this. Liverpool keeper Alisson is elite in his own right but doesn't bring the same form as Courtois. While most are anticipating plenty of offensive fireworks in this one, I'm counting on a tight, low-scoring affair and that should favor underdog Real Madrid. We'll grab the half-goal as insurance as we should be in for another 'instant classic'. Take Real Madrid +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
04-27-22 | Inter Milan v. Bologna +1.5 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 6 h 0 m | Show |
Soccer Game of the Week. My selection is on Bologna +1.5 goals over Inter Milan at 2:15 pm et on Wednesday. Inter Milan enters Wednesday's match in Bologna just two points back of AC Milan, which sits tops in the Serie A table. There's undoubtedly some pressure on Inter to collect all three points in this match and leapfrog Milan. It won't be easy, however. Bologna has gone undefeated across its last four matches and should be well aware of the path to success in this particular contest, having seen seven of its last eight matches stay 'under' 2.5 goals. Bologna also knows that it can find success against Inter. The most recent meeting came last September, with Inter winning by a lopsided 6-1 score. Prior to that, however, four of the last five matches between these two squads were decided by a single goal. Note that despite being decided underdogs, Bologna has failed to find the back of the net just once in the last five meetings. I'm anticipating a competitive affair on Wednesday. Take Bologna +1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
04-15-22 | Inter Milan v. Spezia Calcio +1.5 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 8 m | Show |
Serie A Game of the Month. My selection is on Spezia +1.5 goals over Inter Milan at 1 pm et on Friday. Inter Milan rolls into Friday's 'away' match against Spezia off consecutive clean sheet victories. In fact, Inter is undefeated in its last eight matches overall. With that being said, I see this as a tricky contest, noting that both teams have been involved in their share of low-scoring affairs lately. Inter has seen each of its last five contests stay 'under' 2.5 goals while the same can be said for Spezia in five of its last six matches. With this match being played at Stadio Alberto Picco in La Spezia we'll note that the home side has recorded a goal differential of just -1 goal in the role of host this season. Contrast that with its -21 goal differential in enemy territory. Inter Milan, meanwhile, is tops in the Serie A table when factoring in only 'home' affairs but drops to fifth when only considering 'away' matches. This has been a relatively tight series lately with Inter winning two of the last three matches between the two but with just a +3 goal differential over that stretch. Take Spezia +1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
04-06-22 | Mainz v. FC Augsburg +0.5 | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 6 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on FC Augsburg +0.5 goals over Mainz at 12:30 pm et on Wednesday. While Mainz sits four places and nine points ahead of Augsburg in the Bundesliga table, I don't believe there's all that much separating these two clubs. Much of Mainz' success has been built on its play at home - in fact, factoring in only home matches it would sit in third place in the Bundesliga. However, considering only away matches, Mainz would rank 16th, just two places above the league basement. Note that Mainz has managed only 12 goals in 13 away matches this season, while conceding 23. Contrast that with Augsburg's home tally of 20 goals for and 19 against in the same number of contests. This particular series hasn't been all that favorable for Mainz either as it has conceded at least a goal against Augsburg in 10 consecutive meetings. Augsburg enters this match having lost just once in its last four matches, that coming by a 3-2 score away against Stuttgart. Mainz, meanwhile, will be playing its second away match in the last three days after a hard-fought draw against Monchengladbach on Sunday. Take Augsburg +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
04-05-22 | Atletico Madrid +1.5 v. Manchester City | 0-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Atletico Madrid +1.5 goals over Manchester City at 3 pm et on Tuesday. Most are expecting Manchester City to cruise in the home leg of its clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. I'm not so easily convinced. Atletico Madrid enters this match playing its best football, having won six consecutive matches (undefeated in its last eight). In fact, it has scored first in each of its last eight contests. It's not as if goals have been all that plentiful in Manchester City matches lately with five of its last seven contests staying 'under' 2.5 total goals. That sort of low-scoring affair would of course be favorable to us with an insurance goal in our back pocket. While Atletico Madrid will certainly have its hands full with a potent Man City attack, it has held up well in 'away' matches in Champions League play, allowing just four goals in as many contests. Take Atletico Madrid +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
02-26-22 | Arminia Bielefeld +1.5 v. Bayer Leverkusen | 0-3 | Loss | -114 | 12 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on Arminia Bielefeld +1.5 goals over Bayer Leverkusen at 9:30 am et on Saturday. The Bielefeld bandwagon, while not all that full to begin with, was effectively cleared following a 2-0 away loss against Hoffenheim back on February 13th. We did see the German side rebound with a 1-0 blanking of Union Berlin last time out, however, and I believe it can give Leverkusen a good run on Saturday as well. Note that Leverkusen has now gone an incredible 13 matches without recording a clean sheet. In other words, there will be plenty of opportunity for Bielefeld to get on the board in this one. It has actually been first to score in four of its last five matches overall, not to mention the fact that it has found the back of the net in six of its last eight matches against Leverkusen. The 'away' side has actually taken all three points in five straight matches between these two including a 2-1 result in favor of Bielefeld on this field last March. While Leverkusen is comfortably inside the top-six in the Bundesliga table, Bielefeld is still fighting to avoid relegation, sitting just three points clear of 16th-place Augsburg. I expect Bielefeld to go all out to potentially salvage a point, if not more from this match. Take Arminia Bielefeld +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
02-24-22 | Sheriff +1.25 v. Sporting Braga | 0-2 | Loss | -112 | 17 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sheriff Tiraspol +1 goal over Sporting Braga at 3 pm et on Thursday. Sheriff took the first leg of this Europa League clash in stunning 2-0 fashion. The common line of thinking is that Sporting Braga will answer with a victory of its own on its home turf on Thursday. I'm not so easily convinced, however. Sheriff is undefeated in its last five matches while Braga checks in having conceded the first goal in five of its last seven contests. I feel that Braga is vulnerable from midfield back while Sheriff is brimming with confidence starting with Adama Traore up front all the way to keeper Giorgos Athanasiadis, who posted a clean sheet against Braga in the first leg. Expect Braga to face an uphill battle even on its home turf on Thursday. Take Sheriff Tiraspol (7*). |
|||||||
02-23-22 | Cardiff City +0.5 v. Huddersfield Town | 1-2 | Loss | -150 | 19 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cardiff City +0.5 goals over Huddersfield Town at 2:45 pm et on Wednesday. To say that Cardiff City has owned this series would be an understatement. With its 2-1 victory in the last meeting back in November, Cardiff has now gone undefeated in the last 16 matches between these two sides. While it will be facing an uphill battle on Wednesday given that Huddersfield has gone undefeated over its last 15 matches overall, I believe it will be up for the challenge. All of the pressure lies on Huddersfield right now, as it sits just three points clear of seventh-place Sheffield United, currently holding down the second last spot in the Promotion Playoffs. Even a point would certainly go a long way toward improving its chances of locking up one of those coveted six spots. As for Cardiff City, it sits well back in 19th position but can breathe easy at the moment as it is a whopping 15 points clear of the first Relegation place, held down by Derby at the moment. Cardiff has been playing like a team with little to lose lately, securing 13 of a possible 18 points in its last six Championship matches. Interestingly, when factoring in only 'away' matches, Cardiff checks in a respectable 12th in the Championship. Meanwhile, Huddersfield drops to 10th when factoring in only 'home' affairs. Take Cardiff City +0.5 goals (7*). |
|||||||
02-22-22 | Lille OSC +1.5 v. Chelsea | 0-2 | Loss | -108 | 18 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Lille +1.5 goals over Chelsea at 3 pm et on Tuesday. Lille goes from being a massive favorite (and falling short in a 0-0 draw) against Ligue 1 opponent Metz last Friday to a significant underdog against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Champions League action on Tuesday. I'll gladly grab the insurance goal with the French side as it looks to play the role of David against Goliath. Maybe that's a bit too strong of an analogy. After all, there are really no 'Davids' left at this stage of the Champions League. Chelsea enters this match riding a five-match winning streak and undefeated in its last six. With that being said, I wouldn't consider it to be in peak form, noting that it's last four matches have come against relatively weak opposition, including an uninspiring 1-0 away win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. I suspect we'll see Lille sell out to defend for as long as it can in this one, noting that Chelsea has had a tendency to strike first and control its matches, scoring the first goal in five of its last six contests. Lille has conceded only four goals through six Champions League matches - an identical mark to that of Chelsea. The Blues have had the better scoring touch with 13 goals compared to Lille's seven, but I'm not going to count out the French outfit led by Canadian standout Jonathan David. I look for Lille to relish the underdog role on Tuesday. Take Lille +1.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
02-20-22 | RB Leipzig v. Hertha Berlin +1 | 6-1 | Loss | -101 | 16 h 0 m | Show | |
My selection is on Hertha Berlin +1.0 goal over RB Leipzig at 1:30 pm et on Sunday. Leipzig is on the verge of moving into the top-six in the Bundesliga table but I believe it will be in tough on Sunday against Hertha Berlin. Note that when factoring in only 'away' matches, Leipzig sits a poor 14th in the table with a -4 goal differential. Hertha Berlin enters Sunday's contest having gone winless in its last six matches but should benefit from facing a rather forgiving Leipzig side that has yielded goals in three straight contests. I can't help but feel we're going to see a letdown from Leipzig on Sunday as it comes off of a three-game stretch that saw it face Bayern Munich, FC Koln and finally Real Sociedad in Europa League action. All three matches were hard-fought affairs with Leipzig going 1-1-1. Hertha Berlin hasn't been able to find its footing lately but off a 2-1 away loss against last-place Furth, I look for it to bring its best on Sunday. Take Hertha Berlin +1.0 goal (8*). |
|||||||
02-18-22 | Metz +1.5 v. Lille OSC | 0-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Metz +1.5 goals over Lille at 3 pm et on Friday. I don't have a lot negative to say about Lille. It is the superior squad in this match but I can't ignore the fact that Metz has played a different brand of football away from home this season, not to mention the fact that it proved to be a real thorn in Lille's side the last time these two squads met, scoring a goal in added time to come away with a point in a 3-3 draw. The most impressive part of that point earned was the fact that Metz did so down a man after being issued a red card earlier in the match. Here, we'll note that when factoring in only 'away' matches, Metz checks in ranked 10th in Ligue 1 this season (compared to 19th overall). Meanwhile, Lille has had no significant advantage at home in league play. When factoring in only 'home' matches, Lille sits an identical 10th to its overall record, still with a negative goal differential. It seems that no match is ever over until its over when it comes to Lille, noting that both teams have found the back of the net in six of its last eight matches, not to mention the fact that it has allowed 18 of its 35 goals in the final 15 minutes of either the first or second half in Ligue 1 play this season. Winless in its last three matches, I expect Metz to 'go for it' in this one. Take Metz +1.5 goals (6*). |
|||||||
02-17-22 | Napoli +0.5 v. Barcelona FC | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 24 h 1 m | Show | |
My selection is on Napoli +0.5 goals over Barcelona at 12:45 pm et on Thursday. Barcelona has been as inconsistent as they come lately, securing victory just twice in its last six matches. While this may certainly appear to be a favorable bounce-back spot in the first leg against Italian side Napoli, I'm not so sure it will be a walk in the park for Barca. Note that Napoli enters this match undefeated over its last four contests. It has been clinical in its attack, scoring first in six of its last seven contests while leading at the half in five of those matches. As for Barca, it hasn't been nearly as airtight defensively as we've come to expect, allowing the opposition to find the back of the net in six of its last seven matches. Napoli promises to provide a rather stingy challenge here, noting that it has seen eight of its last 10 contests finish with fewer than 2.5 total goals. While Barca is undefeated in the last four matches between these two squads, they haven't met since August of 2020. Barca is obviously a different team now than it was then and I expect Napoli to be up to the challenge on Thursday at Camp Nou. Take Napoli +0.5 goals (8*). |
|||||||
02-17-22 | Rangers +1.5 v. Borussia Dortmund | Top | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 24 h 19 m | Show |
Europa League Game of the Month. My selection is on Rangers +1.5 goals over Borussia Dortmund at 12:45 pm et on Thursday. We won with the 'over' in Dortmund's most recent match - a 3-0 blanking of FC Union Berlin on Sunday. That was a bit of a surprising result, not that Dortmund managed to collect all three points as that was always a distinct possibility, but certainly that it won by such a lopsided margin, especially with all-world striker Erling Haaland sidelined due to injury. Here, most will expect Dortmund to keep it rolling against a seemingly overmatched side in Rangers but I'm not so easily convinced. Rangers enters this Europa League clash on a roll, having won three matches in a row, not conceding in any of those three contests. Meanwhile, Dortmund, while fresh off a clean sheet of its own has actually seen both teams find the back of the net in six of its last seven matches. I do think there's a path for Rangers to ripple the net at least once in this match. Given the fact that we're dealing with a relatively low total (by Dortmund standards), I believe that lends itself to a tightly-contested affair in the first leg of this matchup (the two teams will meet up again next Thursday in Scotland). Take Rangers +1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
02-13-22 | Arminia Bielefeld +1 v. Hoffenheim | 0-2 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Arminia Bielefield +1 goal over 1899 Hoffenheim at 11:30 am et on Sunday. The goal line spread may make some sense at first glance but a closer look indicates the wrong side might even be favored in this one. Arminia is a true upstart in Bundesliga play this season and enters this match having gone undefeated over its last six matches. Meanwhile Hoffenheim is completely out of sorts having lost four in a row. Worse still it has gone 10 matches without posting a clean sheet. That gives us a nice overlay here when you consider Arminia has seen seven of its last nine contests stay ‘under’ 2.5 goals. Also noting that four of the last five matches in this series have totalled two goals or less, I’m comfortable backing the underdog side with an insurance goal in this one. Take Arminia Bielefield +1 goal (8*). |
|||||||
12-08-21 | Young Boys Bern v. Manchester United -1.25 | Top | 1-1 | Loss | -102 | 7 h 27 m | Show |
Champions League Game of the Month. My selection is on Manchester United -1 goal over Young Boys at 3 pm et on Wednesday. Changes will be made to the Manchester United side as it has already secured advancement to the next round of Champions League play. That doesn't mean the Red Devils will roll over in this rematch with Young Boys after dropping a 2-1 decision in the reverse match in Switzerland back in September. Keep in mind, Man U grabbed an early 1-0 lead in that match before a red card foiled its gameplan shortly after. Here, the Red Devils will look to gain an ounce of revenge, even if the result means little to them. Young Boys desperately need a win but also some help to book advancement to the next round. They bring poor form to the table having struggled in league play, largely due to a number of key absences due to injury. Even without a number of its regular starts, I'm confident we'll see Manchester United secure victory here as interim manager Ralf Rangnick is determined to see his squad boost its confidence off Sunday's clean sheet victory over Crystal Palace and ahead of a weekend clash with lowly Norwich City in EPL action. Take Manchester United -1 (10*). |
|||||||
09-07-21 | Japan -1.75 v. China PR | 1-0 | Loss | -106 | 13 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Japan -1.5 goals over China PR at 11 am et on Tuesday. Japan is a top-25 ranked international squad according to FIFA rankings. It certainly didn't look the part in an absolutely dreadful performance against Oman last time out. Japan suffered a 1-0 defeat in that match, despite being heavily favored heading in. Here, Japan is once again a significant favorite, but this time around, I'm anticipating a much different result. China was completely outclassed by Australia in its last match, suffering a 3-0 setback. It managed just 38% of the possession and didn't register a single shot on goal in the loss. There's little reason to expect much improvement here. Note that the damage could have been much worse last time out had Australia not jumped ahead 2-0 so early and essentially 'parked the bus' from there. Japan isn't likely to ease off the gas with goal differential a consideration off the shutout loss to Oman. A much tougher test awaits against Australia and the Japanese will certainly want to ramp up prior to that match - which comes after another difficult test away from home against Saudi Arabia. If your book offers alternate lines, consider backing Japan at -1.5 rather than the standard -1.75 being offered, ensuring you cash should it win by exactly two goals. Take Japan -1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-25-21 | Canada v. Costa Rica | Top | 2-0 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 16 m | Show |
Gold Cup Game of the Year. My selection is on Costa Rica pk'em (draw no bet) over Canada at 7 pm et on Sunday. Credit Canada for battling through key injuries to Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies to get to this stage of the tournament but now with striker Cyle Larin and midfield Ayo Akinola missing due to injury as well, I believe getting past an improving Costa Rica squad will be a bridge too far. Costa Rica has impressed in this tournament, certainly performing better than I expect this veteran squad to heading in. Keep in mind, Costa Rica does find itself ranked above Canada in the FIFA world rankings so the case can certainly be made that the wrong side is being favored here (ever so slightly). Canada went all out in its final Group Stage match against the USA, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net despite applying waves of pressure throughout the match. The low posted total gives us a hint of what to expect here as well as I suspect the Canadians will once again have a tough time finding goals with what could only be considered their 'B' squad at this point. Costa Rica will be without goalkeeper Leonel Moreira for this match after he was given a red card against Jamaica. However, this is still a well-organized Costa Rican defense that should prove difficult to break down and I don't expect it to afford the Canadians a great deal of scoring chances. Costa Rica has been clinical in attack from the get-go in this tournament and while this will arguably be its toughest test to date, I look for Ariel Lassiter in particular to shine up front in this match. Take Costa Rica pk/draw no bet (10*). |
|||||||
07-24-21 | El Salvador +0.5 v. Qatar | 2-3 | Loss | -100 | 22 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on El Salvador +1 goal over Qatar at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. NOTE: I'm recommending grabbing the insurance goal with El Salvador in this one, allowing us to 'push' should it lose by exactly one goal. Most books are currently offering +0.75 goals as the standard line but +1 is widely available as an alternate line, albeit at a steeper price. Qatar got off to a shaky start in this tournament, blowing three leads on its way to a 3-3 draw against Panama. It's been all positive since then, however, but now it finds itself in uncharted territory as it heads to the quarter-final round as a decided favorite against El Salvador. Keep in mind, these two teams just squared off in a friendly tune-up match prior to this tournament with Qatar winning by a 1-0 score. El Salvador has actually played well in this tournament so far, with its lone blemish coming in a 1-0 loss to top-15 FIFA ranked Mexico in a relatively meaningless Group Stage finale. This is an El Salvador side that has been on the rise over the last couple of years. Getting to this stage of the tournament is a big deal as it had failed to do so in two of the last three Gold Cup events. I like the make up of this squad and believe it can give Qatar all it can handle on Saturday. Watch for Alex Roldan for El Salvador. He's been a real difference-maker for them in this tournament and started for the first time against Mexico last time out. It's been a smooth ride for Qatar over its last couple of matches but I expect it to face some resistance here. These are two evenly matched sides and I'm not sure that's being properly reflected in the line. Take El Salvador +1 goal (6*). |
|||||||
07-17-21 | Qatar -2.5 v. Grenada | 4-0 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Qatar -2.5 goals over Grenada at 7:30 pm et on Saturday. Off a wild 3-3 draw that saw all six goals scored in the second half against Panama, Qatar should find the going much easier against an overmatched Grenada squad on Saturday. Grenada fell by a 4-0 score against Honduras in its Gold Cup opener. It's unlikely the 160th-ranked international squad will find its footing against a cohesive Qatarian side here. Keep in mind, the bulk of the Qatar lineup plays together at the club level in its home country so it's no surprise that we saw it flow freely against Panama last time out. Defensively Qatar was extremely sound leading up to this tournament but clearly sprung some leaks against the Panamanians. This is an ideal bounce-back spot, however, as it faces an inexperienced Grenada squad that has had a miserable time trying to find the back of the goal against inferior opposition to what it will face here. While we're being asked to pay a steep tariff to back Qatar in this one I believe the lofty spread is warranted. Take Qatar -2.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
07-16-21 | Jamaica -1.5 v. Guadeloupe | 2-1 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on Jamaica -1.5 goals over Guadeloupe at 6:30 pm et on Friday. We won plays supporting both of these squads in their respective tournament openers but here, I'll give the nod to Jamaica as it should outclass Guadeloupe by a considerable margin over the course of 90 minutes. Jamaica jumped ahead early and while there were a few testy moments, ultimately prevailed by a 2-0 score against Suriname in its Gold Cup opener. The fact that it was challenged at all should serve as a bit of a wake-up call as it prepares to face another seemingly inferior squad talent-wise on Friday. Keep in mind, the Jamaicans can lock up advancement from the group stage with a victory here. We won with Guadeloupe +2.5 goals in its opener against Costa Rica but were fortunate to do so after it fell behind by two goals on two separate occasions and also received a red card fairly early in the second half. That red card will result in key defender/midfielder Steve Solvet missing this match. I have concerns when it comes to the Guadeloupe defense in this one after it looked rather disorganized against a slower Costa Rica squad than it will face on Friday. While goalkeeper Yohann Thuram was the hero in a penalty shootout win over Guatemala to reach this tournament, he has looked shaky at times and that was certainly the case in the match against Costa Rica. There's a considerable class difference that I'm not sure is being properly reflected in this line, partly due to Guadeloupe's respectable 3-1 defeat at the hands of Costa Rica. Jamaica wasn't quite as sharp as it would have liked against Suriname but I expect to see a more cohesive performance here. While I like some of the pieces Guadeloupe has up front, most notably Mirval, Phaeton and Ramothe, I suspect it will have a different time breaking down a Jamaican defense that has the potential to perform better than it did on Monday. Take Jamaica -1.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
07-15-21 | United States -2.5 v. Martinique | 6-1 | Win | 100 | 15 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on USA -2.5 goals over Martinique at 9:30 pm et on Thursday. |
|||||||
07-15-21 | Canada v. Haiti +1.5 | 4-1 | Loss | -108 | 13 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Haiti +1.5 goals over Canada at 7:30 pm et on Thursday. Haiti has been struck by Covid issues in this tournament, likely to miss seven players once again for Thursday's critical match against Canada. Nevertheless, the Haitians put forth a valiant effort against the USA in their Gold Cup opener and I expect them to be a 'tough out' against Canada as well. Canada cruised to a 4-1 victory against an overmatched Martinique squad in its tournament opener. A win here would obviously put it in the driver's seat for advancement from the group stage. Haiti on the other hand will be desperate to at least gain a point here before closing the opening round with a winnable match against Martinique. Despite getting shutout in its opener, Haiti did have its share of scoring opportunities against the Americans and will have something to build on here. Having also been shutout in two World Cup Qualifying matches against Canada prior to this tournament, I expect Haiti to make a concerted effort to put pressure on the Canadian defense here, which was never really tested by Martinique. While Canada's first victory was lopsided in nature, it's worth noting that it didn't extend the lead to three goals until the closing minutes of the match and that was with Martinique appearing punchless at both ends of the pitch. It will be up against a far more cagey side here, and I believe the familiarity between these two squads lends itself to a tightly contested affair. Take Haiti +1.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
07-14-21 | Mexico -2.75 v. Guatemala | 3-0 | Win | 50 | 15 h 0 m | Show | |
My selection is on Mexico -2.75 goals over Guatemala at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday. This is a nightmarish spot for Guatemala as it faces a furious Mexican side coming off a stunning 0-0 draw against Trinidad and Tobago in its Gold Cup opener - a match that was marred by questionable officiating and an injury to Mexican star Hirving Lozano. There's really no reason to knock Mexico for that 0-0 result. It dominated play for 90 minutes and probably deserved a better fate as their should have almost certainly been a penalty called on the play that injured Lozano, not to mention another goal that was called back due to a questionable offside call. Nevertheless, Mexico held 83% of the possession in that contest, firing 30 shots with seven hitting target. It racked up an incredible 31 crosses in the draw and held Trinidad and Tobago without a single shot on goal. In fact, Mexico hasn't allowed a single shot on target in its last two contests. Guatemala is only in this tournament due to Curacao being forced to withdraw due to positive Covid results. I don't think there's any question, El Salvador overlooked Guatemala in the opener. Still, the floodgates eventually opened with El Salvador finding a couple of late goals in a 2-0 victory. In the loss, Guatemala managed only 31% of the possession while allowing 21 shots with six on target and 24 crosses. Guatemala itself managed just one shot on target in the loss. Goal differential becomes a factor here after Mexico's scoreless draw to open the tournament. I don't expect to see the Mexicans take their foot off the gas should they build a lead in this contest, noting that they secured a 3-0 victory over the Guatemalans the last time they squared off in a friendly match last September. Take Mexico -2.75 goals (9*). |
|||||||
07-12-21 | Guadeloupe +2.25 v. Costa Rica | 1-3 | Win | 50 | 14 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Guadeloupe +2.5 goals over Costa Rica at 9 pm et on Monday. Costa Rica made a splash at the 2014 World Cup but it's been mostly downhill since then as it has fallen from the 15th ranked team in the World (according to FIFA rankings) to 50th, where it currently resides. Yes, Costa Rica 'should' win this match on pedigree alone, however I don't think Guadeloupe will go down easily. Guadeloupe is playing with house money in this tournament after booking its ticket with a thrilling shootout victory over Guatemala last week. Putting the level of competition aside, Guadeloupe has now won each of its last six matches while Costa Rica checks in winless over that same stretch. I love the setup of the 'Gwada Boys' up front as they feature clinical attackers in Phaeton, Mirval and Ramothe that should be able to take advantage of an older, slower Costa Rica squad. I believe the door is open for Guadeloupe to find the back of the net at least once in this match, noting that Costa Rica did not include PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas on its squad for this tournament. Should that happen, Costa Rica will be hard-pressed to find the four goals needed to cover this lofty goal-line spread. Take Guadeloupe +2.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
07-03-21 | Denmark v. Czech Republic +0.5 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -125 | 5 h 43 m | Show |
Euro Quarter-Final Game of the Year. My selection is on Czech Republic +0.5 goals over Denmark at 12 noon et on Saturday. It's time for teams to starting taking this Czech Republic side seriously after it dispatched the Netherlands in a convincing 2-0 victory last Sunday. The Czechs have done nothing but impress in this tournament and I don't expect to see them wilt under the pressure against the favored Danes on Saturday. Note that Denmark has rode a wave of positive momentum in this tournament ever since a stunning loss to Finland that was marred by Christian Eriksen's cardiac-arrest on the field in mid-match. I give the Danish side all the credit for their incredible run but now they've been sitting idle since breezing past Wales 4-0 last Saturday and I simply feel they're going to have their hands full with a cagey Czech squad. Patrik Schick has arguably been the breakout star of this tournament and he'll be called on once again to lead the Czechs to victory here. Note that they're expected to have key defender Jan Boril back from suspension for this match as well and they'll need all hands on deck given Denmark's ability to find the back of the net, scoring eight times in its last two contests. There's a certain confidence and swagger that the Czech's have displayed in this tournament and I believe it carries them to at least a level result after 90 minutes against Denmark on Saturday. Take Czech Republic +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-29-21 | Ukraine v. Sweden | Top | 1-1 | Push | 0 | 17 h 42 m | Show |
Euro Knockout Stage Game of the Year. My selection is on Sweden pk (draw no bet) over Ukraine at 3 pm et on Tuesday. We won with Sweden in its most recent match, a 3-2 victory in a wild contest against Poland. Credit the Swedes hanging in there despite Robert Lewandowski's heroics and thanks to the victory they draw a favorable matchup against Ukraine here. Ukraine is certainly fortunate to be here after closing out the group stage with a 1-0 defeat against Austria. While it showed plenty of fight in a narrow 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in its opener and ultimately faced little resistance in a win over North Macedonia, the tournament has generally been a mixed bag for Andriy Shevchenko's squad. That's a stark contrast to the Swedes, who have been rock solid, showing excellent form defensively and just enough attacking prowess to make them a dangerous team moving forward in this tournament. Sweden is now undefeated in its last eight matches and I don't believe Ukraine will be the side to end that run. While I have a lot of respect for Ukraine, particularly for the duo of Zinchenko and Yarmolenko, I look for Sweden to ultimately prevail in what will likely be a low-scoring affair. Take Sweden (10*). |
|||||||
06-23-21 | Poland v. Sweden | 2-3 | Win | 105 | 5 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sweden +0.5 goals (-185) over Poland at 12 noon et on Wednesday. NOTE: I'm recommending a play on Sweden using the alternate goal-line of +0.5 on Wednesday. Alternatively, if that line isn't offered at your book of choice, playing the Swedes pk (draw no bet) is an option as well. Poland needs a victory to ensure advancement to the knockout stage of this tournament but I suspect Sweden will be a difficult side to break down on Wednesday. The Swedes have impressed in their stubbornness through their first two matches, having yet to allow a goal in earning a 0-0 draw against Spain and a 1-0 victory over Slovakia. While it's quite likely they'll be moving on regardless of the outcome here today, there's a possibility that they could miss out should they lose and Spain and Slovakia play to a draw. I certainly wouldn't expect Sweden to lay down in this one as it has a clear opportunity to seal top spot in the group. Poland has looked rather uneven at both ends of the pitch in its first two matches. The 1-1 draw against Spain last time out was certainly a favorable result and perhaps a somewhat fortunate one with Spain missing a penalty late. Robert Lewandowski is a living legend to be sure and he's been responsible for both Polish markers in this tournament. If any opponent is going to contain the Bayern Munich striker, it's Sweden, which has shown a real penchant for staunch defense here at Euro 2020. Sweden hasn't lost a match since falling 4-2 to mighty France back in November. Even that defeat came with somewhat of an asterisk as the Swedes didn't have a fully-formed lineup at that point, with one of their stars in this tournament so far, Alexander Isak only making an appearance in the latter stages of the match. Speaking of lineups, the Swedes have a wealth of options at their disposal, with players capable of coming off the bench and making an immediate impact should things not go their way in the first half of this contest. Regardless, I like the Swedes to at the very least keep this one on level terms as they cruise to the knockout stage of the tournament. Take Sweden +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-19-21 | Germany v. Portugal +0.5 | 4-2 | Loss | -155 | 6 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Portugal +0.5 goals over Germany at 12 noon et on Saturday. We won with the 'over' in Portugal's Euro 2020 debut against Hungary on Tuesday - a rather miraculous win thanks to three late goals from A Selecao. Here, I expect to see another tightly-contested affair, but will grab the half-goal of insurance with Portugal knowing it would be pleased to gain another point here with a difficult match against France still ahead. Germany isn't the same dominant team we've seen at recent European Championships. While the talent is still there, the pieces just haven't fit together quite as well in recent years and here we find it with just three victories in its last seven matches, with those wins coming against the likes of Iceland, Romania and Latvia. While a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of mighty France might look good on paper, the Germans rarely looked all that threatening in that match. Portugal last lost just one match going all the way back to November 2019 - a string of 16 contests. That lone defeat came by a 1-0 scoreline against aforementioned France. Die Mannschaft has gotten the better of Portugal over the years but there haven't been any recent meetings between the two sides. As the odds for this match indicate, there's little to choose between these two sides but I see Portugal having the killer instinct that Germany lacks at the moment and at the very least keeping this one level on Saturday. Take Portugal +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-14-21 | Czech Republic v. Scotland | 2-0 | Win | 106 | 3 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on Czech Republic +0.5 goals (-190) over Scotland at 9 am et on Monday. NOTE: I'll play the alternate goal line at a steeper price here giving us insurance should this match end in a draw. Alternatively, your book may offer the Czechs to win/draw at the same price. I'm higher on the Czech's than most entering this tournament and while this obviously a difficult match against Scotland in Glasgow, I expect to see them keep proceedings level at the very least and earn a much-needed point as they battle it out in a tricky group. With England and Croatia rounding out the group, advancement could be difficult for these two squads so avoiding a goose-egg in the opening match is obviously critical. The Czechs bring rather inconsistent form to the table after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of mighty Italy before rallying their spirits for a 3-1 win over Albania in two warm-up friendly matches. Keep in mind, they didn't start their 'A' squad against the Italians and fell behind quickly 2-0 as a result. Once the likes of Patrik Schick and Tomas Soucek entered the match after halftime the game was already well in hand for Italy. Scotland earned a recent 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, which was certainly impressive on paper. However, the Dutch were missing some key parts at the back-end, most notably goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, whose absence was certainly felt in yesterday's narrow 3-2 victory over Ukraine. In World Cup Qualifying back in March, the Scots' needed a late goal to pull even with Austria in a 2-2 draw before settle for another disappointing draw, 1-1 against Israel, and then proceeding to lay waste to Faroe Islands 4-0. Scotland actually reached this tournament - a rare Euro appearance at that - on the shoulders of qualifying wins over the likes of Kazakhstan, Cyprus and San Marino before clinching their ticket with victories on penalties against Israel and Serbia. To say that it is fortunate to be here would be an understatement. I think the fact that Scotland got past Czech Republic in both Nations League matches last fall looms large when it comes to the prices being set for this match. While Scotland does have home field advantage, I believe the case could be made for the Czechs to be favored. Instead we're able to grab them plus a half-goal at a reasonable price. Take Czech Republic +0.5 goals (9*). |
|||||||
06-09-21 | Israel v. Portugal -1.5 | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 8 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on Portugal -1.5 goals over Israel at 2:45 pm et on Wednesday. We won with Portugal +0.5 in its last match against Spain and will go back to the well with A Selecao here as it draws a more favorable match against Israel ahead of its Euro opener against Hungary next Tuesday. We certainly didn't see Portugal's 'A' squad against La Roja last week. I suspect we'll see something closer to it here on Wednesday, however, even if Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to only make a cameo appearance (if he plays at all). Note that while Israel is coming off consecutive victories, scoring a whopping seven goals in the process, those came against the likes of Moldova and Montenegro. The fact that it conceded a goal in each of those contests was somewhat discouraging. Note that the last two times Israel stepped up in class it failed to find the back of the net against Denmark and the Czech Republic. I suspect it will have a difficult time breaking down a tremendous Portugal defense here as well. A Selecao certainly wants to head into the Euros on a positive note and consecutive clean sheets would do exactly that. On the flip side, regardless whether Ronaldo is on the pitch, I expect Portugal to go on the attack in this match - unlike what we saw against Spain when it didn't record a shot on target until the closing minutes. Prior to that 0-0 draw, Portugal had tallied nine goals in its last four matches. It should only be a matter of time before it puts its stamp on this one as well. Take Portugal -1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-07-21 | Cyprus v. Ukraine -1 | 0-4 | Win | 100 | 6 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on Ukraine -1 goal over Cyprus at 12 noon et on Monday. We won with Ukraine in last week's 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland and I won't hesitate to go back to the well here, this time laying a goal to get a more reasonable price. While the final scoreline was 1-0, the damage could have been much worse as Ukraine missed a number of prime opportunities to extend its lead, particularly in the first half of that most recent match. All told, Ukraine made 18 shot attempts with four hitting the target. While it did get put back on its heels for a stretch in the second half, I'm not convinced Cyprus has the same ability to do so here. Note that Cyprus has managed to score just a single goal in its last five matches and will have to be careful here after losing defender Andreas Karo to injury in its match against Hungary last week. While Cyprus has proven to be a tough defensive squad, I expect Ukraine's duo of Yaremchuk and Zinchenko (he didn't see the field in its last match after playing in the Champions League Final days earlier) to find some success here, with Yaremchuk building off a strong showing against Northern Ireland last week. While the result here is of little consequence given that it is simply an international friendly, a positive showing should be important to Ukraine ahead of a very difficult Euro opener against the Netherlands coming up in a week. With Austria also lurking in its group, it will need to hit the ground running heading into the tournament and I'm confident we'll see Andriy Shevchenko field his 'A' squad for this tune-up. Take Ukraine -1 goal (10*). |
|||||||
06-06-21 | Greece +0.5 v. Norway | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 5 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on Greece +0.5 goals over Norway at 12 noon et on Sunday. The presence of Erling Haaland will have many rushing to back the Norwegians in this friendly match on Sunday. However, after Norway was only able to break down the likes of Luxembourg for one goal last time out I believe it will be hard-pressed to come away victorious against a Greece side that actually brings solid form to the table. Greece has in fact gone undefeated in its last nine matches including a 1-1 draw against top-ranked Belgium earlier this week. While the Belgians were missing a number of key players in that match, it was still another encouraging result for this gritty Greece side. We're not asking for it to work any miracles here, but I do expect Greece to find a little more success disseminating a vulnerable Norwegian defense and ultimately keep this match level at the very least. Take Greece +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-04-21 | Portugal +0.25 v. Spain | 0-0 | Win | 50 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Portugal +0.5 goals over Spain at 1:30 pm et on Friday. |
|||||||
04-27-21 | Chelsea +0.5 v. Real Madrid | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 8 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chelsea +0.5 goals over Real Madrid at 3 pm et on Tuesday. Note: I'm recommending playing this at +0.5 goals which may be an alternate goal-line at your book. I get the feeling many bettors feel that backing Real Madrid in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final matchup will serve as a safe investment given the fact that Los Blancos haven't lost a match since January (they're riding a 17-game unbeaten streak). Of course, Real Madrid also has the Champions League pedigree with 13 all-time wins and has the benefit of playing at home. That's not to mention the fact that Real will have Eden Hazard back on the pitch after he returned and played 30 minutes in its last match. However, I don't expect Chelsea to simply roll over. Yes, the Blues have one eye on the Premier League, where they sit fourth in the table by the slimmest of margins but there's no question they'll have little trouble getting up for this trip to Spain to face a true world football power. While Real Madrid has Hazard at possibly less than 100% health and will be without Sergio Ramos as he continues to work his way back from injury, Chelsea has a full squad for this semi-final opener. The Blues certainly weren't happy with their performance in their last Champions League match as they lost 1-0 against Porto on home soil (after taking the first leg 2-0 in Sevilla to hold on for a 2-1 aggregate victory). They'll be looking to make amends here and while Real Madrid serves as an extremely difficult squad to break down, I expect the Blues to keep pace for the full 90+ minutes. Take Chelsea +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
03-09-21 | FC Porto v. Juventus -1 | Top | 1-2 | Push | 0 | 27 h 40 m | Show |
Champions League Match of the Month. My selection is on Juventus -1.5 goals over FC Porto at 3 pm et on Tuesday. The reality here is that Juventus needs only 1-0 victory to advance past Porto onto the Champions League quarter-final round, despite suffering a stunning 2-1 road defeat in the first leg of the Round of 16. With that in mind, I don't believe we're see Pirlo's side hold anything back or leave anything to chance on Tuesday. It's interesting to note that the total has been set at 2.5 for this match. I actually do believe Juventus has a good chance at coming away with a clean sheet, noting that it has allowed just six goals in its last 12 matches combined. Porto clearly caught Juventus flat-footed in the first leg of this matchup but the Italian side's late goal served them well, giving them more than a fighting chance of advancing heading into this match at home. We're being offered a very reasonable price to back the superior side with high motivation here. Take Juventus -1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
12-01-20 | Inter Milan v. Borussia Monchengladbach +0.5 | 3-2 | Loss | -135 | 18 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on Borussia Monchengladbach +0.5 goals over Inter Milan at 3 pm et on Tuesday. These two clubs played to a 2-2 draw earlier in Champions League action and I certainly believe there's a good chance they finish level again on Tuesday but also feel Gladbach has a good shot at winning outright. I'll grab the 0.5-goal cushion here in Germany. Inter Milan will have Lukaku back on the pitch after he missed last week's disappointing 2-0 loss to Real Madrid. Let's face it, Inter has been highly disappointing in Champions League action to date, collecting just two of a possible 12 points. It's desperation time for the Italian side on Tuesday but this is certainly another tough draw, even with Lukaku in the mix. Gladbach has lost just once going all the way back to September 26th. Inter needs this one more but I don't see Gladbach rolling over as they can use the point(s) as well. Take Borussia Monchengladbach +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
11-24-20 | Barcelona FC v. FC Dynamo Kiev +0.5 | 4-0 | Loss | -100 | 17 h 11 m | Show | |
My selection is on Dynamo Kyiv +0.5 goals over Barcelona at 3 pm et on Tuesday. I'll take a shot with underdog Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine on Tuesday. This obviously isn't the same dominant Barca side we've seen in years' past, despite the fact that it checks in sporting a perfect 3-0 Champions League record. Overall, it has just four outright wins in its last nine matches. It will be without Leo Messi on Tuesday and make no mistake, this isn't an enjoyable trip, nor is it one where a loss or draw would be back-breaking (or surprising for that matter). Kyiv had a tough draw here in the Champions League, landing in a group with not only Barca but Juventus as well. Credit it for putting up a good fight at Camp Nou earlier this month, ultimately falling by a 2-1 score against Barca. That loss was sandwiched around a 2-2 draw against Ferencvarosi and a 2-0 loss to Juventus. We have to take a bit of a leap of faith in this Tuesday match, but I believe there's a good chance we'll be rewarded for grabbing the half-goal. Take Dynamo Kyiv +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
11-21-20 | Real Madrid v. Villarreal +0.5 | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 19 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Villarreal +0.5 goals (-168) over Real Madrid at 10:15 am et on Saturday. |
|||||||
10-27-20 | Ajax Amsterdam +0.5 v. Atalanta | 2-2 | Win | 108 | 18 h 12 m | Show | |
My selection is on Ajax +0.5 goals over Atalanta at 4 pm et on Tuesday. Solid value being offered with Ajax here as it looks to rebound following a tough 1-0 loss to Liverpool last week. Atalanta is obviously a popular squad right now and quite simply one of the hottest names in all of European football. With that being said, off a 4-0 victory last week I believe it is being overvalued here. Ajax could certainly use a point out of this match, and for that matter so could Atalanta. Both sides would be alright with a draw in this situation although I don't believe an outright Ajax victory is completely out of the question. Take Ajax +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
10-20-20 | Sevilla +0.5 v. Chelsea | Top | 0-0 | Win | 100 | 7 h 53 m | Show |
Champions League Match of the Month. My selection is on Sevilla +0.5 goals over Chelsea at 3 pm et on Tuesday. I'll take a strong position with Sevilla catching a half-goal against Chelsea in Champions League action on Tuesday. While the Spanish side is coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Granada in La Liga action and has gone winless in consecutive matches, I expect it will be up to the challenge against an opponent that draws plenty of motivation here. Chelsea is coming off a disappointing result of its own on Saturday - settling for a 3-3 draw against Southampton. I feel that Chelsea's aggressive style may open it up for some fruitful counter-attacks from Sevilla here and feel we're getting a bargain price to grab the insurance half-goal. Take Sevilla +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-21-20 | Manchester City -1.5 v. Watford | 4-0 | Win | 100 | 6 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on Manchester City -1.5 goals over Watford at 1 pm et on Tuesday. This is an incredible bounce-back spot for City coming off a highly disappointing 2-0 loss to Arsenal in FA Cup play on Saturday. Watford should offer little resistance, with its lone two victories since the restart coming against Norwich City and Newcastle earlier this month. I'll lay the extra goal here as City looks to 'get right' in a 'name your score' type of affair. Take Manchester City -1.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-15-20 | San Jose v. Vancouver Whitecaps +0.5 | 4-3 | Loss | -100 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Vancouver +0.5 goals over San Jose at 9 pm et on Wednesday. Perhaps the line has something to do with the draw San Jose earned against Seattle last Friday (we won with the 'under' in that match) but I feel the Earthquakes are being overvalued here against Vancouver on Wednesday night. There really wasn't anything all that inspiring about what the Earthquakes did against Seattle, managing only 38% of the ball possession while yielding nine corner kicks and 17 crosses (compared to one and three of their own, respectively). Vancouver of course had its first match postponed so you can be sure it has been eager to get back into game action and I'm anticipating a high-energy performance as a result. The Quakes took the most recent meeting between these two squads but that came last August. Expect a different result here. Take Vancouver +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-09-20 | New England v. Montreal +0.5 | 1-0 | Loss | -120 | 22 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on Montreal +0.5 goals over New England at 8 pm et on Thursday. You'd be hard pressed to find a good reason for New England to be favored to win this match, having already dropped a 2-1 decision to the Impact in Montreal prior to the Covid shutdown in March. While Montreal has found itself near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in recent seasons, so has New England. Note that the Impact have done an excellent job of keeping their opposition within arm's reach in recent years, settling for a draw in at least 16 of 34 matches in each of the last three seasons. Montreal generally seems to be the overlooked of the three Canadian squads with Toronto and Vancouver grabbing more of the headlines. Here, look for Thierry Henry's Impact to turn in a solid tournament debut against the Revolution. Take Montreal +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-08-20 | Burnley +0.5 v. West Ham United | 1-0 | Win | 100 | 15 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on Burnley +0.5 goals over West Ham United at 1 pm et on Wednesday. I like the value being offered with Burnley here. Most bettors' have short memories and the fact is, West Ham has a bit of a 'flavor of the month' feel after upsetting Chelsea last week and following that up with a 2-2 draw with Newcastle. Note that West Ham still sits just 16th in EPL action this season with only eight victories in 33 matches. Burnley has gone undefeated over its last three matches and could really use a positive result here with matches against Liverpool and Wolverhampton on deck. Note that Burnley took the most recent meeting between these two squads by a 3-0 score last November. Take Burnley +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-02-20 | RCD Espanyol +0.5 v. Real Sociedad | 1-2 | Loss | -111 | 6 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Espanyol +0.5 goals over Real Sociedad at 1:30 pm et on Thursday. With both of these squads scuffling along right now I'll grab the half-goal with Espanyol in what should be a tightly-contested affair. Espanyol has gone winless since resuming play with a 2-0 win over CD Alaves back on June 13th. Since then it has gone 0-3-1 but has admittedly faced a tough recent slate, including a narrow 1-0 loss to first place Real Madrid. Real Sociedad has lost four straight matches and managed only one shot on goal in its most recent contest - a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Getafe. Take Espanyol +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-01-20 | Villarreal v. Betis | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 19 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on Villarreal pk'em over Real Betis at 4 pm et on Wednesday. While the likes of Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid get all the headlines, squads like Villarreal have thrived since the restart of play earlier this month. Villarreal has gone an incredible 4-0-1 since then, conceding just two goals in total - both of those coming against Sevilla last week. It was positively dominant in its most recent match, rolling to an easy 2-0 victory over Valencia. Real Betis has been hot and cold since the restart and is coming off a 4-2 loss to Levante. A victory over Real Madrid back in March has been Betis' season highlight as it checks in 13th in La Liga action. Take Villarreal pk'em (10*). |
|||||||
07-01-20 | Ath Bilbao +0.25 v. Valencia | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 16 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on Athletic +0 1/4 goals over Valencia at 1:30 pm et on Wednesday. Valencia embarrassed itself in its most recent match, appearing completely lifeless in a 2-0 loss to Villarreal. Note that Valencia has failed to record a single shot on goal in its last two full matches. Since the restart, Valencia has gone 1-3-1 with its lone two positive results coming against opponents that sit in the bottom half of the La Liga table. Athletic has looked rather impressive since the restart, going 2-1-2 with its lone defeat coming by a 1-0 score against Barcelona last week. Note that it has managed to find the back of the net in four of five matches this month, tallying a grand total of seven goals. Take Athletic +0 1/4 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-26-20 | Real Valladolid v. Sevilla -1 | 1-1 | Loss | -131 | 8 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sevilla -1 goal over Real Valladolid at 4 pm et on Friday. I'll lay the goal with Sevilla in this Friday La Liga match. Sevilla has gone winless in its last three matches since returning to the pitch with a 2-0 win over Real Betis back on June 11th. Keep in mind, it has faced a tough schedule, with its last three matches coming against Levante, Barcelona and Villarreal. There was really no shame in earning three consecutive draws over that stretch. Here, I look for Sevilla to get loose against a Valladolid squad that sits 15th in the La Liga standings. Like Sevilla it has gone winless in its last three matches but it's worth noting that it managed just one goal over that stretch - that coming in a 1-1 draw against Getafe last time out. Take Sevilla -1 goal (10*). |
|||||||
06-25-20 | Arsenal v. Southampton | 2-0 | Win | 105 | 5 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on Arsenal (pk'em/draw no bet) over Southampton at 1 pm et on Thursday. Bettors are understandably a little jittery when it comes to Arsenal, which has been a big disappointment in the EPL this season, currently sitting in 11th place. The Gunners haven't looked good since the restart, going 0-1-1 including an awful loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out. It is worth noting that the Gunners did control the pace of that match for the most part, but simply couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. Here, I look for a different story to unfold against Southampton. It sits 14th in the EPL standings and is in for a letdown coming off a 3-0 victory over Norwich City. That marked just its second victory in its last eight matches overall. Take Arsenal (pk'em/draw no bet) 10*. |
|||||||
06-24-20 | AFC Bournemouth +1 v. Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0-1 | Push | 0 | 5 h 22 m | Show | |
My selection is on Bournemouth +1 goal over Wolverhampton at 1 pm et on Wednesday. Bournemouth sits a miserable 18th in the EPL and is coming off a less-than-inspired 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in its return to the pitch this past Saturday. Still, I'll grab the one-goal cushion with the underdog side here as it takes on a Wolves squad in for a letdown off a 2-0 victory over West Ham. Note that the Wanderers have just 11 outright victories in 30 EPL matches this season. Covering the goal spread is a bridge too far on this day. Take Bournemouth +1 goal (10*). |
|||||||
06-24-20 | Everton v. Norwich City +0.5 | 1-0 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 18 m | Show | |
My selection is on Norwich City +0.5 goals over Everton at 1 pm et on Wednesday. I like the bounce-back spot for Norwich City here as it aims to rebound from an awful showing in a 3-0 loss to Southampton this past Friday. Meanwhile, Everton is in a letdown spot of sorts coming off a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. Norwich City certainly doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence given its 20th place standing but it has shown the ability to rise to the occasion at times this season and it's worth noting that it has suffered only six outright losses in 30 EPL matches. I'm not as high on Everton as most here on Wednesday. Take Norwich City +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
06-23-20 | Atletico Madrid v. Levante +1 | 1-0 | Push | 0 | 5 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Levante +1 goal over Atletico Madrid at 1:30 pm et on Tuesday. Atletico Madrid narrowly escaped with a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Valladolid, improving to 2-0-1 since the La Liga restart earlier this month. That less than inspiring performance has me wondering whether they'll avoid disappointment against upstart Levante on Tuesday, however. Levante sits 11th in La Liga but has gone undefeated in three matches since the restart. Keep in mind, this is a squad that defeated Real Madrid and suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona back in February. I like it's chances of staying with in arm's reach of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday afternoon and will gladly grab the insurance goal. Take Levante +1 goal (10*). |
|||||||
05-22-20 | Union Berlin +0.5 v. Hertha Berlin | 0-4 | Loss | -153 | 18 h 29 m | Show | |
My selection is on Union Berlin +0.5 goals over Hertha Berlin at 2:30 pm et on Friday. As we all know by now you can essentially throw home field advantage out the window as clubs play in front of empty stadiums in Bundesliga action for the foreseeable future. Here, I'll gladly grab the half-goal with Union Berlin as it looks to bounce back from a tough but hard-fought 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich last weekend. FC Union has suffered just three outright losses in 26 Bundesliga matches this season. Hertha BSC sits ahead of Union in the overall standings and is coming off an impressive 3-0 win over 1899 Hoffenheim last week. Keep in mind, that marked its first victory in its last four matches. The last match between these two clubs resulted in a 1-0 FC Union victory back on November 2nd. Expect another tight battle here with a draw the 'at worst' expectation for Union by my estimation. Take Union Berlin (10*). |
|||||||
07-15-18 | Croatia +0.5 v. France | 2-4 | Loss | -100 | 51 h 47 m | Show | |
My selection is on Croatia +0.5 goals over France at 11 am et on Sunday. Has there been a more resilient bunch than the Croatians at this World Cup? After cruising through the Group Stage, Croatia has faced considerably resistance in the Knockout Stage, going to penalties twice and needing extra time to get past England in Wednesday's semi-final match. Now few are giving them a chance against France - the squad that many seemingly crowned World Cup champions about a week ago. While France does certainly pose a substantial challenge, I don't believe it is invincible. The French are absolutely at the top of their game but Croatia isn't about to back down after coming so far. I'm not sure that things are going to come so easy for the French offensively in this match. They were essentially able to to control proceedings from the start in both the quarters and semis. Look for Croatia to prove to be a thorn in their side on Sunday. Take Croatia +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-11-18 | England v. Croatia +0.5 | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 41 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Croatia +0.5 goals over England at 2 pm et on Wednesday. We missed the mark with Sweden plus the half-goal against England in the quarter-final round after having cashed Colombia at virtually the same price against the English in the Round of 16. I won’t hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here, only this time backing a superior Croatian squad. While there’s no question, the Croatians have enjoyed some luck along the way, now having won two games in the Knockout Stage by way of penalties – the last coming in stunning fashion against the host Russians. I can’t help but feel Croatia is the more battle-tested squad at this point, and while I’m not convinced they can win this match to advance to the World Cup Final, I do believe they’ll give England everything they have and more than likely force extra time at the very least. Take Croatia +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-07-18 | England v. Sweden +0.5 | 2-0 | Loss | -100 | 37 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sweden +0.5 goals over England at 10 am et on Saturday. England has already and will continue to draw plenty of support from the betting public following its magical victory over Colombia. The English bandwagon is filling up fast, but could empty just as quickly if Sweden has anything to say about it on Saturday. Few gave the Swedish side a chance in this tournament but following a victory over Switzerland, here they are. Save for a late breakdown against Germany (who was in desperation mode following a tourney-opening defeat), Sweden has held its form tremendously in the face of adversity in this tournament. The Swedes will be undoubtedly facing their toughest challenge to date against an English squad that is without question at the top of its game. With that being said, we’re being given a cushion to work with here, and I believe there’s a good chance this one needs extra time to decide. Take Sweden +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-06-18 | Belgium +0.5 v. Brazil | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 17 h 12 m | Show |
World Cup Quarter-Final Game of the Year. My selection is on Belgium +0.5 goals over Brazil at 2 pm et on Friday. Brazil delivered a dominant 2-0 victory over Mexico to reach this quarter-final match against Belgium, easily erasing the memories of what I would consider a less-than-inspiring group stage. Yes, the Brazilians rolled through that stage of the tournament relatively unscathed, but it never really felt as if they were at the top of their game. They’re going to need to be at that level in order to fend off a game Belgium squad on Friday afternoon. The Belgians got more than they bargained for against Japan in the round of 16 but managed to survive, scoring another three goals in the process. Belgium has looked explosive at times in this tournament. Even in a game they didn’t need, or perhaps even want to win, they still managed to defeat England in their final group stage match. I’m anticipating their best performance of the tournament on Friday as they give Brazil all they can handle and more. Take Belgium +0.5 goals (10*). |
|||||||
07-03-18 | England v. Colombia +0.5 | Top | 1-1 | Win | 100 | 17 h 25 m | Show |
World Cup Game of the Year. My selection is on Colombia +0.5 goals over England at 2 pm et on Tuesday. There's lot of optimism from English faithful right now as giant after giant falls in this tournament. I can't help but feel that a lot of folks are sleeping on Colombia, however. It's easy to forget that the Colombians made plenty of noise in the last World Cup but they remain an overlooked and undervalued commodity here in 2018. England has enjoyed a tremendous run to this point but I do think the Three Lions will regret not leaving it all on the pitch against Belgium in their final group stage match. At the end of the day I'm not sure there's any real advantage to being on one side of the bracket or another. Every match is tough, as the big favorites have learned here in the Round of 16. I'll gladly grab the generous cushion with Colombia in this contest. Take Colombia +0.5 goals (10*). |