WEEK 24
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Predictions will generally be posted by Friday each week,
AND the analyses should be up by Wednesday following each weekend’s games.
The odds that I quote on each game are the first available and are quite
possibly subject to change as the game day approaches.
WEEK 24 Jan 31-Feb 2
All times are Mountain Standard Time
LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY
WEEK 23
Again, both teams that have any chance of catching Arsenal slip up. The Gunners are now six points clear at the top, and this week should not see them lose any ground to their challengers. The only real upset this week was Aston Villas inexplicable loss to Brentford on their home ground, an honorable mention goes to Spurs almost miraculous comeback against Manchester City. Not sure if it was due to a renewed purpose from Tottenham in the second half or a lack of concentration on Manchester’s part. City are developing a nasty habit of letting games they should win slip through their fingers.
WEEK 24 GAME 1 – SAT Jan 31st 8:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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BRIGHTON |
EVERTON |
 |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Brighton at home should have the edge here but they are underperforming of late. Don’t know if Jack Grealish will be back in the team for Everton and he was sorely missed last week. Considering that The Seagulls are a bit wobbly right now and Everton can’t be relied on to put up much of a show this game looks like a draw to me. Therefore, the bet would be. Everton +1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Well as it turned out I won this bet. Can’t say I, or Everton, deserved it, but a win is a win. Brighton had this game, but for the second week in a row they pissed it away in literally the last seconds. Pascal Gross had given the Seagulls the lead with just 17 minutes of real time to play. All they had to do was hold on to a team that wasn’t what you would call world class. Everton were their usual mediocre self in the first half, and that’s being kind, but they started to come back in the second period. Not enough to make much of a dent in a Brighton team that seemed to have this game won even if they hadn’t scored yet. When they eventually did, it looked like game over. Seven minutes into overtime, yes SEVEN minutes Brighton let them back in with a last-second goal by substitute Beto to give the Toffees a point they did not deserve. Take note of this: it doesn’t take Nostradamus to foretell that these two are going to end up in the mid-table wasteland when this season is over. I will add, quite deservedly so. | |||||||
WEEK XX GAME 2 – Sat Jan 31st 8:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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WOLVERHAMPTON |
BOURNEMOUTH |
 |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds – 1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Wolves were brought back down to earth last week when Manchester City broke their “fourth game without being beaten” streak. Bournemouth surprised even themselves by sneaking the winning goal in the closing seconds against Liverpool last time out. This looks like another one that could end in a draw with a slight preference for the Cherries. For a modest wager I’ll take. Bournemouth -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: When the stars are aligned against you, there’s not much you can do to fix it. Wolves had the chances and had a goal disqualified for offside, but the breaks didn’t come their way. To be fair, if you don’t have a consistent, reliable goalscorer, all the effort in the world will not produce results in this League. Bournemouth are not world beaters, but that was not what was needed here. The Cherries fluke win last week against Liverpool looks good on paper and another three points won’t hurt, but this team is not going anywhere, unlike Wolves. The best the Midlands’ team can expect is that they can sell some of their better players at the end of the season (like they did at the beginning of this one) and generate enough money to buy some real talent. | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 3 – Sat Jan 31st 8:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LEEDS The Whites |
ARSENAL The Gunners |
 |
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| Odds +1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds -1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: As we all know Leeds are a tough nut to crack when they are at home. Arsenal were shocked last week by Manchester United but that was a result that was waiting to happen given their very spotty performances lately. I’ll take the home team and the extra goal. Leeds +1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-4 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: Wow I got this one wrong. Arsenal came back with a vengeance. Smarting from a home defeat at the hands of Manchester United last week, they really took it to Leeds. After only gaining two points from their last three games The Gunners needed a decisive win if they were to maintain their lead at the top of the table. They did that, in spades. Leeds are no slouches when they are at home, very difficult to get points at Elland Road. With goals spaced evenly between both halves, they never looked to be in any danger of leaving any points in Yorkshire. They now extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points, but that is before Manchester City and Aston Villa play tomorrow. |
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WEEK 24 GAME 4 – Sat Jan 31st 10:30 |
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| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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CHELSEA |
WEST HAM |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 3 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: The celebrations stop here for West Ham. Two fortunate results in the last couple of weeks have breathed new hope into the Hammers in their quest to escape the relegation zone. This week will be a tad different, I fear. Chelsea have their sights set on a top four finish this year and even without wunderkind Cole Palmer they should send the Hammers back to East London with their tail between their legs. Chelsea -1 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 3-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 5 – Sat Jan 31st 1:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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LIVERPOOL |
NEWCASTLE |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Aston Villa gave Newcastle a beating last week at St Andrews and given the Magpies aversion to travel I see the same thing happening here. Liverpool can’t afford too many more mistakes and still expect to finish in the top four. They need this game and I think they’ll get it. Liverpool -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 4-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 6 – Sun Feb 1st 7:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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MANCHESTER UNITED |
FULHAM |
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| Odds -1 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: United are improving week after week. Fulham are also putting together some solid results. If this was Manchester -1/2 a goal I think they would be the bet. I can see them winning this but only by the one goal. In that case this game would be a push, so I think I’ll just sit this one out. No Bet | |||||||
| RESULTS: 3-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 7 – Sun Feb 1st 7:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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ASTON VILLA |
BRENTFORD |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Aston Villa got the train back on the tracks last week away to Newcastle and I see them doing the same to Brentford this week. With Arsenal dropping points Villa needs to close the gap even further. The Bees have had some lucky breaks this year, but I don’t see that happening here. Aston Villa -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 0-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 8 – Sun Feb 1st 7:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST |
CRYSTAL PALACE |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 1/2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: The Tricky Trees at home are favored over a Palace side that has completely lost its mojo. Sean Dyche has got Forest going in the right direction but can’t afford to slack off as the other teams around them are also putting together some promising results. Crystal Palace selling Marc Guehi to Manchester City for somewhere in the region of $25 mil seems like a bargain for City, especially when they paid close to $40 mil for Brennan Johnson from Spurs. Both of those trades don’t make much sense to me. Anyway, back to the game. Nottingham Forest -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 1-1 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 9 – Sun Feb 1st 9:30 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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TOTTENHAM |
MANCHESTER CITY |
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| Odds +1/2 | O/U 3 | Odds -1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: Taking into account Spurs abysmal home record and City’s all-round talent this should go to the Citizens. Spurs traditionally have had some success against this team but with the same motivation as Aston Villa to catch Arsenal I see the visitors taking all the spoils. Manchester City -1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 2-2 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||
WEEK 24 GAME 10 – Mon Feb 2nd 1:00 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | AWAY | ||||||
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SUNDERLAND |
BURNLEY |
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| Odds -1/2 | O/U 2 | Odds +1/2 | |||||
| PREDICTIONS: The last game is again on a Monday.These two teams are no strangers to each other; both having gained promotion from the Championship League this year. Unfortunately, only one of them will stay up in the Topflight after this season is done. Here’s a hint, it won’t be Burnley. Sunderland at home should be too much for the Clarets to handle especially if Granit Xhaka returns to The Black Cats mid-field. Sunderland-1/2 | |||||||
| RESULTS: 3-0 | |||||||
| ANALYSIS: | |||||||