Soccer Betting players looking at the English Premier League can see that we’re just getting down to the business end of the season, where the big money is made as teams are either fighting at the top for a Champions League spot, or battling to secure their place in the top tier for next season.
There are 11 games left in the season for most teams, although one of the teams with a game in hand will be in action this weekend as Everton hosts a struggling Tottenham side that needs to get their act together quickly before the bottom falls out on their season. Meanwhile, Chelsea heads to Stoke City after firing their manager, while the league leaders from Manchester City travel to Swansea.
Stoke City Chelsea Odds – Saturday, 10:00 AM ET
If ninth-place Stoke is going to earn their first win against Chelsea after six losses and a pair of draws, they may not find a better time than the present as the Blues sacked Andre Villas-Boas after just eight months. Roberto Di Matteo began his role as caretaker manager with a 2-0 win over Birmingham in the FA Cup, but the Premier League is the most important priority as the Blues are in fifth, just three points behind Arsenal.
Stoke has won three of their last five matches overall, and the two losses came in the Europa League competition against Spain’s Valencia, but they have a real chance to challenge the top teams with a few breaks as they’re 10 points behind Chelsea. They’re going to have a tough road ahead of them on Saturday at Stamford Bridge as Stoke has four wins and seven losses in 13 away games, while Chelsea has won eight and lost three of their 13 home games.
The first meeting was a 0-0 draw at Stoke on August 14th, but we’re leaning towards the home side in this contest, although it will be a tight match.
Soccer Betting Pick: Chelsea
Tottenham Everton Odds – Saturday, 12:30 PM ET
It isn’t a stretch to say that this is Spurs’ biggest match of the season, as they’ve been crushed in their last two games, a 5-2 loss at rival Arsenal and then a 3-1 loss at home to Manchester United, whom they were dominating for the first half, but they failed to take their chances. United scored just at the end of the first half and that deflated Spurs, whose defense has been atrocious as of late. They’re only four points ahead of Arsenal in third place, and holding onto that spot is the only thing they have to worry about now.
Everton hasn’t lost in six matches, earning four draws and a pair of wins in that time to sit in 13th place, and they have a game in hand, along with their rivals Liverpool, who they will face next week. The Toffees haven’t been as solid at Goodison Park as usual with five wins, five losses and three draws at home this season, while Spurs have won six, drawn three and lost four on the road.
The last 10 matches between these two have been even with three wins and four draws apiece, while each has scored 11 goals. Spurs have been terrible since the “Harry Redknapp for England manager” rumors have started. The edge has to go to Everton to avenge a 2-0 loss at White Hart Lane from January 11th.
Soccer Betting Pick: Everton
Manchester City Swansea Odds – Sunday, 10:00 AM ET
The league leaders have to take care of business as their rivals from Manchester United are two points behind and will be hosting West Brom at the same time; you have to assume they’ll win, so City can’t afford to drop points. They haven’t even allowed a goal in four games, but all three of their losses this season have come on the road, although they also have seven wins and three draws as well.
Swansea sit on 33 points, good for 14th in the Premiership and they’re relatively solid at home at Liberty Stadium with five wins, six draws and two losses, and they snapped a two-game skid with a 2-0 win at Wigan in their last match. They’re the first team from Wales to ever compete in the Premiership, and they’re almost assured of a second season unless something goes terribly wrong.
Their first meeting with Manchester City was a 4-0 drubbing away from home, but it was their first-ever match in the Premiership and to be fair, they held City scoreless for the first half before the wheels blew off in the second. This match will be much closer with their fans support them, and we’re going with a draw in our sports betting picks.
Soccer Betting Pick: Draw