25/26 Match Week 13 Preview

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Thanksgiving in the USA means gearing up for a big run of non-stop “football” action both in the US and in the UK for the English version…

Lots of Match Weeks throughout December, gonna really test clubs depth and provide you with non stop watching/betting opportunities. 9 matches in 6 weeks, plus Europe Competitions December 9-10.

• MW 13 - November 29-30.

• MW 14 - MID WEEK December 2-4.

• MW 15 - December 6-8.

• Champions/Europa/UEFA Conference - December 9-10.

• MW 16 - December 13-15.

• MW 17 - December 20-22.

• MW 18 - December 26-28.

• MW 19 - December 30-January 1

• MW 20 - January 3-4.

• MW 21 - January 6-8.

• What 2 Look 4 👀 

• Headlines 📌

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- C R I K E Y 🐊🐊

• Off Island 🏝️ - European Results

• Best Bets 💰

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 13

(reminder - like driving on the other side of the road, in the PL, HOME teams are listed first)

• 5.5 Week. 5 Saturday, 5 Sunday.

Saturday

• 3 City -397 v 18 Leeds +950 SAT 9a - City coming off back-to-back losses (PL then CL) after looking like they were on a roll and picking up steam. Leeds, on the other hand, have struggled, and struggled considerably on the road. Expecting City to get better at Etihad and Leed’s to succumb to another road crowd. The last 4 PL games these sides have played have all went City’s way, and they have scored 16 goals in those matches.

• 13 Brentford -216 v 19 Burnley +563 SAT 9a - Didn’t expect Bee’s to be this good with a young new manager. Also didn’t expect the Bee’s to have just 3 of their 18 goals come off of set pieces since their new manager is the old set piece coach. As for the Clarett’s, they are going to need win road games like this if they want to have a chance of staying up. Burnley needs to find scoring opportunities as they are the only side with less than 100 shots on the season with 98. The Bee’s have dropped more points this season from a leading position, 11 points dropped.

• 7 Sunderland +201 v 8 Bournemouth +136 SAT 9a - In sport it is often said it is not just who you are playing but when you play them. Now seems to be the time to catch Bournemouth who are struggling after looking unstoppable. And even better, you get to play them in the City of Light where you have been significantly better yourself. The Black Cats have 6W 6D at home this season. Of the 20 PL teams Bournemouth games have the most goals in them on the season, 19 for and 20 against.

• 11 Everton +188 v 14 Newcastle +146 SAT 1130a - Sneaky key matchup between two sides capable of finishing top 10. The road has been tough for Newcastle and Hill-Dickinson Stadium will be no easier. David Moyes has shown he can take a non-top 6 side to Europe in the past and he seems to be on course for making a run this season with Everton.

• 9 Tottenham +109 v 15 Fulham +250 SAT 2p LONDON DERBY (North v West) - Spurs are struggling and there are questions around Thomas Frank’s handle on the locker room. It seems he has players who are not happy with the roles they are being asked to play in certain matchups. The Cottagers have been struggling. For years FFC were promoted, then relegated, then promoted, etc. but over the last several years they have been fighting for top 10 consistently. This season feels like FFC will be a relegation contender.

Sunday

• 5 Palace +141 v 10 Man United +180 SUN 6a - Palace have been GREAT at Selhurst park and actually been solid wherever they play. United have been more uneven. If each side play’s their A game United should win, but Palace have brought their A game much more often than United has and Selhurst Park is a difference maker.

• 4 Villa -198 v 20 Wolves +513 SUN 8a - WEST MIDLANDS DERBY - less than 15 miles separate these sides in the greater Birmingham area in the West Midlands of England. This year the soccer results run counter to closeness as Villa have been significantly better.

• 16 Forest +171 v 6 BHA +155 SUN 8a - The betting line for this match is close, and rightly so as Forest has found their footing under Dyche while BHA continue to excel under Hurzeler. Would be a big statement for BHA to go on the road, win and improve on their table position. A Forest win would create great momentum for the Dyche led team that has the potential to finish well into the top 10 in the table.

• 17 West Ham +390 v 12 Liverpool -165 SUN 8a - They just look lost, are struggling and don’t seem to have an identity. This was the storyline for the Hammer’s a week ago, now they’ve won two under Nuno. It is now the storyline for Liverpool. Slott is facing his first big hurdle and if he doesn’t figure it out, he will not make it through the season.

• 2 Chelsea +230 v 1 Arsenal +120 SAT 1030a LONDON DERBY (West v North) - A chance for the Blues to reel in the Gunners and important to get a result at Stamford Bridge. A win should give belief to Chelsea and pull them within 3 points of the leader. For Gunners, it’s a chance to put some distance between them and the contenders. In their last 42 match ups Arsenal have 16W 15L 11D. Should be a GREAT ONE!

Headlines 📌

• Big 2 v 1 matchup as Arsenal head to Chelsea.

• TWO London Derby’s, BOTH North v West.

• Often it is not who you are playing but when you are playing them….

  • Liverpool, Bournemouth, Spurs - each playing well below what they had been earlier in the season.

  • Villa, Everton, Palace, Forest and West Ham seem to have taken another step forward from what they were doing.

• Gaffer Troubles. Spurs fans are rumbling about Thomas Frank. Liverpool fans are rumbling about Arne Slott. Both are on the hot seat. Slott for a really poor run while there are questions about Frank’s handling of the locker room.

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

🐊🐊🐊  CRIKEY 🐊🐊🐊

If you were watching any tv in the 1990s no doubt you watched, and had an opinion, of The Crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin was an Australian zookeeper and conservationist based on Australia’s Sunshine Coast in Beerwah (north of Brisbane - the west central coast).

Irwin had a large personality and had unscripted enthusiasm and fearlessness in handling and educating on wildlife. Steve, with his wife Terri, brought his personality to the world when his wildlife documentary series, The Crocodile Hunter, launched in Australia and the US in 1996 to the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Steve was VERY hands on handling crocs, snakes and any other animal you can think of in very dramatic fashion - “Just remember “The Croc Hunter has significant expertise from years of croc trapping and handling dangerous animals, DO NOT try this at home.” While some in Australia called Irwin too “hammy” and just promoting touristy Australian stereotypes, he was extremely well received in the USA and Europe. Terri and Steve’s young children were included in the show, traveling the world and showing families can take adventures together and reinforced the values of being good stewards of the environment.

Sadly, in 2006 when filming an underwater segment for a documentary, Irwin was killed by a sting-ray in a very flukey situation as rays typically do not strike their target in a lethal way.

• Here are Steve’s top 10 moments in YT. Watch

• Was this too soon? Norm Macdonald’s take. Watch (60s)

Well, this week The Crocodile Hunter came back into the headlines as his son Robert WON Dancing With The Stars with his Mom Terri and sister Bindi watching on. Robert is not the only Irwin to win the title, as his sister Bindi won the title in 2015.

Off Island 🏝️

European Competitions

Each League’s Table is shaping up - will be a fun watch.

• Liverpool look LOST after losing at Anfield to an inferior PSV.

• City and Newcastle took a stumble.

• Spurs had two leads in Paris but gave up 3 quick goals to lose 3-5.

• Chelsea made a statement thumping Barcelona with a Clean Sheet.

• Goals Goals Goals. 42 goals scored on Wednesday. 20 more than the 22 scored in the same number of games Tuesday.

Best Bets 💰

Season - Up $64

CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $1,064.

Winners

Sunderland to Win v Bournemouth +205. $20

Like the big plus odds on a team that gets results at home #1. Something special about the Black Cats at Stadium of Light, and the Cherries are scuffling.

Everton to win v Newcastle +179. $20

Like the big plus odds on a team that gets results at home #2. And, Newcastle struggle on the road to score.

Palace to Win v Man United +141. $20

Like the big plus odds on a team that gets results at home #3. Considered the draw, but Selhurst Park will be the difference.

Forest to win v BHA +171. $20

Like the big plus odds on a team that gets results at home #4. Was hesitant given the quality of BHA on the road but I like that Sean Dyche as had a chance to create momentum with this club.

Villa to Win v Wolves -200. $40

Taking the hot side against the cold side. Villa will not look past a rival and have their slow start to make up for.

Spurs to win v Fulham +109. $20

Even though Spurs have been struggling at home I like Thomas Frank putting his best 11 on the pitch to attach the holes FFC have shown they have. FFC has struggled away from home, give me Spurs.

YES GOALS - THE OVER

Brentford v Burnley over 2.5 goals -125. $25

The Bee’s score at home, Burnley concede on the road. Both teams scoring is most likely and at least one side will get two.

Man City v Leeds over 3.5 goals +130. $20

Expecting City to use this match to get back on track. Instead of taking City to win and the higher odds, will take the goal line thinking Haaland will have 2-3 himself.

Toss Up

Arsenal to win AT Chelsea +120. $20

Tough one to call but this feels like a different Gunners squad. Stamford Bridge is a tough place to play, expect the Blues to be flying. If you can get the best team in Europe at these odds, don’t over think it.