25/26 Match Week 17 Preview

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Shoutout to Men In Blazers for the graphic….Much like the NCAA Football bracket - would expect this to result in a 1v4 and 2v3 semi-final.

• What 2 Look 4 👀 

• Headlines 📌

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Championship Check-In

• Off Island 🏝️ - PLAYOFFS

• Best Bets 💰

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 17

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

• 8.1.1 Week. 8 Saturday, 1 Sunday, 1 Monday.

Saturday

• 12 Newcastle +158 v 4 Chelsea +160 SAT 630a - In the last 12 matches Chelsea are 7W 4L 1D but the Magpies have won the last 2. Newcastle have conceded goals in their last 9 matches and have 10 yellow cards in their last 5. The Blues have, somewhat sneakily, been very strong defensively with 9 Clean sheets on the season, same as Arsenal. Feels like this will be a chance for Cole Palmer to impact the match while Newcastle will rely on the St James’ Park fans.

• 2 City -543 v 18 West Ham +1033 SAT 9a - City seem to be finding their stride again as Phil Foden has started to find the net alongside Haaland. The Hammer’s continue to struggle and it feels like it’s going to be a season long race to avoid relegation. The fans are starting to question the Nuno hire as that is now 5 matches without a win. Feels like a bunch of goals coming for City.

• 20 Wolves +260 v 15 Brentford +103 SAT 9a - Wolves have been playing better but that is not really a consolation. They have 2 points. Here’s a chance to more than double their total. The Bee’s have 2W 4L 1D in their last 7. Feels like a low scoring match where Wolves look to claw at least a point.

• 10 BHA -159 v 8 Sunderland +415 SAT 9a - Been a tough stretch for the Seagulls winless in their last 3. They welcome the Black Cats who are on a roll. The recently relegated side sit 8 in the table, mostly by collecting points at home. This trip to the South Coast will be a chance to change their road form. The last time these two clubs played, 15 years ago in the League Cup, ending in a 0-0 draw. Expect goals.

• 13 Bournemouth -217 v 19 Burnley +550 SAT 9a - The Cherries have not won in 7 matches, and that includes scoring 3+ goals in 3 of those matches. Even so, they only sit 2 points outside the top 10. Burnley are struggling, losing their last 7. It seems both these sides have been good at being in matches but continuing to fall short. If Burnley wants to avoid relegation this year they are going to need to get back to last seasons form on the defensive end. Expect goals.

• 11 Tottenham +238 v 7 Liverpool +102 SAT 1130a - ooof. Two Big six clubs who are looking anything but. Both with excellent managers who find themselves on the hot seat. 1 win in 7 matches for Spurs and home pitch advantage has been anything but. Liverpool looked better against BHA and now go without Salah who is at AFCON. Both sides have scored in this one in the last 10 meetings.

• 9 Everton +443 v 1 Arsenal -161 SAT 2p - The Gunner’s took a breather against Wolves last time out and it almost cost them. Everton have looked pretty good and then at times not so good. They are still figuring out their home pitch but the crowd is definitely worth a goal. Gunners have only given up 10 goals on the season BUT 7 have come in the last 6 games.

• 17 Leeds +168 v 5 Palace +163 SAT 2p - Palace have been overachieving, they are good. But, Elland Road is a big home pitch advantage for Leeds and Daniel Farke’s side has been competitive despite their sitting 17th in the table. 30 goals allowed is the reason as 20 goals scored is a pretty good number.

Sunday

• 3 Villa +112 v 6 Man United +222 SUN 1030a - Villa have been on fire winning 9 straight including wins over Man City and Arsenal. United have been ok, getting results but really struggling defensively. And, United has six players heading to AFCON and will be out of the roster.

Monday

• 14 Fulham +124 v 16 Forest +206 MON 2p - Fulham have struggled to score and have been very inconsistent. Forest have been much better of late hammering Spurs but giving up many chances. Feel like Fulham needs this one much more than Tree’s.

Headlines 📌

• 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. (YOU ARE HERE)

  • MW 18 - December 26-28.

  • MW 19 - December 30-January 1

  • MW 20 - January 3-4.

  • MW 21 - January 6-8.

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

  2️⃣ Championship Check In 2️⃣

It’s not just the EPL with a busy schedule but also The Championship (Level 2) of English Soccer.

You can watch the matches on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Networks.

• Saturday, December 20

• Boxing Day Friday, December 26

• Monday, December 29

• Thursday January 1

• Sunay, January 4.

The Championship Table

OF NOTE

• Coventry City, coached by Frank Lampard (Chelsea Great), have scored 52 goals this season in 21 matches and own a 30 goal differential.

• Yet, they only have a 5 point lead on Middlesbrough, who have lost just 3 matches of the 21.

• Both sides have a nice cushion as they are pushing to finish in the top 2 spots where they would earn an automatic promotion to the EPL next season.

• Last seasons relegated sides are very much in the mix - Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton.

• Wrexham is holding their own for a side who not long ago were sitting in Level 5.

• Birmingham City are also in a position to challenge for a playoff spot. Tom Brady will be hoping for a big run.

• Sheffield Wednesday are screwed. They were penalized 12 points for going into administration (financial debt) and 6 points for multiple breaches of EFL regulations. That puts them at the bottom of the table with MINUS 9 points. The situation has made the quality of the side well below Championship level, and it is showing on the pitch.

Off Island 🏝️

College Football Playoff

• Can’t pick Notre Dame to win it this year.

• James Madison and Tulane will not keep it close.

• Should be some great Quarter Final Matchups.

• Texas Tech is way better than given credit for.

• Oregon will not have enough offense.

• Indiana won their big game over OSU in the B1G Championship.

• Georgia will not be able to carry a soft at the top SEC.

• Ohio State goes back to back.

Best Bets 💰

Season - Up $111

CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $1,111.

Chelsea v Newcastle Over 2.5 goals -151. $30

Yes, the Blues have been solid defensively but St James’ Park will net Newcastle a goal and I suspect Blues will score one. Either side gets a second.

Bournemouth v Burnley Over 2.5 goals -146. $29

Just don’t have confidence in Burnley to keep Bournemouth from multiple goals.

BHA to Win v Sunderland and Over 2.5 goals +135. $20

Lots of Sunderland players in AFCON and the club on the road makes me lean BHA.

Man City to Win v West Ham via Clean Sheet +113. $20

Feels like City will continue their roll so taking better odds with keeping a clean sheet.

Wolverhampton to Win v Brentford +250. $20

It’s time. Playing better. Good to have Bee’s at home.

Villa to Win v Man United and over 2.5 goals +180. $20

Riding with Villa, and goals at Villa Park.

Tottenham v Liverpool Both Teams to Score -196. $39

Going with what these sides have been doing.