25/26 Match Week 22 Preview

In partnership with

One Habit You’ll Keep

By this time of the year, most New Year goals are already slipping. That’s why the habits that last are the simple ones.

AG1 Next Gen is a clinically studied daily health drink that supports gut health, helps fill common nutrient gaps, and supports steady energy.

With just one scoop mixed into cold water, AG1 replaces a multivitamin, probiotics, and more, making it one of the easiest upgrades you can make this year.

Start your mornings with AG1 and get 3 FREE AG1 Travel Packs, 3 FREE AGZ Travel Packs, and FREE Vitamin D3+K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription.

Make It Your Habit

Welcome Back to the EPL and MW22.

Have always kind of felt this was the unofficial halfway point of the season. We are 21 of 38 matches through the season, just after the huge match schedule over the Christmas and New Year’s Season’s and are halfway through the transfer window.

This MW have some big Derby’s on the schedule.

• What 2 Look 4 👀 

• Headlines 📌

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- FA Cup Excitement

• Off Island 🏝️ - Hoosier Dady

• Best Bets 💰

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 22

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

• 7.2.1 Week. 7 Saturday, 2 Sunday, 1 Monday.

Saturday

• 7 Man United +249 v 2 City -102 630a - MANCHESTER DERBY - United lead this series 78W 61L but City have really dominated this one lately winning 6 of 10. Old Trafford has not been the fortress of Old Trafford, and the manager change brings uncertainty. City have scored on the road in every match this season.

• 14 Tottenham -141 v 18 West Ham +370 9a - LONDON DERBY (North v East) - TBD.

• 8 Chelsea -142 v 5 Brentford +370 9a - WEST LONDON DERBY - Chelsea are really struggling. They sacked their manager and haven’t won in a month. “little brother” Brentford heads the short distance to Stamford Bridge hoping to sweep the Blues this season. The Bee’s have been buzzing winning 5 and drawing 1 in their last 6. The Bee’s have allowed just .8 goals per match on the road this season.

• 4 Liverpool -435 v 19 Burnley +1075 9a - Big Line. While the Red’s have struggled more than anticipated this season they have not lost in 11 matches, but they have dropped points with 5 draws. Burnley looked headed to relegation.

• 16 Leeds +120 v 9 Fulham +236 9a - Leeds lost at Craven Cottage earlier this season 0-1 but their performances at Elland Road have been better than their road record. After a rough start Fulham have found their stride winning 4 and drawing 2 in their last 6.

• 10 Sunderland +166 v 13 Palace +171 9a - The Stadium of Light has been great to the Black Cats. Earlier this season they took a point at Palace in a scoreless draw and are slight favorites here. A great start to the season was derailed in December for Palace who have not won in 8 matches and are coming off a major upset in the FA Cup to Macclesfield.

• 17 Forest +506 v 1 Arsenal -189 1130a - The Gunners continue to roll while Forest are treading water in 17th. City Ground has seen some big-time upsets but Sean Dyche will need his side to defend better and score more than they have been to get points out of this one.

Sunday

• 20 Wolves +363 v 6 Newcastle -144 8a - Wolves have slowly started to play better with a win and two draws in their last 3 matches. Newcastle have slowly started to score consistently and that has resulted in 3W 1L in their last 4 matches.

• 3 Villa -151 v 12 Everton +408 1030a - Villa’s hot win streak has cooled, a little, with a loss at Arsenal and draw at Palace in their last 3 matches. Everton have been all over the board trying to find consistency. Aside from a win over Forest, Everton have lost 3 and drew 1 in their last 5 matches.

Monday

• 11 BHA +158 v 15 Bournemouth +175 2p - Not a Derby, but a South Coast Clash. The Seagulls and Cherries have both played below expectations this season. Maybe BHA has turned a corner as their last 3 matches took 7 points.

Headlines 📌

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

  FA CUP Excitement

Some big-time upsets in the FA Cup saw a couple EPL teams tumble out of the tournament.

Results of note.

MAJOR UPSET

• Macclesfield Town BEATS Palace 2-1 at Macclesfield. The Silkmen are currently in the Northern League - LEVEL 6! A level 6 taking down a PL team - WHO WON THE FA CUP last season!

  • It’s the first time a non-league (level 5 or lower) has knocked the prior year champion out of the tournament since 1909.

  • The club went bankrupt in 2020, rejoined the league in level 9 and are now in level 6.

  • Captain Paul Dawson quit his supervisor on the motorway to pursue his soccer career.

  • The final whistle and pitch storming. (Click Here for X 60s)

• Welcome to Wrexham (yes the Rob & Ryan team) beat PL side Nottingham Forest 3-3 (4-3 on Penalties)

  • It’s the first time in 26 years Wrexham has beaten a PL side in the FA Cup.

  • The final penalty save. (Click here X 15s).

EPL on EPL Crime

• Sunderland won at Everton 0-0 (3-0 on Penalties). Yes, 0.

• Newcastle beats Bournemouth 3-3 (7-6 on Penalties)

• Aston Villa won at Tottenham 2-1.

• BHA won at Man United 2-1.

Won (within 2 goals)

• Fulham, Brentford, Leeds, West Ham

Won Easily

• Wolves, Burnley, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool

Outside the EPL of Note

• Birmingham City and Tom Brady advance after beating Cambridge United 3-2.

Here are the next round matchups to be played Valentines Day, February 14.

Off Island 🏝️

Hoosier Daddy

The NCAA Football Championship is Monday night when the Indiana Hoosiers play the Miami Hurricane’s at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL. Indiana is a 7.5 favorite.

You heard that right, the Indiana Hoosiers, arguably the “worst” NCAA football program in history.

Miami has the pedigree. 5 National Championships since 1983. But, the last was in 2001. Prior to this season the Hurricanes won 1 of their last 10 bowl games (between 2013-2024). Aside from Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis getting the Taylor Swift tv coverage, the storyline this championship is IU.

Here is some historical context

• Indiana won the Big Ten Football Title in 1967.

• All time record 534-715-44.

• The 715 losses were the most in college football among ALL TEAMS. (Northwestern has now passed Indiana this season for most all-time losses).

• They finished under .500 many times throughout their history, including a consecutive run from 1992-2006.

• The best record for IU since 1992 was 8-5 in 2019 under head coach Tom Allen, who then followed that up with seasons of 6-2, 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9.

• The last time IU was pretty good, probably 1967 when they finished 9-2 and playing in the Rose Bowl.

Two years ago, Curt Cignetti took over the Hoosiers program. IU went 11-2 last season and are 13-0 this season. Entering this season IU were 150-1 to win the title. BUT, to win the title at the start of the 2024 season was 1000-1. (another way to say that is +15,000 and +100,000).

This has had the media asking, is this the greatest turnaround story in sports history. Of course, the answer is it depends on how you define “turnaround”.

• If you define turnaround as a program it sure is near the top of the list.

• If you define turnaround as a 1 year wonder, then IU is not on the list as their turnaround was really last season, but they did not win a title and had 2 losses. Still IU’s best effort in decades, but not historically better than other programs.

• Regardless of definition, it is THE MOST STUNNING turnaround in NCAA football in a 2-year window. Taking a program that has not won a conference title in 60 years, and never a national title, to the title game in the second year of the turnaround.

Here are some of the other turnarounds on the list.

• 1999 St Louis Rams. In 1998 the Rams went 4-12 in the NFL. In 1999 a relatively unknown QB, Kurt Warner, led “The Greatest Show on Turf” to a 13-3 record and Super Bowl Title.

• 2007-2008 Boston Celtics. In 2007 the Celtics finished 24-58, second to last in the NBA. They then traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, finished 66-16 and winning the NBA Finals. The biggest improvement in NBA history.

• US Men’s Hockey Team 1980 Winter Olympics. If I need to explain this to you your assignment before February 1 is to watch the movie Miracle.

Yet, what might be the BIGGEST most shocking season in sports history? Leicester City winning the EPL in 2015-2016.

• In 2014-2015 LCFC finished 17th in the table, one spot above relegation.

• LCFC was +500,000 (5,000-1) to win the title. The longest odds to win a title in sports betting history.

Best Bets 💰

Season - Down $49

CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $951.

Man City to Win at Man United -104. $21

Pep is better than an interim manager, even at Old Trafford.

Leeds to Win v FFC +119. $20

Give me the home side and plus odds.

Sunderland to Win v Palace +165. $20

Give me the home side and plus odds.

Arsenal to Win at Forest -186. $186

FIVE STAR PLAY. Gunner’s year.

Wolves to Win v Newcastle +363. $20

Good form and at home, upset.

BHA to Win v Bournemouth -117. $23

Give me Hurzeler at home.