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Jim Holliman
Jim Holliman
Super Utility Guy
Holliman has honed his well-rounded sports knowledge as a writer and editor for nearly 30 years in the Tampa Bay area. He witnessed the 1970's heyday of the North American Soccer League as well as the debut of three major sports franchises and an FBS team at his alma mater. His sports interests have expanded worldwide, and as a former competitive soccer player and hack golfer, he has a profound knowledge of those sports. Holliman's betting approach is centered on crunching the numbers, but he sees the whole field and relies on his instinct. For Jim Holliman media inquiries, contact SportsLine@CBSInteractive.com.
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UCL | Eintracht Frankfurt 0 @ Napoli 3 | 03/15 | 8:00 PM UTC

OVER 2.5 -140

WIN

ANALYSIS: Napoli have scored 22 goals in their seven Champions League matches, while Frankfurt have scored seven in this campaign. The Italians are unbeaten in their past 11 UCL matches at home and have scored at least three goals in each to win all three this time around. Napoli are 11-1-1 at Stadio Maradona in league play, with a 33-9 goal advantage. Frankfurt won’t have any fans to cheer them on in the road match, and with a 2-0 deficit against the Serie A leaders, they might lack fire. I expect Napoli to win in a rout, though I’d take a simple 2-1 victory.

+879 15-7 IN LAST 22 CHLG PICKS
+400 4-0 IN LAST 4 CHLG O/U PICKS

UCL | Liverpool 0 @ Real Madrid 1 | 03/15 | 8:00 PM UTC

UNDER 3.5 -160

WIN

ANALYSIS: This isn’t likely to be a repeat of Real Madrid’s 5-2 mauling of the Reds at Anfield. Liverpool have failed to score in three of their past four away games, and Los Blancos won’t be pushing for many more goals. With the talent on the field and Liverpool’s desperation for goals, bumping it to 3.5 seems fair, but the Reds have been simply wretched on the road. Seven of their eight losses in league play have come away from Anfield, and they are minus-7 in away goal differential (13-20). I expect a 2-1 victory for Real, who have not lost at home in La Liga (8-4-0) while conceding nine goals in the 12 games.

+879 15-7 IN LAST 22 CHLG PICKS
+400 4-0 IN LAST 4 CHLG O/U PICKS

UCL | RB Leipzig 0 @ Manchester City 7 | 03/14 | 8:00 PM UTC

OVER 2.5 -150

WIN

ANALYSIS: City will come out firing at the Etihad, where they are 21-2-0 in their past 23 UCL matches. They also have won nine straight home games in the competition against German clubs. Leipzig have lost three straight on the road against English foes. Leipzig are just 4-4-4 on the road in league play, conceding 19 goals in 11 matches. City are 11-1-1 at home in their EPL matches, with a plus-30 goal differential. Leipzig showed their grit in the first leg, but this should be a different match altogether. Leipzig should scrape out a goal, but the hosts should come away with an emphatic victory.

+879 15-7 IN LAST 22 CHLG PICKS
+400 4-0 IN LAST 4 CHLG O/U PICKS

UCL | Inter 0 @ Porto 0 | 03/14 | 8:00 PM UTC

Porto +185

LOSS

ANALYSIS: Porto are 1-1-3 all time against Inter in the UCL, but all three losses have come on the road. The Italians are 1-3-4 in their past eight away matches against Portuguese teams. Porto have the advantage at home, where they have a 35-9 goal differential. Six of Inter’s eight league losses have come away from San Siro, and they have been showing uneven form. Yet the Italians have the aggregate lead and will do anything they can to maintain it. I expect both teams to score, and I think Porto pulls out a one-goal victory and eventually forces penalties.

+879 15-7 IN LAST 22 CHLG PICKS
+608 7-2 IN LAST 9 CHLG ML PICKS

UCL | Paris 0 @ Bayern Munchen 2 | 03/08 | 8:00 PM UTC

OVER 3.5 +105

LOSS

ANALYSIS: Bayern (64), PSG (62) and Manchester City (64) are the only Big Five teams with more than 60 league goals this season. PSG’s past three games have seen a combined 19 goals, and Bayern are dealing with injuries on the back line and will be without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Both teams should push forward, leaving them further vulnerable in the back. The Bavarians need to build on their slight 1-0 aggregate lead, while the Parisians are desperate to avoid bowing out in the Round of 16 for the fifth time in eight seasons. Kylian Mbappe is healthy and just became PSG’s all-time leading scorer. Given the stakes, the stars should come through on both sides.

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+400 4-0 IN LAST 4 CHLG O/U PICKS