I don't care who knows it. I'll scream it atop the tallest mountain. I. Love. Leeds. I don't love them because they're some great team that's going to fight for top of the table. I love them because they don't give a damn. They come out every single week, and play like their hair is on fire. They don't care who they are against, they push for goals. They attack, and they treat every single opponent the exact same. They scored three against Liverpool, three against Chelsea, and two against Manchester City in their last three matches. There's no reason to not take the over here because Leeds is putting up at least two goals.
I don't buy this line at all. I just don't. I know -190 is just disgustingly high, so take DNB if you want a more favorable line. Forest have won three of their last five league matches, but that came against Wolves, Leeds, and an out of form Liverpool. Then they play a tough opponent like Everton and get smacked around 3-0. I trust the attack of Spurs. Kudus, Simons and Richarlison have been impressing me. The more they play together, they stronger they get, and I believe they win, or worst case, draw.
I'll start with the easy head-to-head stat that backs this. The over 2.5 has hit in their last four matches straight in league play between these two sides. In fact, the over 3.5 has hit as well in all four of those matches. The last four matches between these two have seen 21 goals, averaging over five goals scored. Palace knows how to score against City, they are one of the only teams in the Premier League that consistently gives them a real run for their money, and Palace are in tremendous form right now. I'm expecting BTTS to hit if you want to add that to get the juice down, but I think Palace keep this very close. Oh, and Haaland ATGS LOL.
The instant reminder that this is a Derby, so you have to throw logic out the door just a smidge. To my NCAAF fans, think of this like a smaller version of Ohio State versus Michigan. This is a rivalry match, that tends to carry aa bit more aggression and is a bit more prone to upsets, so I'm just going half unit here. That being said - Newcastle matches for a while now have been freaking awesome for goals. Their last seven matches across all competitions have seen both BTTS and over 2.5 goals hit. They'll be tired, but out for blood against a big rival. Expect goals here, and potentially a cheeky red card or penalty.
I'm trying to think of a nicer phrase to use than "An absolute blowout" when describing how this match should go, but I can't think of anything else. Wolves are one of the worst teams we've seen in the Premier League, ever. 15 matches into the season, they have yet to win a game. They have the worst defense in the league. They have the worst offense in the league. They have 2 points to their name. They're playing the best team in the world, who need points to stay ahead of Man City. Arsenal might win this match 5-0 or 6-0. This spread is light, and at plus money, I have to take it. Gyokeres brace incoming!
I can only be mean to Wolves so much before I start feeling bad. All you need to know about this over is that if Wolves manage to score, that's fantastic, but even if they don't, i still think this cashes. You can take Arsenal over 2.5 TT if you want a "safer" bet as well. Arsenal just beat Club Brugge, a much better team that Wolves 3-0. They did that while resting Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze. They didn't need some of their best goal scorers and still put up three. They're expected to play their better strikers this match, and they might run this up to here even over 4.5 or 5.5 hit.
Fulham, the club that started their season off with six matches in a row going under 2.5 goals, have changed their mindset in recent weeks. They gave us the shock match of the entire season so far, when they pumped four goals past Manchester City last week, and, somehow, still lost . Fulham have now seen their last three matches hit BTTS and over 2.5 goals, and they've shown that they can score against solid defenses, having already scored multiple times against City and Tottenham. Burnley is not longer a defensive juggernaut like we saw in Championship. If they want points of Fulham, they have to go for goals. This is an easy over for me.
Chelsea were total warriors in the month of November. They played five matches and didn't lose a single one, which included beating down Barcelona 3-0. December, though, hasn't been the same. The grueling schedule is starting to get to Chelsea. They've dropped points to Bournemouth, Leeds, and Atlanta already this month, with no signs of improving. Their manager is outwardly complaining that this is just too many games, and morale is low as they host an Everton side who is popping off and coming off four wins in their last five matches. Frankly - I think this ends in a low scoring 1-1 draw, so give me that spread all day!
By default if you see me bet on an under, I'm going to drop my wager to half unit, because y'all know I can't stand betting on unders. I don't want to cheer on VAR and root for missed PKs, I want action in my games! Historically, however, this match doesn't have much action. These two clubs met twice last year, and over those two matches, we saw only a single match. The under has now hit in 8/10 times these two clubs have played. Everton are perfectly capable of grinding this match to halt, and playing for a cagey, physical and frustrating matchup. Meanwhile, Chelsea are going to be on tired legs after having to play Atalanta in UCL this week already.
West Ham are such an interesting club. They are this historic giant club with a whole plethora of support and praise, and right now they're fighting to avoid relegation, sitting 18th on the table. The good thing they have going for them though, is it does look like they're starting to turn things around. After a catastrophic start to their season, they've now avoided defeat in three of their last five matches, and they've also covered the spread in four of their last five. This is a team that was able to take points off Newcastle, Burnley and Bournemouth all in November, and will look to keep things tight against a shaky at best Manchester United side.
Leeds are having a tough time finding their identity since they returned to the Premier League. They are currently sitting 18th on the table, in the relegation zone, just one spot against fellow promoted side Burnley. They keep changing up their playstyles trying to find what works for them, which is good for us when betting on goals! They've switched to a high-line and are pressing regardless of how good their opponents are. They've now hit over 2.5 goals in five matches straight, and score twice against Man City last week. Expecting goals once again for Leeds!
Chelsea will come into this matchup absolutely ecstatic after taking a point off Arsenal earlier this week at Stamford Bridge. They managed a 1-1 draw even after Moises Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute. That draw, and a 3-0 butt-whooping against Barcelona means Leeds have to welcome Chelsea at a tough time. To make it even tougher, Chelsea are expecting to finally welcome back their best goal-scorer, Cole Palmer. Palmer will be itching to find the scoresheet, and I'm expecting goals, and a victory for The Blues.
I'll be the first one to admit that Wolves looked like a competent team when they played against Aston Villa last week. It's the best they've looked the entire season, and they still, lost the match. Maybe they'll find some motivation in keeping things close against a strong Aston Villa club, but for the time being, they are still last on the table, haven't won a match, and have the worst defense and offense in the league. Forest will be desperate to bounce back after getting smacked by Brighton, and a match against Wolves is the perfect opportunity to do that.
The trademark unbreakable defense that Arsenal had early in this season is showing some serious cracks. While they're still obviously doing wonderful this season, they've now conceded in four matches straight. Gabriel missing in their defense is allowing teams to not win, but score, which was a rarity the first 10 matchdays. Arsenal is now longer playing to win for cagey 1-0 matches, they've having to press for multiple goals. Brentford will know this is a chance to go for points, and attack while the Gunner backline is weakest. I love the over here, and BTTS as well.
Newcastle enter this game off a rare road victory after stomping down Everton 4-1. Newcastle is a club that is known for their home success, but can sometimes struggle to find positive results on the road. One thing we have see from The Magpies recently, is a whole lot of goals. Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 goals has now hit in their last four matches straight across all competitions. Nick Woltemade continues to lead the attack, but players like Malick Thiaw and Harvey Barnes are bolstering the ranks. Spurs defense has been shoddy, and I'm expecting St. James' Park to once again see goals.
