West Ham has had Man U's number, winning three of the last four matches, though the odds are stacked against the Hammers tonight Old Trafford. Should they be? Nuno's side was on a heater, unbeaten in three with two wins included, before running into desperate Liverpool last weekend and hanging in the match until Cody Gakpo finally secured the win for the Reds in stoppage time. As issue for Nuno might be the suspension of orchestrator Lucas Paqueta, sent off last weekend with two yellows, and thru whom most West Ham attacks flow, but the Hammers have found other ways in the past month and still have Jarrod Bowen to score goals. Can erratic Man U extend a margin? Play West Ham.

Surprising to get such a fat price on Aston Villa. We know Brighton hasn't lost in six EPL matches at the Amex and was unbeaten in four November outings, but Villa has been on a straight ascent, losing only one of ten to race into the top four after a winless start in August. EPL observers are still struck that the Villans could be on such a roll without much scoring help from target-man Ollie Watkins, still on just one goal, but a breakthrough is imminent as it was last week for marauding frontliner Morgan Rogers, also sitting on just one goal into the November 23 match at Leeds before his brace proved the winning margin in a 2-1 triumph. Play Aston Villa on ML

Spurs have problems that all can see and Thomas Frank is starting to feel some real heat (the only win since October 26 was vs FC Copenhagen in the Champions League). Supporters claim tactics and lineups remain too much in flux, but there's no doubt Spurs are playing better on the road, the latest example last week, pushing PSG hard in a 5-3 loss at Parc des Princes. Frank does have some sharp edges in attack (especially Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus, the latter scoring the lone goal vs Fulham on the weekend), and it's unlikely Gugliemo Vicario makes another mistake in goal as he did vs. Fulham. Remember, until a week ago, Eddie Howe was feeling real heat at Newcastle, too. Play Spurs on Spread

They're lurching toward a crisis at Liverpool, losing nine of twelve overall and six of seven in the Prem. In the last three losses, the Reds have been outscored 10-1...with drop zone Nottingham Forest and Champions League underdog PSV running roughshod in the last two. Bottom line? We don't see a quick fix for Arne Slot as everything seems to have gone wrong, especially the new signings (save Hugo Ekitike). A chance GK Alisson returns, but nothing looks like it will be easy now for Liverpool, even a London trip to face a West Ham side that is suddenly rallying for Nuno and getting results (two wins and a draw) in three straight to pull clear from the drop zone. Play West Ham on Spread

Wolves are in desperate trouble as they hit the end of November still without a win and with a mere 2 points thru 12 matches. Rob Edwards' first game in charge last week vs. Palace ended like so many had for Vitor Pereira, another loss, and now Wolves get the hottest non-Arsenal side in the Prem with a short ride to Villa Park. Unai Emery's troops continued their surge into the top four with last week's win at Leeds in which Morgan Rogers awakened from his scoring slumber with a brace; now perhaps it's Ollie Watkins' turn to do the same as he's scored just once thru 12 EPL matches. Play Aston Villa on Spread (-1.5)

Newcastle's road form has left something to be desired and not sure that changes in the Magpies' first visit to the new Hill Dickinson. In fact Eddie Howe's side is winless in six tries on the EPL trail with recent losses at Brighton, West Ham, and Brentford. Now Howe's troops catch an Everton side on back-to-back wins for David Moyes after the 1-0 success on Monday vs. Man U complete with one of its own (Idrissa Gueye) dismissed after taking a swing at teammate Michael Keane! Moyes needs better conversions from Beto and other frontliners who usually get good service from the wings (Jack Grealish in particular). Sometimes one goal is enough, however, with Jordan Pickford in front of the gate. Play Everton on ML

This price really intrigues on Villa, which enters Elland Road just as hot as host Leeds is cold. For Villa, its only one loss in the last nine EPL matches as Unai Emery has quickly forged a turnaround with his troops after their very slow start in August. A variety of goalscorers have stepped forward though we suspect it's only a matter of time before Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers begin to find the range. As for Leeds, just one win in six, and waking up Sunday morning inside of the relegation zone, with pressure starting to mount on Daniel Farke. Play Aston Villa on Money Line

Hope all of a sudden at West Ham, as Nuno appears to have unlocked the gate with a pair of wins before the international break that has Hammers fans thinking the danger of the drop zone might might soon disappear. Graham Potter never seemed to be able to flip the switch as Nuno in the wins over Newcastle and Burnley, with Tomas Soucek providing a threat other than Jarrod Bowen, scoring in both of the wins (plus scoring in two wins for the Czechs in international duty last week). With six goals in the two wins, the Hammers are finally displaying some offense, and we'll see about Bournemouth, roundly outclassed by Man City and Aston Villa before the break. Play West Ham on Spread

As Aston Villa never seems to win at Liverpool, we won't dock Unai Emery's troops too much for last weekend's 2-0 loss at Anfield. The form chart has been mostly superb in the last month-plus as Villa has rallied from the drop zone all of the way to the 12th slot. The last home match was a 1-0 win over Man City (which continues to have problems at Villa Park), while Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers look about ready to post a breakthrough. Bournemouth deserves ample credit for its high place in the table, but not having a look at Man City last week suggests it might be too soon to keep trading punches with the bigger boys. Play Aston Villa on Money Line .

That Fulham is back in the win column deserves an asterisk* because it was only struggling Wolves that threw a lifeline last weekend. For the most part, the past month has been very frustrating for Fulham, whose goal-scoring has waned. That's a recurring problem for Everton, too, but David Moyes and his boys are back at the new Hill Dickinson, where they've lost just once this season (vs Spurs in last home match). Frontliners like Beto are getting quality service from the wings courtesy Jack Grealish and others...it's about time Everton starts to convert those potential assists into goals. Jordan Pickford in goal ought to keep Fulham at bay long enough for Everton to at least find one goal. Play Everton on ML

Let's call it a contrarian recommendation because there is not much other reason to back West Ham these days. We did see it elsewhere in the Prem this weekend, however, as a moribund Nottingham Forest finally drew a line in the sand and Man United was fortunate to come out with a draw at City Ground on Saturday. Nuno has looked befuddled trying to get the Hammers in gear but does have Jarrod Bowen, and gets a Newcastle side that hasn't won yet in four EPL road tries this term and has Champions League duty upcoming at midweek vs. Athletic Bilbao. This might be where the Hammers can get a result. Play West Ham on Spread

They might have the wrong team favored at Anfield as Aston Villa enters on the heels of five straight EPL wins including last weekend's 1-0 over Man City, the fourth straight year Pep Guardiola has left Villa Park winless. Everything is clicking for Unai Emery's side that only needed Matty Cash's goal in the 19th minute to see off City last week. On the other hand, it's gone completely pear-shaped for Liverpool, loser of four straight in the Prem, and Arne Slot wondering how he can reconfigure a lineup that is finding out how much it misses Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back, and how Florian Wirtz doesn't do enough off of the ball. The absence of GK Allison hurt, too. Play Villa on Spread

This looks a golden chance for Spurs to get another result on the road with the short trip couth In London. Chelsea looks ripe to be taken, as Enzo Maresca is still searching for reliable frontline production that he has yet to get from key offseason add Liam Delap, who misses Saturday on red card suspension. Thomas Frank seems to have things much more settled at Spurs, who have been succeeding in a more pragmatic, non-Ange Postecoglu style, also unbeaten (four wins and a draw) in their EPL road travels this term, which makes us think the spread is a very proper recommendation as Spurs look poised to get a result. Play Spurs on Spread

Things look like they are finally coming together for Ruben Amorim and his Man United, now with three wins on the spin. Bryan Mbuemo has emerged as the most useful offseason addition and already on four goals (including a brace last weekend vs. Brighton) while proving a livewire on the pitch, while the other new add of note, Mattheus Cunha, also scored last weekend vs. Brighton. Meanwhile, the appointment of Sean Dyche looks a stab in the dark for Forest, which is playing like a side that wants to be relegated after the implosions of the Nuno and Ange Postecoglu regimes within 40 days of one another. Play Man United on Money Line

We don't want to mention Ange Postecoglu too much as Thomas Frank continues to settle at Spurs, but a few observers in London are noticing some parallels to Ange's first Tottenham side in 2023, that broke fast from the gate before cooling down...and never again really heating up. No reason to panic yet for Spurs, but losing late to Aston Villa and forced to leave it late to salvage a point vs both Wolves and Brighton in the last three at home might be reasons for concern, confirmed further by the nil-nil at Monaco in a drab Champions League fixture last Wednesday. Meanwhile, note Everton is making a fortress of its new Hill Dickinson Stadium, unbeaten in five at home. Play Everton on Money Line