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This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Atalanta will host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and we might expect some fireworks here. Atalanta has scored 11 goals in their last four matches, while Madrid has scored eight goals in their last four matches. Madrid has scored 42 goals in 24 matches in La Liga, only two teams have scored more. Atalanta has scored 53 goals in 23 matches in Serie A, and only Inter has scored more. Madrid faced Inter in Champions League play earlier this season, and scored five goals in two matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Barcelona.

Barcelona is coming into this Champions League match Tuesday on top form. They won their last match by a score of 5-1, but that wasn't as impressive as the score the last time they played PSG. They won by a score of 6-1 in their last match versus Paris, and they have won four of the last five meetings. Without the services of their star striker Neymar and their top midfielder Angel Di Maria this could be a tough match for PSG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Everton.

It should come as no surprise that Everton has returned to form. They got off to a hot start this season, before enduring a tough stretch of mediocrity. They come into this home match versus Fulham with points in four of their last five matches. They earned a spirited draw at Old Trafford last weekend, and then they won a thriller by a score of 5-4 over Tottenham in the FA Cup mid week. While they will miss their top goal scorer, they still have superior quality in the ranks in comparison to their opponent. "We have back Andre Gomes, James, Josh King, and in the next week we think Allan will be back, so the squad is ready for the next games," Ancelotti said.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over. 

The defending champs have fallen on tough times, dropping seven points out of first place behind Manchester City. Injuries on defense have been costly, and they have conceded almost twice as many goals as Manchester City. They have scored 43 goals in 22 matches, and they have scored eight goals in their last four matches. History favors the home side here, as Manchester City has never won at Anfield. Their last visit to Merseyside resulted in a 3-1 loss back in 2019.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Liverpool.

The defending champs have fallen on tough times, dropping seven points out of first place behind Manchester City. Injuries on defense have been costly, and they have conceded almost twice as many goals as Manchester City. They have scored 43 goals in 22 matches, and they have scored eight goals in their last four matches. History favors the home side here, as Manchester City has never won at Anfield. Their last visit to Merseyside resulted in a 3-1 loss back in 2019.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Over.

Manchester United scored a whopping nine goals in their last match, beating the hell out of a short-handed Southampton side. They host Everton on Saturday, and we should expect these teams to put on a show. Everton has scored seven goals in their last five matches, and they have conceded three. Manchester United leads the Premier League in scoring, but they are one of just two clubs in the top 10 that have conceded more than 25 goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Spurs.

Chelsea has a new manager, and Thomas Tuchel will likely not appreciate Jose Mourino's comments regarding his experience managing at Chelaea. Mourino had this to say:"I don't think it's very difficult to coach at Chelsea because I was champion three times, Carlo Ancelotti was champion, Antonio Conte was champion," Mourinho said. It cannot be very, very difficult because we won titles there." The special one sure is a cheeky bastard! I fancy Spurs as a home underdog considering these teams played to a draw in both meetings in 2020.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

After failing to score in four straight Premier League matches, Liverpool has scored five goals in their last two matches. The Reds also conceded four goals in those two matches. This won't be an easy match against West Ham. The Hammers have won five straight, scoring 11 goals in those matches. History tells us that we should expect a high score here, as the last two head to head matches saw a combined eight goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Everton.

Everton is back to full strength, and they are once again looking like the team that was top of the table in the first few weeks. They are 3-1-1 in their last five matches, and they host a Newcastle side that has lost five straight. Newcastle has been outscored 11-1 combined in those matches. There are 20 teams in the Premier League, and only two of those clubs have earned fewer points in away matches than Newcastle. While Everton is a big favorite, the price could be even higher.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Spurs.

Liverpool has lost three straight matches, failing to score in two of those three games. They are still a point up on Spurs in the Premier League table, but Tottenham has a game in hand. Despite their struggles, Liverpool remains a formidable team at home. That's not really the case away from home where they have just two wins in nine matches this season. While Spurs have lost five straight to Liverpool, they figure to be in a good spot to earn points here in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Everton has won four of it's last five matches overall, and they host Leicester who is on a five match win streak. Liverpool has scored a Premier League best 37 goals, but Leicester isn't far behind with 35 goals in 19 matches. Everton has scored just 28 goals, however they have played two fewer matches. These two teams have gone over the total in three of the last four head to head meetings. I think there's enough talent on both these teams to justify a higher number than 2.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Southampton.

Arsenal was knocked out of the FA Cup losing 1-0 to Southapmton over the weekend, and Aubameyang did not play due to personal reasons. Southampton has the fourth best home record in the Premier League, earning points in six of nine home games. They have also earned points in three of their last four matches against Arsenal. This looks like a pretty even matchup, and a draw would be no surprise here. These two teams are separated by just two points in the table, and by just one goal in goal differential.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Aston Villa.

So Villa has lost three straight matches, and they are coming off a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City. They are almost a 2-1 favorite in this afternoon's match versus Newcastle, but I still see value in the favorite here. Three consecutive losses were to be expected, as they came against Liverpool, United and City. Newcastle on the other hand has failed to score in four of their last five matches, and they are winless during that span. Villa has scored nearly twice as many goals (29) as Newcastle (18), and they have conceded roughly half as many.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is a 5* play on Under.

Liverpool has failed to score in three straight Premier League matches, but they will be heavily favored to win at home against Burnley. Goals are not flying in, so we have to work on it. Look at John Stones at Manchester City, he scores three and you cannot explain it. We need to stay calm, greedy and make good decisions and the situation will change." says Jurgen Klopp. Burnley has only scored nine goals in 17 matches this season, and they have only conceded four goals in their last five matches. The last time Burnley played Liverpool they earned a 1-1 draw. We should see another low score this afternoon.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

Fulham has earned points in four of their last five matches, and during that span they have conceded only three goals. Three of those matches ended in a draw, and they will likely be happy to play for a draw here against United. The Red Devils are coming off a 0-0 draw versus Liverpool, and they have conceded just three goals in their last five matches. This likely won't be the most entertaining game to watch, and I wouldn't be shocked to see another scoreless draw.

GL,

Jesse Schule,

This is a 5* play on Leicester +0.25.

Chelsea spent an awful lost of money prior to this season, but big salaries to the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz aren't really paying dividends at the moment. The Blues sit seventh in the Premier League table, six point back of Leicester. They come into King Power Stadium as the favorites, but I fancy the draw here. Three of the last four matches between these teams have ended in a draw, and both teams have scored 33 goals this season. They have also both conceded 21 goals, for a goal differential of +12. Chelsea hasn't scored more than one goal in any of their last four Premier League matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Manchester United.

The Red Devils are sitting in first place in the Premier League table, and they have been on top form recently. Liverpool on the other hand has not been sharp, dropping points in three of their last four matches. Two of the last three head to head meetings have been draws, and I like Manchester's chances of earning at least a draw here. United has only conceded three goals in their last five matches, and during that span they have posted three clean sheets.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Leicester City.

Southampton is coming off a 1-0 win over Liverpool, and Danny Ings scored the only goal in that match. It was the only goal Southampton has managed to score in their last four matches in all competitions. So the loss of Danny Ings to Covid-19 protocols here on Saturday when they visit Leicester is a huge blow. Leicester is just a point behind second place Liverpool in the Premier League table, and they are undefeated in their last five matches. Jamie Vardy edged out Danny Ings for the Golden Boot last year, and he's just two goals off the pace with 11 goals in 16 matches so far.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Spurs.

A win today would bring the Spurs within four points of first place Manchester United. Coming off a 5-0 win in the FA Cup earlier in the week, Tottenham has now 3-0 in 2021, outscoring opponents a combined 10-0. Fulham comes into today's match with four draw and a win in their last five overall. Spurs have scored more than twice as many goals (29) than Fulham (13), and they have conceded almost half as many. Tottenham is 5-0 in their last five matches versus Fulham, and that trend should continue here this afternoon.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Atalanta.

After finishing among the top clubs in Italy last season, Atalanta got off to a slow start to this season. They have now found their form, coming into today's match undefeated in their last five matches. They have won four straight against Parma, and three of those wins came by two or more goals. Atalanta has scored 33 goals, almost three times what Parma has scored this season. Atalanta has won their last three home games by a combined 12-2 margin.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Over.

Southampton has scored 25 goals in just 15 matches, and West Ham has scored 23 goals in 15 matches. Neither side is particularly strong defensively, and history tells us that we can expect plenty of scoring when these teams meet. Four of the last five meetings have seen at least three goals combined, with the most recent meeting ending in a 3-1 victory for the Hammers at home. West Ham has conceded five goals in their last two matches, and we should expect both teams to score here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Chelsea.

The Blues are in the middle of a rough patch, but that was preceded by a 17 game unbeaten run. Their loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Boxing Day was due to an unfortunate set of circumstances. The Gunners won 3-1, with their goals coming on a pair of set pieces and an intended cross that went into the top corner. Being back home against Aston Villa, we should expect the Blues to be far better here this afternoon. Chelsea has won five straight meetings versus Villa, and the Blues own the second best home record in the Premier League. Villa has an impressive record so far, but it's important to consider that their last seven matches all came against teams in the bottom half of the table.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

West Ham United is sitting right in the middle of the Premier League table (10th), even though they have scored 21 goals in 14 matches. Their defense has been below average, conceding 19 goals so far this season. They host Brighton Hove Albion Sunday, and these two teams have played to a draw in each of the last three meetings. Both teams have scored six goals in their last three head to head matches, an average of four goals per match. The Hammers don't often play low scoring games, with four of their last five going over a total of 2.5.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Arsenal has struggled of late, losing back to back games by a combined score of 6-2. They will be tested here on Boxing Day, hosting a Chelsea team that has scored 29 goals in just 14 matches. These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, with each of the last four meetings going over the total. Chelsea has the second best goal differential in the Premier League (+15).

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Borrussia Dortmund and Union Berlin have each scored 25 goals in 12 matches so far. Dortmund has not posted a clean sheet in any of their last six matches, while Berlin has conceded 10 goals in their last five matches. These two teams have played high scoring games in recent meetings, with each of the last three head to head matches seeing at least four goals. The last time Dortmund played at Berlin, they lost by a score of 3-1. I expect a similar score here this time around.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Spurs +0.5.

Jose Mourino has downplayed the fact that Spurs are sitting in first place in the Premier League, and that Liverpool has been hit hard by  injuries. "Van Dijk is injured and he is a very good player of course, but give me Liverpool's list of injuries and compare with a list of Liverpool's best team," said Mourinho. "I can give you a list of 10 injuries at Tottenham." Pay no attention to those remarks, that is just coachspeak. Both these teams have more draws than wins over their last five matches, and Mourino likes his chances of at least earning a draw here at Anfield.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Borrussia Dortmund hasn't posted a clean sheet in any of their last five matches, and they are coming off a 5-1 loss to Stuttgart. They might be in for another high scoring game versus Werder Bremen this Tuesday, and Bremen has conceded 19 goals in 11 matches this season. These two teams have played high scoring games in four of the last five meetings. Dortmund has scored at least twice in each of their last five versus Bremen.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Seattle.

The Sounders are the defending champions, and they are coming off an impressive win in their Semi Final match versus Minnesota. After a disallowed goal, they found themselves trailing with just a minute remaining in regulation. After scoring the equalizer in the 89th minute, they got the game winner in the third minute of extra time. Columbus has had an outstanding season, but with a pair of key midfielders set to miss the Final, they are at a disadvantage. Seattle may also find an advantage in set pieces, as they ranked second in the MLS in scoring off such plays.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on West Ham.

West Ham will be an underdog on the road this week, despite sitting in the top half of the table in the Premier League. They face Leeds, a team ranked 14th with an overall record of 4-2-5 with a -4 goal differential. The Hammers are coming off a 3-1 loss to Manchester United, in a match that they were leading 1-0 at halftime. Leeds has just one win in five home matches this season, and they've played to a draw in three of their last four matches versus West Ham. The visitors are expected to field a stronger side, and I fancy their chances of coming away with at least a draw.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Seattle.

The Sounders finished second in the Western Conference, but they have the best goal differential by a substantial margin. Minnesota is coming off three consecutive wins, all by a score of 3-0. Those wins came against teams that are far less formidable than the defending champions. Seattle has dominated recent meetings between the two teams, earning four wins and a draw in the last five head to head matches. Seattle has outscored the opposition 8-2 in their last three matches, and those wins came against tougher competition than Minnesota has faced recently. I'll take the defending champs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Chelsea.

Surely we expect Liverpool to drop points over the next few weeks, without any experienced defenders and striker Mo Salah unable to even return to England after getting Covid in Egypt. When he returns to the UK he will then need to be quarantined for 10 days. This opens the door for the likes of Spurs, Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea. Of that group I think Chelsea has the best chance to build a big lead. The Blues are really starting to benefit from their off-season spending spree, and they are undefeated in their last 15, posting 11 clean sheets in those matches. With fans back in Stanford Bridge in December, a home game against Leeds should result in full points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

Sporting Kansas City finished first in the Western Conference, and they allowed just 25 goals in 21 matches. Only two teams allowed fewer, and Minnesota conceded just 26 goals in 21 matches. Both these teams have posted clean sheets in three of their last five matches, and not one of the last five head to head meetings have seen more than three goals combined. Kansas City keeper Tim Melia has stopped all six penalty shootout attempts he has faced this season. Both these teams should be overly cautious in an elimination match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is a 5* play on Over.

PSG has been dropping points in recent matches in the French league, coming off a draw versus Bordeaux and a loss to Montpellier. They also conceded five goals in those two matches, and they have conceded eight goals in their last five matches in all competitions. Manchester United has won four of their last five Premier League matches, scoring 12 goals in those games. Recent head to head meetings between these teams have also been high scoring, with United winning 2-1 and 3-1 in the last two matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Everton will host Leeds Saturday, and they will have to manage without several key defenders. Left back Lucas Digne, right back JonJoe Kenny and captain Seamus Coleman are all dealing with injuries. This could be a problem against Leeds, despite the fact that the newly promoted side has just win in their last five matches. It's not for lack of scoring, Leeds has scored 17 goals in nine matches, just two fewer than Everton. Neither side has been great defensively. Only three teams in the Premier League have conceded more goals than Everton, and Leeds is one of those three. Everton hasn't posted a clean sheet since beating Spurs 1-0 in their season opener.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Leicester +0.5.

Defending champions Liverpool currently sit just one point out of first place after just eight matches, but injuries threaten to derail their title defense. As of mid November, their entire starting defense is out, as is Mo Salah, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alacantara and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. Surely we expect Liverpool to drop points over the next few weeks, without any experienced defenders and striker Mo Salah unable to even return to England after getting Covid in Egypt. When he returns to the UK he will then need to be quarantined for 10 days. This opens the door for the likes of Spurs, Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea. Leicester currently sits in first place, and they have won five straight matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is an 8* play on Over.

Manchester City and Liverpool have been the top two teams in the Premier League for the last several seasons, and they meet in Manchester on Sunday. Both teams are on a roll, each undefeated in their last five matches in all competitions. City is coming off a 3-0 win over Olympiakos in the Champions League mid week, while Liverpool won 5-0 at Atalanta. These teams played twice last season, both matches going over with four goals combined. Liverpool allowed just 33 goals in 38 matches last season (less than a goal per game), but they have allowed 15 goals in seven matches so far this season (more than two goals per game). I expect to see some goals here in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

Bayern Munich is still the top dog in Germany, sitting top of the Bundesliga with a +15 goal differential after just six matches. They have scored 15 goals in their last four matches, and they lead the Bundesliga in scoring with 24 goals. Borrussia Dortmund is second in the league in scoring, but with only 13 goals (11 fewer than Bayern). If Bayern has a weakness it's their defense, and that should lead to a high scoring affair between the top two teams in Germany. The last time these two teams faced each other, the final score was 3-2 for Bayern.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Everton.

Manchester United comes into Goodison Park as a favorite, despite the fact that they are closer to relegation than they are to competing for a top spot in the Premier League. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to Istanbul in the Champions League mid week, and they haven't scored a single goal in their last two Premier League matches. Everton is just three points out of first place in the Premier League, and they have won all their home games so far this season. Midfielder James Rodriguez will return to the lineup to face Manchester United, giving Everton a boost.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Nashville. 

Dallas is coming off a commanding 3-0 win over Houston on Saturday, but they could suffer a let down here in Nashville mid week. They have failed to score a goal in three matches against Nashville this season. Nashville ranks second in MLS in goals against (19), and they have allowed just six goals in their last 10 matches. The home team appears to have an edge here and I like Nashville to bag a win here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

7*

This is a 10* play on Under.

Both the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas rank near the bottom of MLS in scoring, and recent head to head meetings have been low scoring. Dallas has failed to score a goal in two of it's last three versus Houston, and the Dynamo have scored just three goals in the last three head to head matches. Dallas has gone under in each of it's last five MLS matches, while Houston has gone under in six of it's last eight overall. It's tough to see these teams combining to score more than three goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Inter Milan will face Shaktar Donetsk in Champions League play on Tuesday, and the Italian side won by a score of 5-0 at home in the first leg. Shaktar has since won 3-2 at Real Madrid, and between these two teams they have scored a ton of goals in this competition. Inter is coming off a 2-2 draw versus German side Borrussia Monchengladbach, and they have scored 13 goals in five matches in Series A. Shaktar has scored a dozen goals in their last five matches overall, and I fancy them to score a goal or two here in this revenge fixture.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Wolverhampton Wanderers.  

The Wolvers will host Newcastle United at Molineux Stadium on Sunday. Wolverhampton has won their last two matches, posting back to back clean sheets. Newcastle is coming off a 4-1 home loss to Manchester United, and the Magpies are known for their shoddy defense. That is particularly true away from home, where they had a -19 goal differential in 19 matches last season. Wolves are undefeated in their last five head to head matches versus Newcastle, and they appear to be on better form heading in Sunday's match.
 

GL,

 Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Manchester United will play at Old Trafford this weekend, and we are expecting to see plenty of goals. Manchester United has scored nine goals in their last four Premier League matches. Chelsea has scored 13 goals in their last five Premier League matches. Chelsea spent a small fortune in the off season acquiring Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech. Scoring goals hasn't been a problem for Chelsea, but defending has been an issue. They conceded three goals in a 3-3 draw versus Southampton in their last league match. The Red Devils have gone over in five straight matches in all competitions.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AC Milan.

Celtic will be the home team in Thursday's Europa League clash versus Italian Giants AC Milan, but there won't be any fans in attendance. Milan currently sits top of the table in Series A, while Celtic sits second in the Scottish League coming off a 2-0 loss to Rivals Rangers. Celtic will be shorthanded for this match. Scotland international James Forrest and young winger Mikey Johnston are both out with injuries. Midfielder Ryan Christie, Israel international Nir Bitton and defender Hatem Abd Elhamed all tested positive for Covid-19, and it's almost certain they won't be available to face Milan. Celtic has lost four of their last five versus Milan, and I expect history to repeat itself here on Thursday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Chelsea has stacked their squad with offensive firepower, and after spending a fortune in the transfer market they have certainly scored their fair share of goals. They gave scored 13 times in five matches, but they have also conceded nine goals. Sevilla has been solid on both sides of the ball, and they won last year's Europa League Cup with wins over Manchester United (2-1) and Inter Milan (3-2). I expect to see at least three goals here at Stamford Bridge.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The Merseyside Derby has been very one-sided for decades, but this Saturday's match between Liverpool and Everton is a little different. So far it's Everton sitting top of the table in the Premier League, and they have scored 12 goals in just four matches. The defending champions have struggled on defense so far, allowing 11 goals in four matches. They haven't had any trouble scoring goals, with 11 in four matches. I am going to go out on a limb and predict an exact score of 2-2.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Leeds United has had no trouble scoring goals since their return to the Premier League, finding the back of the net eight times in three matches. They haven't had much success stopping opponents from scoring, allowing seven goals in those games. Manchester City has also struggled on defense, coming off an ugly 5-2 loss to Leicester City. This will be just the third Premier League match of the season for City, and they have gone over in four straight matches in all competitions. The over is also 4-1 in their last five matches versus Leeds.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5 goals.

Liverpool were quite fortunate in their opening match versus Leeds United, winning by a score of 4-3. They were given a pair of penalties in the match, otherwise they could have ended up on the wrong side of a high scoring game. They have their work cut out for them here on Sunday, facing a stacked lineup after Chelsea's summer spending spree. New addition Timo Werner has already been making an impact. He draw a penalty in a 3-1 win over Brighton last weekend. The last time these teams met head to head it was Liverpool winning 5-3, but Chelsea has scored eight goals in the last four meetings. Three of those games went over the total.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Portland.

Real Salt Lake may not have the luxury of focusing on football in this match, as the club is mired in controversy. Dell Loy Hansen (club owner) made the following comments about the players decision to boycott their last match: "It's taken a lot of wind out of my sails, what effort I want to put into recruiting players and building a great team," Hansen said. "It just seems that's not a very good path to take." His criticism of the players has not been well received, and he is now facing an MLS investigation into alleged racist remarks. Players are demanding he sell the team. They will be on the road at Portland, facing the champions of the MLS is Back Tournament in Portland.

Take the Timbers.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Bayern Munich.

I've been calling Bayern Munich the best team in Europe since the return to play back in May. They have certainly looked the part, winning their last three Champions League matches by a combined score of 15-3. Their 8-2 win over Barcelona will not soon be forgotten. Paris has taken a much different path, needing to rally with two late goals to escape what looked like a sure defeat to Atletico Madrid. Simply put, it seems that Bayern is in a class of it's own, and Paris is unlikely to match them.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Inter Milan finished just one point behind Series A Champions Juventus this season, and they scored 81 goals in 38 matches. They are coming off a 2-1 win over German club Bayern Leverkusen, and they will be a favorite in today's matchup versus Shahktar Donetsk. The Ukrainians can certainly score, they have tallied 14 goals while going 4-0-1 in their last five matches. They have also conceded six goals in those games. We've seen the officials quick to call penalties here in recent Europa matches, as was the case in yesterday's match. We expect a high score here in this Semifinal.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Sevilla +0.5.

Manchester United is coming off a 1-0 win over Copenhagen, scoring the game's only goal on a penalty in the 95th minute. They are matched up against a far superior opponent tonight when they play Sevilla in the Semifinals. Only two teams in La Liga (Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid) allowed fewer goals than Sevilla. Opportunities are expected to be far and few between in this match, and I think that favors the defenive minded Spanish club.

Take SEVILLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Lyon is coming off a 2-1 loss at Juventus, but they ended up advancing on the virtue of away goals. They face a far more daunting task here against Manchester City, the highest scoring team in the English Premier League. Manchester City scored 102 goals in 38 matches in domestic play this season, however they also allowed 35 goals in those games. I like Manchester City to score 2 or more goals here without posting a clean sheet.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Bayern is coming off a 4-1 win over Chelsea, making it 20 consecutive wins. During that span they have filled the net, scoring a total of 57 goals. They have a challenging draw here in the Champions League knockout round versus Barcelona, and we can expect an exciting match. Barcelona comes in as winners of four of their last five, and they scored three in a win over Napoli in their last match. These teams have played each other four times over the last decade, and all four of those matches saw three or more goals.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Inter Milan.

Inter Milan has been very strong since the return to play, pushing Juventus to the brink. They ended up finishing second in the Serie A just a single point behind Juventus. Bayern Leverkusen did not finish strong in the Bundesliga, winning just three of their final seven matches. They slipped all the way to fifth, and they could fall even further next season without Kai Havertz. He is rumored to be heading to Chelsea. Inter has been the stronger team and is in a far better spot to advance in this competition.

Take Inter.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Bayern.

Chelsea is already trailing on aggregate 3-0 after the first leg, and they don't appear to be all that focused on making a run here in the second leg. Three of their top four scorers (Willian, Giroud, Pulisic) are out of the starting lineup. This match should look very much like the first leg that Bayern won 3-0.

Take Bayern.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid +1.

I had Real Madrid in the first leg, and here is what I said prior to that match: "Manchester City will head into the first leg of this Champions League tie looking to survive with a chance to win the second leg at home at the Etihad in March. Real Madrid is undefeated at home in domestic competition, and they are also undefeated at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid has won this competition seven times, while Manchester City has suffered many disappointments. Madrid is in first place in Spain, with a +26 goal differential, while the Citizens are just the second best team in the Premier Leaague. It will be quite tough for City to come away with a win here, but a close loss with an away goal would still be a solid result."  Now that City has a lead on aggregate as well as away goals, they can sit back and play for a draw. The problem is that City isn't a team designed to play defense, and that leaves them vulnerable to an upset.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

It was supposed to be an all Manchester Final in the FA Cup (according to the bookmakers), but Chelsea and Arsenal each recorded upsets in the semi finals. Neither of these two clubs are among the top defensive teams in England. Chelsea conceded 54 goals this season, while Arsenal conceded 48. David Luiz broke a Premier League record, conceding the most penalties in a season (5). These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over 2.5 in four of their last five matches. Three of those games saw 4+ goals combined.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Portland Timbers.

After winning their first two games of the group stages, Portland played a 2-2 draw against an LAFC team that was by far the best in MLS last year. They face Cincinnati in this elimination game Tuesday, and Cinci bounced back with a pair of wins after getting blown out by a score of 4-0 in their opening match versus Columbus. This Cincinnati team finished last year with the worst goal differential in MLS (-44). That's twice as bad as the second worst Vancouver (-22). I am not reading too much into their wins against a shorthanded Atlanta team and a Red Bulls squad that outshot them 19-4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Portland Timbers.

After winning their first two games of the group stages, Portland played a 2-2 draw against an LAFC team that was by far the best in MLS last year. They face Cincinnati in this elimination game Tuesday, and Cinci bounced back with a pair of wins after getting blown out by a score of 4-0 in their opening match versus Columbus. This Cincinnati team finished last year with the worst goal differential in MLS (-44). That's twice as bad as the second worst Vancouver (-22). I am not reading too much into their wins against a shorthanded Atlanta team and a Red Bulls squad that outshot them 19-4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is a 5* play on Toronto FC.

New York City appeared to be on their way home, but some extraordinary circumstances helped them become the last team to qualify for the knockout round. While their departure may have been delayed, friends and family should rest easy. They should be back in New York soon enough. Toronto has scored an Eastern Conference best nine goals, and they are still undefeated. New York City has scored just one goal in their last five matches, in their only win which came against expansion team Miami. Toronto is 3-0-1 since 2018.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Bournemouth comes into the final day of the Premier League season needing a victory to give themselves a chance to avoid relegation. While their fate is not in their own hands, they can take some comfort in the fact that Watford and Aston Villa will be playing tough matches. Given that a draw simply will not do for Bournemouth, expect them to be on attack for a full 90 minutes. This should result in a wide open game with plenty of scoring chances. Four of the last five meetings between these two clubs have resulted in three or more goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Chicago Fire.

The Vancouver Whitecaps aren't officially eliminated from the MLS is Back Tournament, but their chances of making up a goal differential to advance are nearly zero. The Whitecaps lost 4-3 to Kansas City, and 3-0 to Seattle. A poor showing here should be expected for a team that finished last in the Western Conference last year with a goal differential of -22. Chicago opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over the same Seattle team that crushed these Whitecaps. There have been plenty of complaints about the bubble life in Orlando, and for a team on the brink of elimination, a trip home might not be a bad result.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Real Salt Lake.

Salt Lake hasn't conceded a goal yet at this tournament, and that really should come as no surprise. Last year LAFC was the only team in MLS to concede fewer goals that Real Salt Lake. A draw would ensure that both these teams advance, so we could see that influence the pace here in this game. It's also worth pointing out that scoreless draws have been somewhat of a trend in the early fixtures, and scoring average in the early matches is far lower than in the evening games. I like the under, and I like Salt Lake to earn at least a draw.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under 3.

Salt Lake hasn't conceded a goal yet at this tournament, and that really should come as no surprise. Last year LAFC was the only team in MLS to concede fewer goals that Real Salt Lake. A draw would ensure that both these teams advance, so we could see that influence the pace here in this game. It's also worth pointing out that scoreless draws have been somewhat of a trend in the early fixtures, and scoring average in the early matches is far lower than in the evening games. I like the under, and I like Salt Lake to earn at least a draw.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

The Montreal Impact will need a win in their final match of the group stages versus DC United, and we should see both teams playing full speed here today. Montreal has been pretty poor defensively under first year head coach Thierry Henry, conceding four goals in a loss to Toronto in their last match. DC United has played to a draw in each of their first two matches, scoring three goals in the process. I expect this game to be a high scoring affair between two teams that really need a result.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Toronto has had no trouble scoring goals in this tournament so far, with a pair of first half goals in their opening match versus DC United, and then four more in their second match versus Montreal. The problem has been their defense, as they have also conceded five goals in those two matches. They blew a 2-0 lead in the final six minutes against a DC United squad that was down to 10 men. This match versus the New England Revolution may be their most difficult to date, and I expect to see both teams score here. The last time these teams faced off, the result was a 1-1 draw. The previous four meetings all saw three or more goals combined.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Wolverhampton.

While everyone is talking about Manchester United and Chelsea moving up the table, Wolverhamton has quietly been one of the hottest teams in the Premier League. A win here against Crystal Palace could put them level on points with sixth place Tottenham. Palace has nothing really to gain here, already safe from relegation and nowhere to move up to. Palace has failed to score in four of their last five matches, and they lost every one of those games. Another loss seems likely for Palace.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Seattle Sounders.

The Sounders really need a win here if they want to advance to the round of 16. If Chicago can beat San Jose earlier in the day, that will give Seattle a chance to move on. If the Earthquakes earn points in their match versus Chicago, the Sounders situation really becomes desperate. Vancouver failed to impress in their opening match, jumping out to a 3-1 lead before losing 4-3 to San Jose. The Whitecaps finished dead last in the Western Conference in 2019, with a goal differential of -22. This Vancouver team really struggles defensively, and that's likely going to lead to another loss here in this tournament.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Manchester United.

The hottest team in England right now is Manchester United. The come into Sunday's FA Cup Semi Final versus Chelsea undefeated in their last 19 matches in all competitions. They have had Chelsea's number winning four of the last five meetings, with one draw. Chelsea has also been moving up the table since the restart, but they have looked awfully sloppy at times. They have lost twice in their last five matches, falling 3-0 to Sheffield United, and 3-2 to West Ham. While Chelsea has a one point lead in the Premier League standings, the goal differential tells a different story. Manchester United is +28 compared to Chelsea's +15.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

LAFC opened the tournament with a 3-3 draw versus Houston, while the Galaxy lost 2-1 to Portland. We have seen this rivalry yield it's fair share of high scoring games, and I expect to see plenty of scoring here in this game. Last year this series saw both teams going 1-1-1 in three meetings, all of those matches saw at least five goals. LAFC scored a total of 85 goals in 2019, that's 22 more than the second highest scoring team in the MLS that season. This should be the most entertaining game of the tournament so far.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Atlanta United.

I bet against Cincinnati in their opening game of the tournament, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Crew were off to a solid start before the league was paused, and they finished the 2019 season 14 points higher in the standings than the expansion team Cincinnati. This might be an improved Cincinnati team from last season, but they did start the season with a pair of losses before play was stopped. It's tough to imagine that Cincinnati's players believe they can win this tournament, so we aren't expecting them to be the most motivated side we see in Orlando." They went on to lose 4-0 to Columbus, and that should take all the wind out of their sails heading into this match versus Atlanta.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Real Madrid.

Madrid and Barcelona continue to battle it out at the top of La Liga, and every point from here on out is crucial. Madrid has been on top form of late, and the opening line here was just too good to pass up for a small wager on a 2-1 favorite, when it should be priced higher. That is evidenced by money continuing to come in on Madrid.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Leicester.

AFC Bournemouth is facing relegation, so you would think they would have plenty of motivation. That would be true in most circumstances, but with the return to play during a global pandemic, not everyone is putting top priority on football. Given that they have just four matches remaining all against challenging opponents, their chances of avoiding relegation appear to be slim to none. They are winless in their last nine matches, and the only reason they salvaged a draw against Spurs the other day was due to a poor call from VAR. Harry Kane should have had a penalty in the first half, but for some reason VAR controversially ruled no penalty. Leicester is now just one point ahead of Manchester United for the final Champions League spot, so this is a must win.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Arsenal.

Tottenham is a complete mess at the moment, winning just twice in their last 11 matches in all competitions. During that span they have played to a draw four times, and they have scored more than one goal just four times. They host Arsenal, who come in unbeaten in their last five matches. The Gunners have conceded just two goals during in those games. These teams have played to a draw in each of the last two meetings, so the underdog looks like a solid play here in a stadium without fans.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Columbus Crew.

The Crew come into this tournament widely considered to be a solid dark horse to win outright. The Crew were off to a solid start before the league was paused, and they finished the 2019 season 14 points higher in the standings than the expansion team Cincinnati. This might be an improved Cincinnati team from last season, but they did start the season with a pair of losses before play was stopped. It's tough to imagine that Cincinnati's players believe they can win this tournament, so we aren't expecting them to be the most motivated side we see in Orlando.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under 3.5.

So far in the MLS is back tournament we have yet to see any of the early matches go over the total. Without any exhibition matches prior to the tournament, these players still aren't in game shape. The result has been a scoreless draw, a pair of 1-0 games and a 2-1 win for Orlando when Nani scored the winner in the seventh minute of added time. Atlanta lost prolific goal scorer Joseph Martinez in their first match of the season, and they haven't gone over in any of their last five matches. Four of the last five time these teams have faced each other, one of the two teams failed to score. Two of the last three meetings finished with a score of 1-0.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

The hottest team in Italy right now isn't Juventus, or Lazio, or Inter Milan. No it's Atalanta that has won 11 in a row. They also lead the Serie A with 85 goals scored and a goal differential of +46. Juventus is comfortably in first place in Serie A, despite losing 4-2 to AC Milan in their last match. They defeated Atalanta by a score of 3-1 in the most recent meeting, and three of the last four meetings have seen 3+ goals combined. This one smells like a 2-2 draw to me.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Montreal defeated New England 2-1 early on in the MLS season, and the Revolution look to execute revenge for that loss here in their opening game of the MLS is Back Tournament. There is plenty of firepower on each of these teams, and neither side is known to play strong defensively. They each finished with a negative goal differential in their last full MLS season. Montreal conceded 60 goals in 34 matches in 2019, while New England conceded 57. Montreal has gone over the total in four of their last five matches overall, and we should expect to see 3+ goals scored in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Atalanta.

The hottest team in Italy right now isn't Juventus, or Lazio, or Inter Milan. No it's Atalanta that has won 10 in a row. They also lead the Serie A with 83 goals scored and a goal differential of +44. They host Sampdoria on Wednesday, who have a goal differential of -15. Sampdoria is particularly bad away from home, with an away record of 49-1 with a -11 goal differential. This has all the signs of another blowout win for Atalanta.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Lazio.

Coming off a loss to AC Milan, Lazio needs to get back on track in order to salvage any hope of catching first place Juventus. They couldn't have asked for a better opponent, as Lecce has conceded a Serie A worst 70 goals. Immobile and Caicedo did not play on the loss to AC Milan, but they are back with fresh legs for this match. We should expect Lazio to win comfortably.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Watford.

Norwich City will be relegated, there is little doubt about that. The question is who will be joining them. At the bottom of the table you have Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Watford separated by a single point. Watford is winless in their last five matches, with their last win coming by a score of 3-0 over Liverpool. They come into this match needing a win, and their opponent isn't likely to provide much resistance. Norwich has been held scoreless in five of their last six matches, and they have scored the fewest goals in the league this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Tottenham Hotspurs.

Spurs are coming off a terrible 3-1 loss to Sheffield United. Harry Kane scored a pair of goals in the loss, yet one was erroneously called back by VAR. Everton on the other hand is coming off a 2-1 win over Leicester, in a match where they were awarded a controversial penalty early in the first half. We should expect a spirited effort from Tottenham in this match, and with all their stars back from injury, it's only a matter of time before things start to click. Everton  is 0-3-2 in their last five matches versus Spurs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

West Ham is coming off a shocking 3-2 win over Chelsea, putting them three points clear of relegation. Newcastle is also coming off a favorable result, beating Bournemouth by a score of 4-1. We can expect plenty of chances in a match featuring two teams that aren't known for their defending. Newcastle won the last meeting between these teams by a score of 3-2, and I expect a similar score here on Sunday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Lazio.

The title race is still on in Serie A, with just four points seperating Lazio and Juventus. Lazio needs a win here against AC Milan in order to keep the pressure on Juventus. Lazio has yet to lose at home, with a record of 12-0-3 in 15 matches. They have the second best goal differential in the Serie A (+38) while Milan has conceded one more goal than they have scored. This is a match where I would be wary of a draw, but I can't see Lazio losing here against Milan.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich isn't just the best team in Germany, in my opinion they are the best team in Europe. They have won 16 straight matches in all competitions, and 10 of those wins came by 2+ goals. Bayern Leverkusen was disappointing when the Bundesliga returned, They won three of six matches, but a 2-0 loss to Hertha Berlin in their second to last match ensured they would miss out on the Champions League next season. I don't expect that Munich will have any trouble with Leverkusen in the German Cup Final.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Arsenal +0.5.

Wolverhampton is having a hell of a season, but seeing them listed as favorites against Arsenal makes me think there is a little recency bias at play. Technically a home game for Wolves, but without fans that might not be very significant. These teams have a history of playing close games, with three of the last five head to head meetings ending with a final score of 1-1. Arsenal has won three straight, posting a pair of clean sheets. I like their chances of earning a point.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Leicester City.

So far Leicester has been unable to capture the magic they seemed to have before play was suspended in March. They are now in a dogfight for a Champions League spot, and desperately in need of a win here versus Crystal Palace. Leicester has scored more than twice as many goals (60) as Palace (28). Leicester won their last match versus Palace by a score of 2-0, and I expect a similar result here in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under 2.5.

Norwich City appears to be facing imminent relegation, while Brighton looks safe from relegation at the moment. Neither of these two teams have scored a lot of goals this season. Norwich ranks dead last in goals scored with a total of 25 goals in 32 matches. Brighton has failed to score in four of her last five matches, including a pair of scoreless draws. Norwich has also failed to score in four of their last five matches. One goal might be enough to win this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Atalanta will host Napoli on Thursday, and both these teams come in firing on all cylinders. Atalanta has won eight straight matches, and they lead the Serie A with 80 goals in just 28 matches. Napoli comes in as winners of four of five, and they are also quite capable of scoring goals. The most recent meeting between these teams was a 2-2 draw, and four of the last five meetings have seen at least three goals. Atalanta has been a good bet to go over, with at least three goals scored in each of their last 11 games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Leicester +0.5.

After struggling in three matches since the restart, we find Leicester as underdogs in this match at Everton. Leicester has just two draws and a loss since the return to play, and they need to right the ship if they want to hold down a spot in the Champions League next season. They have been quite successful in recent matches versus Everton, with a record of 2-0-1 in three meetings in 2019. Everton has only scored twice in four matches since the return to play, and they have scored 21 fewer than Leicester this season. The Toffees are in no mans land in the Premier League table, with nothing to lose and not much to gain.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Leeds United -1.25.

Leeds United is coming off a 3-0 win over Fulham, putting them top of the table. Next up are bottom feeders Luton Town, who come in with the worst goal differential in the League Championship. Leeds has won six of their last seven matches, and they posted a clean sheet in all six of those victories. This appears to be a mismatch of epic proportions, and we should expect Leeds to win by 2+ goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Real Madrid.

The fix is in? That's what Spanish football fans are saying after a string of controversial calls that have gone in favor of Real Madrid in recent matches. Madrid now sits top of the table, tied on points with rivals Barcelona. That makes this match against Espanyol a must win, and anything less than maximum points will open the door for the Catalans. Espanyol sits dead last in La Liga, and has lost four of their last five versus Real Madrid. They failed to score in three of those four losses, and they have failed to score in three of their last five matches overall. Only Leganes has scored fewer than the 26 goals that Espanyol has tallied in La Liga this season. Even Leganes has a better goal differential than the -24 mark of Espanyol. This should be an easy win for the visitors. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Atalanta.

We get plus money taking Atlanta on the Asian handicap line (-1.25), and this match looks rather one-sided. Atalanta has the best goal differential in Series A, after just 27 matches they are +40. They come in as winners of five straight, while Udinese is winless in it's last five. They have scored just twice during that span, and Udinese has scored a Series A low 21 goals in 27 matches. Atlanta has won four straight against Udinese, and all four of those matches were decided by two or more goals. This appears to be a bargain.

GL,

Jesse Schule