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This is a 10* play on Italy.

England fans fancy their team as the favorites to win the Euro, but perhaps Graeme Souness said it best:

"If I was Gareth Southgate, sitting down to write his Russia 2018 report for the FA, then top of my notepad would be the following – never allow that song, 'Football's Coming Home', to be played again during a major tournament," declared Souness.

"Football's coming home, is it? So, England effectively own the sport. I don't think so.

"They didn't have a monopoly on it when their teams and the FA were big players in the global power game back in the last century, and they don't now."

Their win over Denmark was a result of a controversial penalty that Kane missed, but had the good fortune to score on the rebound. All the pressure is on the English here in the Final, and they are up against an Italian side that is unbeaten in their last 33 matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on England.

Denmark takes on England in the Euro Semifinal, and the Danes will be playing the roll of Cinderella. Denmark is coming off a win over the Czech Republic, a match that they were favored to win, while England is coming off a 4-0 win over the Ukraine. The Three Lions still haven't conceded a goal in this tournament, and that bodes well here against the Danes. Denmark did win their last game against England 1-0 in 2020. England had two players sent off with red cards, and played the majority of that game with 10 men. The Three Lions were 3-0-1 in the previous four versus Denmark. Harry Kane got off to a slow start at the Euros, but he's found his form here in the last few games. I like England to cruise into the Finals with a decisive victory.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Italy.

Spain has survived extra time and penalty shootouts in their last two matches, while Italy is coming off an impressive 2-1 win over Belgium. If you've been betting on Spain in this tournament, you lost a lot of money. Their only regulation win came against Slovakia. Draws against Sweden and Poland were a huge disappointment. Italy has been spectacular defensively, conceding just one goal (from the penalty spot) in their last 12 matches. There's a meme going around that kind of says it all about their veteran defenders: "They aren't 19 year olds with cool haircuts, they don't have 50 million followers on Instagram, They don't have great cards on FIFA, they only know one thing and that's proper defending."

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on England.

England has not allowed a goal in four matches in this tournament, and they draw a favorable matchup in the quarterfinals. The Ukraine lost two of three matches in the group stages, with their one win coming against the biggest underdog in the entire tournament. They were so lucky to have advanced to the round of 16, and then their luck continued in their win over Sweden. Emil Forsberg scored his fourth goal, and he struck the post twice on chances that should have found the back of the net. England is a big favorite, but I think this is a mismatch of epic proportions.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Switzerland.

Spain will once again be a big favorite in the quarterfinals versus giant-killers Switzerland. The Swiss have just upset tournament favorites Frances, while Spain has just one win in four matches at this tournament. Their win over Croatia in the round of 16 was a draw as far as bettors are concerned, as the score was level after 90 minutes. They also played to a draw in matches versus Poland and Sweden. Spain is just 1-1-2 in their last four matches versus Switzerland, and the one win came by a score of 1-0.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Netherlands.

Anything can happen in the round of 16, as witnessed with Austria pushing Italy to the brink yesterday. I expect a more commanding performance from the Dutch here against a Czech team that was quite fortunate to lose by just one goal in their match versus England at the end of the group stages. The Dutch finished the group stages strong with back to back wins by a combined score of 5-0. Their 2-0 win over Austria looks even better after the Austrian's surprise performance yesterday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 2* play on Italy.

I had Italy in their first match versus Turkey, and they won that game 3-0. Here is what I had to say before kickoff: "The Italian national team has seen dark times over the last decade, but I think this group has a chance to put some respect back in the name “Azzurri”. They come into this tournament as winners of five straight matches, posting a clean sheet in all five of those games. Their most recent match was a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic on June 5. Ciro Immobile opened the scoring, and Barella, Insigne and Berardi also scored." They have now gone over 1000 minutes without conceding a goal, and 30 matches without suffering a loss. Italy should move on with a convincing win over Austria.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Czech +1.

England has long been the most overrated team in international football, and their impressive showing in World Cup 2018 only added fuel to the fire. So far in this tournament, that previous success appears to be the exception rather than the rule. Harry Kane came in as the favorite to win the Golden Boot, and he has yet to score. In fact he was taken off the field for a substitute in the draw against Scotland. England has put together a string of less than impressive results, winning four straight one goal games against inferior opposition prior to their embarrassing result against Scotland. They could be settling for another draw here against a far better Czech team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

Russia is in a position to qualify for the next round, and a draw in their match versus Denmark would likely be enough. Denmark lost their leading scorer in their opening match, when Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field and was brought back to life by medical staff. Between these two teams, they have each scored just one goal in their first two matches of the group stages. They both played Finland, and the final score in each of those games was 1-0. I expect the Russians to be very careful here, and a low score is to be expected.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 2* prop bet on Germany not to qualify.

The Germans have plenty of work to do in order to move on to the next round. Sure they are favorites against Portugal on Saturday, but only slightly. There is an argument to be made that Portugal has a superior squad with the likes of Bruno Fernandez, Ruben Dias and Christiano Ronaldo. Germany would be eliminated with a loss, and while the price of Portugal to win outright is roughly 2-1, the payoff on this prop bet is twice as good. What about a draw? Well win lose or draw, this prop bet is still alive.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Belgium.

Denmark will return to action at the Euros after a terrifying start to the tournament. Christian Eriksen collapsed early in the match versus Finland, and actually died before being brought back to life by medical staff. After losing their best player (leading scorer in the Nations League) they went on to lose 1-0 to Finland. Now they take on Belgium, a team that is as talented as any in Europe. These two teams played twice in the Nations League, and Belgium won both those matches by a combined score of 6-2.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Ukraine.

A 3-2 loss to Netherlands in their opening match was actually quite an impressive result for Ukraine. After going down early, they battled back to draw even at 2-2. Even though they lost on a late goal, the two goals will put them in good standing to advance from the first round. Northern Macedonia lost their first match by a score of 3-1, and they are likely over their heads in this tournament. Not only is Northern Macedonia 0-1-2 in their last three matches versus Ukraine, but they didn't score a single goal in those matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Italy.

I had Italy in their first match versus Turkey, and they won that game 3-0. Here is what I had to say before kickoff: "The Italian national team has seen dark times over the last decade, but I think this group has a chance to put some respect back in the name “Azzurri”. They come into this tournament as winners of five straight matches, posting a clean sheet in all five of those games. Their most recent match was a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic on June 5. Ciro Immobile opened the scoring, and Barella, Insigne and Berardi also scored." Switzerland had to settle for a draw against Wales, and even thought they have fared well in recent meetings with Italy, I don't think they have the quality to compete with this team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Turkey.

Coming off a 3-0 loss to Italy, I think it's too soon to write this team off. Here is what I said prior to their loss to Italy: "Turkey also comes in undefeated in their last five matches, although draws against Latvia and Guinea fail to impress. While the Turkish side has plenty of star power up front, a younger and less experienced defense could be their undoing." Wales is a whole new kettle of fish, and so far their draw versus the Swiss fails to impress. Switzerland scored a game winning goal late in the contest that was ruled offside after VAR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Portugal.

Christiano Ronaldo is 36 years old, but he's in far better shape than many players in their prime. He scored 29 goals for Juventus in Series A this season, and he scored a goal in Portugal's last qualifying match. He's still one of the best in the world, but he's also surrounded by plenty of younger talented players from some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Ruben Dias might be the best defender in the world at the moment, and Bruno Fernandez, Dioga Jota and Joao Felix all play staring rolls in their domestic leagues. Hungary will have a tough time matching that kind of quality, and that's reflected by the fact that they are 0-4-1 in the last four head to head meetings. Hungary failed to score in four of those five matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Spain will be a big favorite against Sweden in their opening match at the Euros, and they will play in front of a home crowd. Sweden isn't going to be an easy opponent, and I expect both these teams to score in this match. Both teams have scored in two of the last three head to head meetings, and three of the last four meetings went over the total. Sweden has won five matches in a row heading into the tournament, and they scored at least twice in three of their last four matches. I predict a 2-1 victory for Spain.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on England.

The Three Lions come into the Euros hoping to avenge a disappointing loss to Croatia in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup. England has won five straight matches heading into the tournament, and they won their last match versus Croatia by a score of 2-1 back in 2018. Croatia hasn't look good at all in recent matches leading up to the tournament. They are 2-1-2 in their last five matches, with losses to Belgium and Slovenia, and a draw against Armenia. England on their home soil, should be able to get a win here over Croatia team that isn't on top form.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Belgium is a heavy favorite in their opening match versus Russia, and for good reason. History suggests that this game should be a hgih scoring match with Belgium coming out on top. Belgium is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings, and they have scored 10 goals in the last three meetings. Only Christiano Ronaldo scored more goals in Series A this season than Romelu Lukaku. The striker scored the game winner in a 1-0 win over Croatia in Belgium's last match. Russia is just 1-1-1 in their last three matches, inlcuding a loss to Slovakia.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Italy. 

The Italian national team has seen dark times over the last decade, but I think this group has a chance to put some respect back in the name “Azzurri”. They come into this tournament as winners of five straight matches, posting a clean sheet in all five of those games. Their most recent match was a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic on June 5. Ciro Immobile opened the scoring, and Barella, Insigne and Berardi also scored. Turkey also comes in undefeated in their last five matches, although draws against Latvia and Guinea fail to impress. While the Turkish side has plenty of star power up front, a younger and less experienced defense could be their undoing. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

West Ham is coming off a 1-0 loss to Everton, killing any hope of a top four finish and a spot in the Champions League next season. It's still been a successful campaign for the Hammers, currently sitting in sixth in the table. They have scored more than their fair share of goals (55 in 35 matches). They play Brighton today, and the last two meetings between these teams saw a combined 10 goals scored. Neither team is particularly strong defensively, so we could see a real cracker here on Saturday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

5*

This is a 5* play on the Over.

Chelsea appears to be safely positioned in the top four, and with a couple of big matches coming up today's match versus Arsenal might be a spot where they look to rest some of their top players. The bad news for Arsenal is that Chelsea's bench players could be more talented than their starting 11. The Blues have won their last three matches by a combined score of 6-1. History tells us that these teams trend towards high scores, with each of the last five meetings going over the total. We should see history repeat itself here in today's game.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Manchester United will host Leicester City in a key matchup here in the English Premier League on Tuesday. Leicester is currently holding on in the fourth spot in the table, but West Ham is still in striking distance. Their remaining games are against Man United, Chelsea and Spurs, so points could be hard to come by. Both these teams rank in the Top 3 in the Premier League in scoring, and both previous meetings this season went over the total. I expect this game to be a real cracker.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LA Galaxy.

The Galaxy will be an underdog in El Trafico, despite a slow start for rivals LAFC. So far Javier Hernandez leads the league in scoring with five goals in three matches. The 2019 Golden Boot winner Carlos Vela left in the season opener for LAFC, and his status is questionable heading into tonight's match. Without him LAFC has played back to back draws against Houston and Seattle. I like the Galaxy to earn at least a draw here in this rivalry match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

West Ham has slipped to 6th in the Premier League table after losing consecutive matches to Chelsea and Newcastle. They haven't look good defensively, conceding 11 goals in their last five matches. They have also scored more than their share of goals, scoring 11 goals in those games. Burnley is coming off a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton, and they have scored at least one goal in seven straight matches. We can expect a high score here in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

It's been a great start to the season for Montreal F.C., scoring four goals in a win in their season opener, and then earning a 2-2 draw against Nashville in their second match. The fact that they have conceded two goals in each of their matches should be a concern however. Last year Montreal conceded an Eastern Conference high 43 goals in 23 matches. Columbus failed to score in their season opener, but the Crew finished third in the Eastern Conference last year, scoring 36 goals in 23 matches. We should see plenty of scoring here in this match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Leicester.

Leicester is sitting in third place in the Premier League standings, and they control their own destiny. They only need to string a few wins together at the end of the season in order to punch their ticket to the Champions League next season. Southampton sits in the bottom half of the table, yet safe from relegation. Leicester has scored 20 more goals than Southampton this season, and they have conceded 20 fewer. They have won three of the last four head to head meetings by a combined score of 13-2. Expect Leicester to clinch a spot in Europe with a win here Friday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on PSG +0.5.

I had Chelsea as an underdog yesterday, and I correctly predicted the exact final score, noting that Chelsea would be content with a draw and a final score of 1-1 was quite likely. Here this afternoon I feel the same way about PSG, as Manchester City comes in as a road favorite, when they would also be content to play for a draw. There is also the issue that Manchester City was one of the main players in the European Super League debacle, while Paris was sensible enough to avoid that mess. PSG has scored 11 goals in their last three matches, while Manchester City has scored just three goals in their last three matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Chelsea.

Chelsea would be content to earn a draw here on the road in the first leg of this Champions League tie versus Madrid. The Blues are 2-1-1 in their last four matches, conceding just one goal during that span. Real Madrid has posted a clean sheet in four straight matches, however they failed to score in three of those four games. We should be expecting a close, lowing scoring game and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended 1-1.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Leicester.

Leicester is sitting in third place in the Premier League standings, and they control their own destiny. They only need to string a few wins together at the end of the season in order to punch their ticket to the Champions League next season. Crystal Palace sits near the bottom of the table, but they appear to be relatively safe from relegation.  Leicester has won two of the last three meetings between these teams by a combined score of 6-1, and they are 11-4-2 at home this season. Their last home match was a 3-0 win over West Brom.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

It's been a crazy week for the football world, with the European Super League crashing and burning in a matter of days. The Premier League is winding down, and the race for a top four spot to qualify for Champions League football is tight. Chelsea is sitting in fourth in the table, level on points with West Ham. Liverpool and Tottenham are each two points back. West Ham has been on a tear since getting Jesse Lingard from Manchester United. He's scored nine goals in 10 starts for the Hammers. These two teams played twice in 2020, and both those games went over (2.5). West Ham has gone over in four straight overall.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Leicester City.

With just half a dozen games remaining in Premier League, the battle for a Champions League spot is tight. Only one point separates Leicester, Chelsea and West Ham. West Bromwich Albion is facing relegation, and with a nine point gap between them and Burnley it seems inevitable. Leicester has won the last two meetings between these teams by a combined score of 7-1, and they are 10-4-2 at home this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

The Vancouver Whitecaps will open the season at home (in Salt Lake City) versus the Portland Timbers. Only one team in Major League Soccer (LAFC) scored more goals than Portland last year, and only the San Jose Earthquakes conceded more goals than the Whitecaps last year. The Timbers have scored seven goals in two CCL matches recently, so expect another high scoring game in their MLS Opener.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on PSG.

I am not a fan of PSG and Neymar in particular, and under normal circumstances I would be backing Bayern. I simply can't ignore that Bayern is in a terrible spot here, trailing 3-2 on aggregate, and completely decimated by injuries. Paris at home against a depleted Bayern squad should be a favorite, not a 2-1 underdog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

West Ham and Leicester City are two of the highest scoring teams in the Premier League, so it comes as no surprise that they have gone over in four straight head to head matches. Jesse Lingard has made a huge impact for the Hammers, scoring six goals in just eight matches. Leicester City has scored 11 goals in their last five matches, and they haven't had any trouble scoring on the road. They have scored four goal in their last two away matches versus West Ham.

GL.

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

Bayern Munich has scored 14 goals while winning their last five matches in all competitions. They will miss their leading scorer Robert Lewandowski, and that should open the door for Kingsley Coman. He scored the game winner in last year's Final versus Paris. PSG has scored 67 goals in 31 matches in Ligue 1. They are not at the top of the table however, and they have won just twice in their last five matches overall. Three of the last four meetings between these teams have gone over the total, and I expect to see another high scoring game here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

This Champions League tie between Manchester City and Dortmund appears to be a mismatch, and City is heavily favored to get the victory. We might expect plenty of scoring, with Dortmund really struggling on defense this season. The German club has surrendered 10 goals while winning just once in their last five matches in all competitions. Manchester City has scored 14 goals while winning five straight matches in all competitions. While City has been great defensively, Erling Haaland is always a threat to score in any situation.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over.

Chelsea won the first leg of this Champions League tie by a score of 1-0, but I expect both teams to find the net here in the second leg. Both teams have scored in three of the last four meetings. Madrid is more than capable, sitting top of the table in Spain, and ranking second in La Liga in scoring with 50 goals in 27 matches. There will be no point in this match where both teams are content to play for a draw, as Madrid is trailing on aggregate, and they will be pressing. If they manage to score, it will be game on.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Under.

Goals could be hard to come by here on Saturday when two of the Premier League's bottom feeders meet at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace has only scored three goals in their last five matches. That's still one more than West Bromwich Albion has scored in their last five matches. Only Sheffield United has scored fewer goals this season. West Bomwich Albion has failed to reach the total in five straight matches, and Crystal Palace hasn't scored in any of their last three home matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Barcelona.

PSG comes into the second leg of this Champions League tie with a 4-1 lead on aggregate. This should force Paris to be more conservative, and Barcelona to be far more aggressive. It would be foolish to count out Barcelona, as the last time they were in this position they reversed a four goal aggregate deficit by winning 6-1 in the second leg versus Paris in 2017. I wouldn't count on that today, but I do expect Barcelona to put some pressure on a banged up Paris club.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Over 2.5.

Porto won the first leg of this Champions League tie by a score of 2-1, leaving Juventus a hole to dig out of. Juventus however has been in this position many times before, and with the all time leading scorer in Champions League history, they like their chances. Christiano Ronaldo has scored four goals in his last four starts, so he comes into this match on top form. Porto is the highest scoring team in their domestic league with 47 goals in 22 matches. We should expect both teams to score here in Italy.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on West Ham.

A win for West Ham could put them as high as fourth place in the Premier League table, ahead of Chelsea, Spurs and Everton. The Hammers have been playing well, especially at home where they won their last two matches by a combined score of 5-1 versus Spurs and Sheffield United. Leeds United is in a comfortable spot in the middle of the table, safe from relegation. It's been a successful return to the Premier League, scoring a ton of goals while conceding even more. Only first place Manchester City has a better home record than West Ham so far this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Bayern Munich.

Bayern is still in a class of their own in the Bundesliga, and they will seek a fifth consecutive win over Borrussia Dortmund. They have scored a whopping 67 goals in 23 matches, and no other team in the Bundesliga have scored 50. After a disappointing start, Dortmund is unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions. They sit in fifth place in the table, 13 points behind first place Bayern. Jadon Sancho and Giovanni Reyna will not be fit to play versus Bayern, making it an uphill battle for Dortmund.

GL,

Jesse Schule

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