Gameweek 1 was quite the treat for punters with the likes of Huddersfield Town and Burnley securing huge underdog wins, both Manchesters emphatically getting it done and Arsenal storming back against the 2015-16 champs.
Andrew Avery and Rob Trites have combed the board at online shop Sportsbook to find their favorite plays for the second week of Premier League action.
Sides
Andrew: Huddersfield Town (+135)
I went with the Tottenham chalk in Week 1 and hit that, but I need to find a better payout this week so I’m going with Huddersfield to defeat Newcastle. Plus, that price of +135 for a team in its first home game that won 3-0 away last week is awfully appealing.
Trites called the massive upset over Crystal Palace at +380 in our video segment last week, so I am riding the coattails a tad, but this side looked exponentially better than a Newcastle team that looked dreadful against Tottenham on home turf in the Sportsbook weekend.
Beyond Christian Atsu, Newcastle looked lifeless in its 2-0 defeat to Spurs. The Magpies had just 27 percent of the ball and managed just six shots at home. Sure, Tottenham is the vastly superior side and Jonjo Shelvey was shown a straight red, but that is still dreadful for a home game.
Easy pickings backing the Terriers here.
Rob: Manchester United -1.5 (+110)
Did any team look as good as Man United in Gameweek 1? The answer to that question is an emphatic no. The Red Devils dominated play from the Sportsbook whistle and while a hastily thrown together West Ham side didn’t test the true mettle of this squad, it offered little resistance against Mourinho’s revamped outfit.
Swansea City, a team down its best player with the sale of Gylfi done and dusted, could offer Man U even less resistance than the Hammers did and a two-goal winning margin should be a very attainable task for Lukaku and company.
Nemanja Matic proved to be the addition to bring it all together in the middle third for the Manchester club and it’s in that spot where I expect the Swans to be heavily outclassed on Saturday with Paul Pogba freed up to do the things he was celebrated for during his time at Juventus.
Totals
Andrew: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace OVER 3 (-110)
So long as these sides aren’t fatigued from taking the ball out of the back of their goal last week, this should be another easy hit.
As mentioned in my Huddersfield breakdown, Palace conceded three times to its newly promoted opponent. Liverpool also conceded three times but managed three of its own to draw 3-3 with Watford.
Liverpool doesn’t have a problem scoring so there is no issue there. But Palace could be without one of its shining stars in attack, Wilfried Zaha. Palace still has weapons in Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend, but Zaha will be missed.
Still, my gut says this is a gimme.
Rob: Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea UNDER 2.5 (-105)
Our first London Derby of the season comes this Sunday when a depleted Chelsea side takes on Tottenham at Wembley Stadium. Given a few factors, I suspect we’re in for a cagey affair.
Factor 1: Tottenham’s inability to score at Wembley. Everyone remembers Spurs’ lackluster performance in their brief Champions League campaign last year where they had enormous trouble finding the back of the net against some leaky backlines. I may be harping on this subplot but I’m worried that Tottenham’s failures at Wembley bleed into a season where the club is forced to play all of its home matches at the famed stadium.
Factor 2: Chelsea can’t afford to drop its first two fixtures. Losing to Burnley at Stamford Bridge is (obviously) not how Antonio Conte pictured Chelsea beginning its title defense. Expect a side that’s missing three of its top choice 11 to play not to concede on Sunday.
Factor 3: Tottenham prides itself on defending on home soil. While White Hart Lane was an impenetrable fortress, Spurs conceded just nine times at home a year ago and that’s not something I expect to change much on the hallowed ground at Wembley.
I like Tottenham to take three points in a one-to-nil victory.
Props
Andrew: Riyad Mahrez to Score Anytime (+225)
I’m a sucker for the “to score anytime” prop. I didn’t hit Manolo Gabbiadini last week, so I’m right back on the horse this week taking Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez at +225.
The Foxes are at home against newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion and considering they put up three against Arsenal and their shambolic back line, I think they find the back of the net this week and Mahrez will be a massive factor.
The tricky winger played all 90 minutes in the heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Arsenal and notched an assist. He bagged six goals last season and will be attacking the left side of Brighton’s defense wide-eyed for chances at goal.
Leicester has scoring in Jamie Vardy and the rest of an impressive strike force, but I like Mahrez to take the ball up the right flank, skin defenders as he cuts inside to get the ball on his left foot and curl one in, and I love the price.
Rob: Romelu Lukaku to Score Anytime (-110)
Lukaku secured a tidy brace in his Premier League debut for Manchester United and it looks like the goals are going to come fast and furious for the Belgian Beast.
United’s play in the attacking third in the opener was as piercing as it was beautiful and the Red Devils managed to outshoot the Hammers 22-9. Lukaku needs only one chance to bulge the net and it’s likely that a Swansea side that conceded 34 goals at home a season ago obliges.
If -110 is too chalky, try a Lukaku to score first wager at +300 or maybe you think he scores more than once. Lukaku to score a brace or better is being offered at +400.
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