MOST English teams will play their second game in three days on Sunday and that makes picking winners fraught with danger.
No one should go daft with stakes or big accumulators because the only certainty is there will be some surprise results.
Clubs with bigger than average squads should do best so the likes of Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini and Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho should cope.
Having been written off a couple of weeks ago City have bounced back into the race with a series of wins and should get it all of their own way against Burnley.
The champions blew away West Brom with no strikers and are a biggest 1-6 with the likes of bet365 and William Hill and that will tempt big hitters only.
Steven Jovetic is set to return up front and a better bet could be City to win to nil at 5-6 with Paddy Power against a side without a goal in five out of seven on the road. Pellegrini’s men have dealt fine without the likes of Sergio Aguero up front and Yaya Toure has netted in his last three home outings as well as at the Hawthorns. He is 1-1 at Paddy Power to score.
Chelsea face a tougher task at Southampton but at least Mourinho has one up on rival boss Ronald Koeman who hasn’t experienced this type of double holiday header.
Saints’ run of defeats is over but I can’t see them troubling a Blues side who impressed with the way they dismissed the challenge of Stoke then West Ham.
Three Premier League games in seven days is a huge test but Mourinho knows the importance of this spell and I’ll be on Chelsea at 5-6 with William Hill. Cesc Fabregas scored the clincher at Stoke and is 7-2 at McBookie to net.
Biggest game tomorrow is Spurs v Man United and it’s one that usually produces goals – with both scoring in four of the last five at White Hart Lane. United’s winning run was ended at Aston Villa and although they bounced back to beat Newcastle with ease the best I can see here is a score draw for Louis van Gaal’s men and that pays 7-2 at McBookie.
West Ham look massive at 13-5 with bet365 to beat Arsenal at home but the derby comes on the back of that defeat at Chelsea. The Hammers have been the team of the season and could rumble up the Gunners as Stoke did.
Arsenal have a fine record at Upton Park but this is the best West Ham have been for years and I’m on them draw no bet at 17-11 with 888sport against a side who will be missing the banned Olivier Giroud.
QPR were unlucky to lose to the Gunners after Giroud saw red but should have better luck at home to Crystal Palace. The Eagles sacked Neil Warnock after Friday's beating by Southampton and although managerless sides are always a threat I'll be on Rangers who have still won all 17 of their points at Loftus Road.
They are a best 7-5 at bet365 and BetVictor and what about Charlie Austin at 5-1 with Paddy Power to break the deadlock. Austin hit a hat-trick in his side's previous home game against West Brom and followed up with a consolation from the spot at the Emirates.
Aston Villa were unlucky not to take something from Swansea while Sunderland were losing at home to Hull.
The sides meet at Villa Park and apart from looking like a low scorer it's a tough match to call. Villa may just have the edge but if they're to win it's a likely a goal will come from Christian Benteke so take the Belgian at 17-10 with BetVictor to score at any time.
I'm struggling to call the other three games – Hull v Leicester, Newcastle v Everton and Stoke v West Brom so will leave them alone for the moment.
In the Championship Norwich look best bets at Reading at 5-4 with McBookie and BetVictor and in League One MK Dons at home to Walsall and Doncaster at Peterborough are two of the teams I want to be on. I also like Swindon at home to a Port Vale side they've netted 10 against in the last two playings of this fixture.
The League Two card is tricky but Luton at home to Portsmouth and Hartlepool at home to Morecambe could be worth backing.
Recommended Bets
Man City
Chelsea (2.05pm)
(11-10, BetVictor, McBookie)
West Ham draw no bet
(17-11, 888sport)
QPR
(7-5, bet365, BetVictor)
Benteke to score
(17-10, BetVictor, McBookie)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Bournemouth look a good bet
marco millwall have won last 6 against bournmouth at home.
Norwich 6/5 not a bad bet
What’s the script with form this weekend? Are players suffering from a Christmas hangover? … or is it just me bangin my head against a wall? And a Stennie stone wall at that while they roll over the league leaders 2-0… away!!!
Now in desperate need of some Christmas spirit (and need the cash to pay for it!), so hoping Santa belatedly delivers the following… Southend, MK Dons, Swindon, Ipswich and Hull City.
MK Dons
I hear you MrF but I’ve got to do a bonkers bet lol, one day it just might come in lol
I’ll be on a man city and Chelsea double as per your trip, but being a gooner I’ve got to go with Arsenal and hope you are wrong on this one lol sorry
Man city
Chelsea
Arsenal
Qpr
Mk dons
Swindon
Bournemouth
Kidderminster
Bromley
Hull city
Stoke
Mr Fixit, just to say I’ve just read your friends at welovebetting and one of their bets for tomorrow is Doncaster to beat Peterborough double chance at 4/5 and after reading the write up I have to say it stands a chance. I know they were in your thoughts but just passing on their view as two heads are better than one.
Middlesbrough away to Blackburn 2/1 seems to big to me
A fivefold bts for me tomorrow
Crawley
Sheffield UTD
Bradford
Wolves
Accrington
Around 20/1
Noticed two guys have already said they’re backing my team Hull. Like I pre-warned those backing Sunderland against us previously, I’ll do the same in reverse this time. We’re still missing key players such as Robertson, Huddlestone, Dawson and Diame. Not to mention Chester is also suspended and Leicester to be fair to them have been a lot better than results suggest from what I’ve seen. Very, very rarely has my team ever won 2 on the bounce in the 3 and half seasons in our Premier League history so I urge caution. Both teams will be fighting for their lives, and how I would love to get one over our ex-boss Pearson but I reckon this will be a draw.
The double should be Man City to win to nil Mr F? Both to win pays 11/10.
raaljaca, not even sure why I typed 11-5 – actually I do know. It’s because I’m knackered. Need to put my feet up with a beer – it’s just a win double at as you say 11-10.
Danny I hear you and you obviously are more informed than me, it being your team, but did you not beat Sunderland with the same players ? Plus you’re playing at home after beating Sunderland 3-1 away, take into account Leicester lost, at home, and their away record is the second worse in the league, winning 1 and losing 8, 4 goals for 22 against, Hull to win or Hull DNB seems reasonable
unless the odds have changed west ham are not 5/1 to beat arsenal
Aura, apologies – that was the price on Tuesday when I did my Record tips. Now a best 13-5 so draw no bet is trimmed from 17-10 to 17-11.
With you on that Shah!… was tempted by QPR but reckon Hull are the safer bet.
Man city -1
Spurs – utd. Btts
West Ham – arsenal btts
Qpr
Mk Dons
Swindon
Luton
Bournemouth to win btts
Hull should win. They rested their 1st team strikers for this game. They may miss a few players but how many games have they won when they were available in the last few weeks?
As for Leicester, they are a team who simply lacks quality, that’s why they can play well but can’t convert them into wins.
recommend caution on chelsea winning. x2 value i noticed has increased rapidly from 1.20 to 1.24. snc we have to good scoring side my picks will be btts and over 2.5 . costa to score. the man city burnley gave should be a low scoring 1. take a chance @ + 2.25 ball burnley.
Shah and co, while I’m very chuffed your placing confidence in my team you have to take into account all the factors. We have always been Sunderland’s bogey team, and it will be pretty much be the same team minus Chester and with the addition of Livermore. v07 – yes we rested Jelavic and Hernandez but if you actually have seen any of Leicester’s games they have been so unfortunate at times. They do have enough going forward to hurt us, especially with Chester and Dawson out and Davies being below par this season. Ulloa will be a thorn, he scored for Brighton against us in the cup last season and his physical presence will be a nightmare for our back 3 or 4 depending which formation Bruce depends to go with. One positive for the home team though is Leicester are without Vardy, I genuinely hope you guys are right but I reckon it’ll be a draw, but if we come away with the 3 points I’ll gladly be wrong!
anyone thinking of backing Bournemouth at millwall beware , millwalls record at home against them is really good.my bet for tomorrow is.
QPR,bolton and mid/bro . GL to all .like I said check millwalls record at home to Bournemouth .millwall have won last 6 at home.
ARCHIE, it’s a warning but sometimes you have to go with form ahead of stats. This is probably the best Bournemouth side there’s been.
No place for negative comments . These are solid tips given for no cost. From experience the Scottish matches are always difficult to call. Thanks mr fixit for the good wins yesterday , this has helped cover today’s losses!! Unfortunately the beer will have to wait for the time being. But your time, analysis and publications are appreciated by true fans . Thanks for sharing your wisdom
AWAY TREBLE – RETURNS 8/1
Southampton v CHELSEA 17/20
– Chelsea in great form and will win this one to stay top.
Millwall v BORNEMOUTH 10/11
– Millwall won only 1 of last 5, conceding 14 goals, and lost 6-1 last game.
– Bournemouth scored 15 goals in last 4 games, in great form going into this game.
Inverness v ABERDEEN 6/4
– Inverness lost last 2 games, Scored 0 Conceded 5
– Aberdeen won last 3 games all to nil and scored 6 goals
Winner takes 2nd place and cant see aberdeen losing this one, they have a bit of monentum and inverness are going the other way, great price.
Bournmouth Mk Dons. Norwich. Chelsea. Man c -2. Pays 26/1 @ William hill Also will be on john b tips merry christmas everyone good for today
Any thoughts on crewe v Preston
Blackpool, Cardiff, man utd & Newcastle all to win @54/1 with bet365! Merry Christmas!
shah i think crew will run out of steam today agaist a good preston side who do well away from home. like the look of luton bournemouth kidderminster today tho, derby and ipswich on tusday look good. luton bournemouth kidderminster derby ipswich super single bournemouth or luton good luck everyone
Birmingham to win 3-4 goals in game 6/1 winner
Birmingham win btts 7/1 winner good start lets hope it carries on .
going for qpr win and 3-4 goals in game pays 5/1 GL