WEST HAM vs TOTTENHAM (EPL)

i think tottenham have way too much quality for west ham to handle. west ham have had a good run of sorts, but i don't see them winning spurs. they still miss dean ashton and kieron dyer, and i think tottenham will be even more motivated for this one as they lost the last game at home.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on tottenham level @ 1.95 = $19.50

NANTES vs LYON (LIGUE ONE)

i think lyon are a terrific bet to win this one. they haven't won in 2 games in the league, and that represents a slump for a side the class of lyon. nantes have been poor all season, and i really don't see much of a problem for lyon to win here.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on lyon -0.5 @ 1.80 = $9.00

CAEN vs RENNES (LIGUE ONE)

rennes have been proving themselves to be worthy challengers to lyon's crown this season. marseille were touted as favourites to challenge lyon, but they seem to lack the mental toughness required to keep up with a team like lyon. rennes have been in smashing form, and i think level ball is a good bet for them against caen, who haven't been much good of late.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on rennes level ball @ 1.90 = $9.50

CAGLIARI vs PALERMO (SERIE A)

palermo have a good team, but have not done very well in recent matches, up until the 3-1 victory over ac milan. i expect them to be able to bring their confidence to cagliari, who have over-achieved in recent games, where they are currently on a 3-match unbeaten streak. they are also damn strong at home, beating teams like fiorentina, bologna, and sampdoria in recent matches. however, i think palermo's stronger squad will break their proud home record.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on palermo level @ 2.075 = $10.375

HULL CITY vs MIDDLESBROUGH (EPL)

hull have done very well since coming up, and it's all down to good tactics and a few good players here and there, like daniel cousin and kamil zayatte. i emphasise "few". i believe that at the end of the day, the quality of players in the squad will decide matches more than good management and tactics. for all the knocking of the galacticos of real madrid, they did deliver at times, simply because their players were too good. middlesbrough have a very good squad, and should have no problems whatsoever dealing with what hull city can throw at them. however, they are inconsistent, and that's the only thing bad about boro. i still think they'll at least get a draw here.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on middlesbrough +0/0.5 @ 1.82 = $9.10

DERBY COUNTY vs CRYSTAL PALACE (COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP)

derby county are a good team, but they find themselves in the wrong half of the coca-cola championship, as they have suffered from injuries to key members in their squad. tonight, they absolutely have to win, as they face crystal palace, a mediocre side who have over-achieved in their recent games. derby have not won in 3 league games, while crystal palace haven't lost in 3. it seems fairly straightforward that derby have to get back on track tonight, and i fancy them to win this one, and i definitely don't see them losing, so level ball is a rather good bet tonight.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on derby county level @ 1.775 = $17.75

ALBIREX NIIGATA vs GAMBA OSAKA (J-LEAGUE)

albirex niigata could drop a division today, if they lose at home to gamba osaka, and other results don't go their way. gamba osaka have nothing to play for. as such, i'm backing albirex niigata to put on a performance of their lives to keep their j-league status, and i do not see them losing at home. besides, they haven't won in 4 matches, and the run has to end somewhere. now's the best time.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on albirex niigata level @ 1.925 = $9.625

MULTIPLIER OF THE WEEK

Middlesbrough (0/0.5)@ 1.820
Portsmouth (0)@ 1.950
Tottenham (0)@ 1.950

$5 pays $34.60

middlesbrough (0/0.5) @ 1.82
man city (0) @ 1.98
liverpool (-0.5/1) @ 1.99
sunderland (+2) @ 2.10

$5 pays $75.29

and two more just for kicks. 2 bucks only

birmingham (-0.5/1) @ 1.83
reading (-0.5) @ 2.080
derby (0) @ 1.775
leverkusen (-0.5/1) @ 1.975
marseille (-0.5) @ 1.73
rennes (0) @ 1.90
lyon (-0.5) @ 1.80
napoli (-0.5/1) @ 1.825
hearts (0) @ 1.95
atletico madrid (-0/0.5) @ 1.90

$1 pays $533.83

derby (0) @ 1.775
rennes (0) @ 1.90
hearts (0) @ 1.95
tottenham (0) @ 1.95
central coast mariners (0) @ 1.80
melbourne victory (-0/0.5) @ 1.81
atletico madrid (-0/0.5) @ 1.90

$1 pays $79.38

NAPOLI vs SIENA (SERIE A)

Napoli are still unbeaten at home and they should be too strong for a mediocre Siena side. Furthermore, they have had 2 losses and a draw in their last 3 games, something that they will look to change once they return to San Paolo.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Napoli -0.5/1 @ 1.825 = $9.12

CHIEVO vs ROMA (SERIE A)

The return of talisman Totti has seen Roma go on a 4 game win streak, beating the likes of Lazio and Fiorentina. Chievo, on the other hand, overturned a 6 straight losses streak with a win over overachieving Udinese. Coming into this game, both sides will need the points as Roma currently lay 14th - 16 points behind leaders Inter - and Chievo are bottom at 20th and need the points to escape relegation. However, Roma have been playing very well and are probably the more confident of the two and should be able to edge it by a goal.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Roma -0.5/1 @ 2.020 = $10.10

MAN UTD vs SUNDERLAND (EPL)

Sunderland are in trouble. Their strikers are misfiring, their defence is very leaky and their manager just walked out on them. Manchester United, on the other hand, have selection problems because Tevez just scored a hat-trick in midweek in a bid to claim the first team place. Kieran Richardson's absence removes a very attacking threat from Sunderland's lineup and I don't see them getting a result from this, especially with all their unsettling off the pitch problems.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Man Utd -2 @ 1.800 = $9.00

well well well. once again we see a very one-sided betting pattern when it comes to manu. everyone in the world favours manu, and with good reason. they are a fantastic attacking side with a solid defence to boot. however, sunderland are not as bad as their losing run suggests. on paper, they look rather good. it's just the fact that roy keane lost the dressing room and the respect of the players, which made it very difficult for them to find any sort of consistency at all. kenwyne jones and djibril cisse will cause no end of problems for the united defence if they can click together up front, and overall, i see the 2-goal start they get as very attractive as i really do not think they will be hammered. they have been written off on all fronts, and imagine how pissed off you'll be if you were a player there and noone gave you a chance at even getting a point at old trafford. it's incredible that in such a tight league, anyone is given a two-goal start, so i'll lap this one up with joy.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on sunderland +2 @ 2.10 = $10.50

NEWCASTLE vs STOKE CITY (EPL)

Newcastle are a rejuvenated side as they seek to distance themselves from the relegation zone. Joe Kinnear has seen his contract extended till the end of the season and they seem to have sorted out all their problems (temporarily). Stoke are a shit squad and they do not have Kitson coming into this match, so I think Newcastle will win this one easily.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Newcastle -0.5/1 @ 1.975 = $9.87

FULHAM vs MAN CITY (EPL)

Fulham have been enjoying a great run of late, winning 2 games at home before drawing 2 away games to Liverpool and Aston Villa. This run is too good for a side of their quality, and being a home game, they will be forced to attack instead of parking the bus like they did against Villa and Liverpoo. City will win this one as they can counterattack well and it looks like Robinho is back. Level ball on City looks like a good bet to me.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Man City level ball @ 1.980 = $9.90

too right. manchester city look a safe bet on level ball, as fulham have rather over-achieved, in my opinion. they are a good team, with great form, holding teams like liverpool and aston villa to 0-0 draws. that is by no means easy, but i feel that man city's form hasn't been good of late and i fancy them to turn the corner here. besides, robinho, micah richards, and shaun wright-phillips are listed as "doubtful". but you don't really expect me to believe that eh? haha. in fact, that strengthens my belief that all 3 will play, and lead man city to victory.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on Man City level ball @ 1.980 = $9.90

MULTIPLIER OF THE DAY

VVV Venlo v MVV Maastricht (vvv venlo win @ 1.44)
Aston Villa v MSK Zilina (zilina +1/1.5 @ 2.00)
Valencia v Club Brugge (valencia win @ 1.44)
Wolfsburg v Portsmouth (portsmouth +0.5 @ 1.825)

$5 on above multiplier = $38.05

ADELAIDE UTD vs WELLINGTON PHOENIX (A-LEAGUE)

wellington phoenix have somehow managed to win 3 in a row, so i guess their run has to end somewhere. adelaide united slipped up in their previous game, but i see them returning to normal form here.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on adelaide united -0.5/1 @ 1.89 = $9.45

VVV VENLO vs MVV MAASTRICHT (DUTCH EERSTE DIVISIE)

vvv venlo are top of the table, and they defeated fortuna sittard last time out, to resume normal service in the league, after a surprise 3-2 defeat at the hands of helmond sport, who are over-achieving this year, and may actually find themselves back in the eredivisie next season. slight digression there, but anyway back to this match, i think mvv maastricht will not be able to go 3 matches undefeated, and that's why i'm backing vvv venlo to record back-to-back wins and defeat mvv.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on vvv venlo -1 @ 1.800 = $9.00

BURNLEY vs ARSENAL (LEAGUE CUP)

arsenal will of course, field their youngsters in tonight's game against burnley. however, it's fair to say that their youngsters are more than a match for any team in the country, as they easily whacked sheffield united 6-0 and then made light work of a first-choice wigan side 3-0. they play with confidence, and the fact that this is the only chance they get to play competitive football means that not only are they better than burnley on paper, they will also be mentally geared to kick on to the semi-finals. this is why i think that arsenal are worth backing tonight, and i fancy them to beat burnley, who will undoubtedly try to make it tough for arsenal at turf moor.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on arsenal -0.5/1 @ 1.96 = $9.80

Read above. I would fear if it were the Arsenal first team that plays because as we've seen after their inspired win against Manchester United, they might become overconfident and expect to trounce Burnley without breaking a sweat. However, the young ones will play, and they will be itching to prove their worth and challenge for a first team spot, so I think Arsenal should win this one without any problems at all.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Arsenal -0.5/1 @ 1.96 = $9.80

MULTIPLIER OF THE DAY

lens vs sedan (lens -0.5/1 @ 1.75)
banik ostrava v jablonec (banik ostrava win @ 1.50)
reading v coventry (reading -1 @ 1.85)

$5 pays $24.28

READING vs COVENTRY (COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP)

reading have not won in two games already, losing surprisingly at home to southampton, and then following it up with a draw at cardiff. bikey was sent off in that game, so michael duberry will replace him. i think reading have too much quality for coventry to handle, and should be able to win this one.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on reading to win @ 1.50 = $7.50

LIVERPOOL vs WEST HAM (EPL)

this is a tough match-up to predict as you just don't know which pool side will show up, the one that struggled to a draw with stoke city, or the one that convincingly beat manchester united and chelsea. west ham too, are highly inconsistent. what i do know is that both teams have been short on goals recently, and with torres out, i think punters will be expecting goals to be in short supply. however, i feel that runs will have to end, and i see there being goals tonight.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on over 2.5 goals @ 1.85 = $9.25

HISTON vs LEEDS UTD (FA CUP)

i've never heard of histon before. they are a conference national side, and they are flying in their league, scoring goals for fun and racking up top spot. leeds utd, on the other hand, are 7th in league one, and are a little inconsistent. however, jermaine beckford is in hot form, scoring 6 in his last 3 games, and i think that leeds have too much proven quality to slip up at histon.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on leeds utd -0.5/1 @ 1.80 = $9.00

ATALANTA vs LAZIO (SERIE A)

stefan radu and cristian ledesma return for lazio against atalanta, who will also have christian vieri back for selection. lazio have gone off the boil recently, losing to roma, and then managing a home draw with genoa. however, those two teams are quality, something that atalanta lack. i think lazio getting a start on the market is highly generous, and should definitely be taken.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on lazio +0/0.5 @ 1.70 = $8.50

CHELSEA vs ARSENAL (BPL)

chelsea might miss joe cole for this one, as he sustained an injury in bordeaux. definitely missing out is didier drogba, and long-term absentee michael essien. this is important, as i feel the only players stopping arsenal from winning chelsea were drogba and essien. especially drogba. drogba has single-handedly won chelsea games against arsenal numerous times, and his suspension means that arsenal now have the best chance of grabbing at least a point off chelsea. nasri, adebayor, and sagna might be back, so it's all looking good for arsenal, and i think that they won't lose at stamford bridge.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on arsenal +0.5/1 @ 1.83 = $18.30

MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED (BPL)

one of two absolute blockbuster games tonight sees the new-look manchester city try and prove themselves against the big boys from the other half of manchester. berbatov's return means united will probably be more inventive, unlike in recent games where they looked rather devoid of ideas, not a criticism usually levelled at united. manchester city have already won 2 on the trot, and have looked rather impressive, but it's unlikely they'll win 3 on the trot, and i just think that united will want this win more than city, after losing both derbies last season.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on manchester united -0.5 @ 1.91 = $9.55

NEWCASTLE JETS vs ADELAIDE UNITED (A-LEAGUE)

newcastle jets are rock bottom of the a-league and now they face high-flying adelaide united. they haven't won in 4 games, but i don't see that changing as the gulf in quality is all too obvious. cassio and sarkies are no match for anything the newcastle jets can put up, so i think adelaide will add to their only away win all season in newcastle.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on adelaide united -0/0.5 @ 1.950 = $9.75