It’s the final week of the BullorBear Premier League prediction game on JOE, so it sh*t or bust time for the big money.
BullorBear Leagues is a completely new online football betting game, which allows players to set up and run their own personal football predictions league.
You go up against your mates to take down the pot and all the bragging rights that go with it!
Your friends, your game, your league! www.bullorbearleagues.com
With the top of the table, and a very handy cash boost, just a couple of correct results away, here’s the picks I’m making in a bid to do JOE Towers proud and prove we really do know more about football than you.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Ian Holloway walked away this week, on the back of a serious thumping from Fulham. As I write, no new gaffer has been appointed and Arsenal roll into town in a bad mood after losing their unbeaten run to Dortmund in midweek. In short, this could get really ugly for the home side, especially if the Gunners nab an early goal or two.
JOE verdict: Away win
Aston Villa v Everton
Villa hung in pretty well against Spurs last week without ever really looking like winning the game. The beast that is Christian Benteke should be fit to start though, and that is a huge boost. As for Everton, they are a bit leaky at the back but they are still managing to pick up points, and have only lost once all season. An entertaining stalemate I suspect.
JOE verdict: Draw
Liverpool v West Brom
I think this one is really tough to call. Liverpool have slipped a little from their early season form and their inability to string a full 90 minutes together has cost them, most notably last weekend against 10-man Newcastle. West Brom have been superb away from home this term, beating Manchester United and drawing their other three. That said, we think they have to slip up sometime, so we’re backing the Reds for a morale-boosting home win
JOE verdict: Home win
Manchester United v Stoke
Twelve months ago we would have pencilled this down as a home banker. Now, with Alex Ferguson and Tony Pulis gone, the game is much harder to predict. Last week’s late capitulation to a powerful Southampton side was not a huge surprise but it puts further doubt in our mind about David Moyes’ team right now. That said, Stoke under Mark Hughes are no Southampton and they have scored only twice away from home in four games. A narrow, nervy win for the Red Devils then.
JOE verdict: Home win
Norwich v Cardiff
I think Norwich are much better than their league position (18th) says they are. They were quite good for long periods against Arsenal last week and if they can shore up things at the back, they will glide away from relegation trouble. Cardiff, one place above the Canaries in the table, are going to live and die on their home form, which so far has been decent. Away they are not so good. I’m backing Chris Hughton to bag all three points here in what shouldn’t be billed as, but probably will be, as a relegation six-pointer.
JOE verdict: Home win
Southampton v Fulham
I picked the Saints to get the draw at Old Trafford last week and they didn’t let me down. They are an incredibly hard team to play against, they press you really hard, defensively they are very strong and they have more than one decent goalscorer. In short, they deserve to be in sixth in the table. Fulham may have bamboozled Palace with some wonder goals on Monday, but lightning won’t strike twice.
JOE verdict: Home win
Sunderland v Newcastle
A tasty derby, where you might expect form to go out the window. The bookies can’t separate them but Sunderland looked so fragile last week at Swansea that we fear they may melt under the home crowd’s gaze. Newcastle, no great shakes in fairness, may have that extra sprinkling of quality.
JOE verdict: Away win
Chelsea v Man City
The game of the week between the two teams currently the favourites for the title. Chelsea are insanely good at home, even if Jose is still ironing out the kinks in their play. Man City are also best described as ‘uneven’, fluctuating between slickness and paucity from one minute to the next. Manuel Pelligrini’s side had been poor travellers but they handled West Ham pretty easily last week at Upton Park, and they beat CSKA Moscow too. A third away trip on the bounce is tough, but with Sergio Aguero the hottest striker in the league, I think they will upset Mourinho’s men.
JOE verdict: Away win
Swansea v West Ham
Swansea conceded a late sickener in the Europa League last night and we wonder if they can pick themselves up for this one less than 72 hours later. They did win their first home game in ages against Sunderland but the Hammers have enough about them to nick a point here. I don’t expect this to be a thriller either.
JOE verdict: Draw
Tottenham v Hull
This looks like a big ask for Hull but then you consider that Spurs had a match in Moldova on Thursday night and the playing field may be levelled up a bit. Robbie Brady should be fit to start for the Tigers and the injury to Danny Graham may be a blessing rather than a hindrance. That said, Tottenham have a host of players who didn’t kick a ball in Moldova and I think this might be just the sort of game that is decided by a solitary Roberto Soldado goal.
JOE verdict: Home win
