Austin's QPR look an excellent price to beat Palace on Sunday
With the Premier League fixtures coming thick and fast over Christmas it's a bumper Betting Battle for the editors, with two picks each. Can Joe Dyer retain his lead? Can Dan Thomas end his losing run? Read on for their festive bets...
Round 18 - Boxing Day fixtures
Joe Dyer
Back Over 2.5 Goals in Everton v Stoke @ 2.186/5
Boxing Day, 15:00
Neither of these clubs is playing to their potential this season and they meet on Boxing Day with the home team 11th and Mark Hughes' visitors 13th.
Previously known as defensively strong, the pair have kept a remarkable poor five clean sheets between them (Everton three and Stoke two) so there's every chance both sides could get on the scoresheet on this festive Friday.
And if either gets one I'm pretty confident the other side can get two or more - a root through both teams' results shows plenty of high-scoring affairs. Roberto Martinez has repeatedly shown his liking for goals and attack while Hughes is obviously trying to make Stoke a little more three-dimensional than previous Potters' Premier League incarnations. I also imagine Hughes will be desperate for a reaction after his team were schooled by Chelsea on Monday night.
Basically, while there's every chance of a stinker here, the price on Overs looks a tiny bit generous so in a game between two poor defences and with some quality attackers on show, I'll take a chance on a few net ripplers. Well, more two-and-a-half of them anyway.
Joe Dyer 2014-15 P/L +14.50
Mike Norman
Back Tottenham @ 2.0811/10 to beat Leicester
Boxing Day, 15:00
Tottenham have won nine of their last 13 league games, they have won four of their last six away from home, and in Harry Kane they have a bang in-form striker playing with lots of belief and confidence.
Leicester are in dreadful form, taking just two points from the last 36 available to them and losing nine of their last 10 league games. They are rock bottom of the Premier League table and struggling for goals.
For the above reasons I'm very surprised that Spurs aren't odds-on to win this game. Consider that Southampton - on a losing run - were just 1.84/5 away to in-form Burnley a few weeks ago then hopefully you'll understand why I think Mauricio Pochettino's men are excellent value here.
Spurs have won at Aston Villa, Hull, and Swansea in recent weeks. Are Leicester any better than any of those sides? I say no, and I'm extremely happy to be able to back Tottenham at 2.0811/10 to confirm my belief.
Mike Norman 2014-15 P/L: -16.60
Luke Moore
Back Both Teams to Score in Man United v Newcastle at 1.8910/11
Boxing Day, 15:00
Live on BT Sport 1
They didn't score in the Tyne-Wear derby, but I think Alan Pardew's Newcastle are well worth a goal at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Like the rest of the football watching public, I haven't been hugely impressed with Manchester United's rearguard so far this season and, although they are powerful going forward, they couldn't defend Dunnottar Castle.
That's why I think BTTS is a solid bet here and I'm more than happy with the price. Joe Dyer - I'm coming for you. And after that, Mikey Norman is next...
Luke Moore 2014-15 P/L: -27.60
Dan Thomas
Back Tottenham to beat Leicester 2-1 at 9.617/2
Boxing Day, 15:00
I've followed trends, I've followed stats, I've followed in-form teams and opposed out-of-form ones but I still can't pick a winner. So it's time to bring out the big guns and a Correct Score bet to kick-start my recovery.
As Mike points out in his Boxing Day preview, an incredible seven of Tottenham's last nine Premier League games have ended up with a score of 2-1 to either team so nearly 9/1 on it happening again is tempting enough.
An away win looks more likely than a Leicester victory given the form of either side so I'm going for 1-2 and hoping for a much needed Christmas bonus.
Dan Thomas 2014-15 P/L: -92.70
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Round 19 - Sunday (December 28) fixtures
Joe Dyer
Back 0-0 Correct Score @ 9.5n/a in Aston Villa v Sunderland
Sunday, 15:00
It doesn't take a genius to foresee a low-scoring affair when Villa meet Sunderland, so why not go wild and try to hit a chunky winner for a real festive season boost to the betting bank?!
At the time of writing, Sunderland have already been involved in five nil-all draws this season, four of which came away from home. Costel Pantilimon's introduction to the first team has made the Black Cats a defensive force with the Romanian keeper shutting out the opposition in four of his eight games.
Villa don't have such a strong trend for the goalless games - just two this season - but after 17 Premier League fixtures they are the division's lowest scorers with a paltry 11 goals. Crucially they don't concede many either and have developed a strong backbone in recent weeks. After finally ending their six-game September to November losing streak Paul Lambert's side have given up just four goals sin their last six matches.
Of course it's not ideal to put up this sort of bet in this competition and I'd love to insert a Cash Out disclaimer to accompany my bet, but I can't so it'll just be me praying for a bore-draw when these two meet on Sunday.
Joe Dyer 2014-15 P/L +14.50
Mike Norman
Back QPR @ 2.47/5 to beat Crystal Palace
Sunday, 15:00
I'll keep this one very short and hope that it turns out just as sweet.
QPR are excellent on home soil and score bags of goals, and against an out of form relegation rival I'm surprised that we can back them at 2.47/5 to record another win at Loftus Road.
For the record it's four wins and a draw for Harry Redknapp's men from their last five home games, but what is very impressive is that they've scored at least two goals in each of their last seven matches in front of their own fans, including two against Liverpool and two against Man City.
Palace have won just one of their last 11 league outings and away from home they've scored just one in their last four matches. Given QPR should be good for at least two goals then a home win is a confident selection.
Mike Norman 2014-15 P/L: -16.60
Luke Moore
Back Man City-2 v Burnley at 2.15n/a on the Sportsbook
Sunday, 15:00
I realise that Man City have a problem with a lot of their strikers being injured, but I don't think they'll have a serious problem scoring a few against Burnley.
The Clarets have a reputation of being a pretty solid defensive unit, but that's mostly at home. Away from Turf Moor they've conceded more than a hatful and it's hard to imagine them being able to deal with City's movement and power through the midfield.
Of course, I won't get anything like the price I want on City without a decent handicap, but I'm happy to take -2 at an odds-against price of 2.15n/a.
Luke Moore 2014-15 P/L: -27.60
Dan Thomas
Back a draw in West Ham v Arsenal at 3.7511/4
Sunday, 15:00
This is a slightly risky pick given the respective team's Boxing Day fixtures - Arsenal could well be in confident mood after a probable comfortable win against QPR with the Hammers likely to be coming off a defeat at Stamford Bridge - but with my P/L in such a sorry state I need to take risks and I'm happy to go on the longer form line.
West Ham have won six of the last seven at Upton Park, including impressive victories against Man City and Liverpool, and have a number of players at the top of the game, most notably Stewart Downing who has been a revelation in a central role.
They face an Arsenal side whose away record is patchy, combining disappointing defeats at Stoke and Swansea with good wins at West Brom and Galatasaray, and an ultimately infuriating dropped two points at Anfield last time out.
One suspects both managers will be happy with a point with winnable games coming up afterwards (West Brom and Southampton respectively) and so will I.
Dan Thomas 2014-15 P/L: -92.70
A 10 bet is placed on each selection on Betfair's Exchange. Profits are calculated before commission.
Editors 2014/15 Season P/L
1. Joe Dyer: +14.50
2. Mike Norman: -16.60
3. Luke Moore: -27.60
4. Dan Thomas: -92.70
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