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Soccer

Chelsea vs. Arsenal EPL Preview & Free Picks

Chelsea vs. Arsenal EPL 2011 Betting Picks + Odds

This Saturday we’ll see two bitter, cross town rivals square off in London as Chelsea hosts Arsenal in their first meeting of the season.   

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Soccer

Liverpool vs. Manchester United EPL Free Picks

Liverpool vs. Manchester United EPL 2011 Betting Picks + Odds

A lot of people look at this year’s Manchester United side and see an unstoppable force. But if you look a little closer at their recent play, you will see a side that has at times shown its vulnerability. Something Liverpool will look to take full advantage on Saturday.

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Soccer

Everton vs. Liverpool EPL Free Picks

Everton vs. Liverpool EPL 2011 Betting Picks + Odds

This is the first of two meetings between these two cross town rivals, and if Everton are to get a one up on the Reds, this would be the time to do it.

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Stoke City vs. Manchester United EPL Free Picks

Stoke City vs Man U EPL 2011 Betting Picks + Odds

Well, this one may not look like much on paper. It looks like another sure Man U blowout right? The EPL betting lines sure make it look that way. That may very well be the case, but bettors cannot afford to overlook this Stoke side.

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Soccer

English Premier League Preview | Arsenal vs. Blackburn

Arsenal has kicked off the 2011 year a bit disappointing, sitting in the middle of the table just under a month into the season. Meanwhile, the Blackburn Rovers are occupying the very bottom of the table at the 20 spot, trying to mount some sort of momentous charge to earn respect.

Now the two will square off for the first time this season on Saturday at Ewood Park, with Blackburn still chasing their first win of the season while the Gunners aim to build on their first success of the campaign.

Arsenal vs. Blackburn
Venue/Stadium: Ewood Park in England
Time/Date: 7:45, Saturday, September 17, 2011
Odds From: 5 Dimes
Moneyline: Arsenal -108, Blackburn +361, Draw +254
Spread (ATS): Arsenal -1/2, -111

Blackburn has lost three of their first four games of the 2011 Premier League season, including a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa and 2-1 heart wrenching loss to the Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Rovers defense has been pedestrian through the first four games, and their goal keeper Paul Robinson has conceded seven goals.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defense looked like the escort service in their Aug. 28 matchup against Manchester United, conceding eight goals to the Premier League favorite. However, other than that game, they have only allowed two goals. That match against Manchester United killed the team’s momentum, and the 2-0 loss to Liverpool only added to their frustration.

Goal keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who Arsenal has put all their trust in for the past three years, has shown yet again why people laugh at the fact that the is still a starting between the sticks in the highest level of British football.

If Arsenal is ever to get over the hump, they still need to find an adequate replacement for Szczesny.
In the meantime, midfielder David Dunn has been a fierce and intimidating presence for Blackburn, but has failed to score a goal all year. He is exactly what the team needs if they are going to avoid the drop come year’s end, but he has to play up to his potential, and he hasn’t done that so far.

The Rovers have been beat up by Arsenal since making it into the Premier League, having lost nine times at home to the Gunners, the most times they’ve lost on their own ground than any other Premier League club.

Both side are kicking off their season at the lowest point in their Premier League history, and now will get a chance to redeem themselves against the other. Both also desperately need this win, as they have some tough matches down the road, and this would be a perfect stepping point for either team to get a push in the right direction.

Matt’s Prediction: Arsenal 1, Rovers 0 – History doesn’t lie, well, most of the time, and the Rovers have been on the bad side of it against Arsenal, especially in their home stadium. I don’t expect this to change as the Rovers have looked like the are destined for the cut since the season kicked off.

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Soccer

Wigan Athletic: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Wigan Athletic 2011 Preview

Wigan Athletic was a popular dark-horse pick to finish the season in the upper half of the table last year. Unfortunately, they never showed up and finished the season in 16th place with a record of 9-14-15, barely escaping relegation.

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Soccer

Wolverhampton: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Wolves 2011 Preview

The Wolverhampton Wanderers finished the 2010-11 season on a high note beating out relegation by just one point on the last day of the season to finish in 17th place. They now return, trying to improve upon that in their third year in the Premier League.

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West Brom: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – West Bromwich 2011 Preview

The only rational goal West Bromwich could have for this season would be to avoid the cut that would send them packing back down to the Championship League.

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Soccer

Tottenham: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Tottenham 2011 Preview

Following a superb 2009 season that saw the Hotspur finish fourth on the Premiership table. The Lilywhites dropped to a disappointing fifth place finish, six points behind as resurgent Manchester City in 2010.

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Soccer

Norwich City: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Norwich City 2011 Preview

Norwich City will get another shot at a Premier League title after a 6 year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010, winning an automatic promotion.

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Soccer

Queens Park Rangers: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Q.P.R 2011 Preview

The Rangers ended their season on a high note finishing first in the Football League Championship last June.

Now they face their biggest challenge yet, returning to the Premiership for the first time in 15 years.

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Soccer

Stoke City: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Stoke City 2011 Preview

Stoke City is indeed a team on the rise, and they seem intent on improving out of the middle of the table. The were resilient last year with the high point of their season coming by way of a 3-1 victory over recurrent top table finishers Chelsea. They were tough and never gave up, which shows why they managed draws against several of the best Premier Leagues teams last year.

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Sunderland: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Sunderland 2011 Preview

There are a lot of reasons for those around Sunderland to be excited for the year after finishing tenth overall in the Premier League just a season ago. The Black Cats have high aspirations for the coming season, but have lost a couple of key players that will hamper their chances.

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Soccer

Swansea City: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Swansea City 2011 Preview

Becoming the first Welsh side to play in the Premiership, Swansea City joins the top flight having played in the old Football League First Division between 1981 and 1983, finishing sixth in their first season.

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Soccer

Newcastle: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Newcastle 2011 Preview

If there is one thing you can count on Newcastle providing year in and year out, it’s entertainment. A storied club with a historical past, the Toon are always a fun club to follow with all of its controversy.

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Soccer

Manchester City: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

English Premier League – Man. City 2011 Preview

Manchester City has consistently year after year remained in the shadow of its cross-town rival, and for some very obvious reasons. But new ownership changed that with deep pockets and gutsy player transfers that catapulted the Blues to a third place finish last season. But will City get the results from this season’s crop of players?