This is a 4* play on Colombia.

This Colombia squad is riding a 26 match unbeaten streak, and they are a heavy favorite in their quarterfinal match versus Panama. This is a mismatch, as Panama advanced by beating a Bolivia team that ranks 84th in the FIFA World Rankings. Panama faced Uruguay in their first match of this tournament, and they lost by a score of 3-1. The lone goal came in the 4th minute of added time in a game that they were trailing 3-0. We can expect Colombia to go ahead early, and the more Panama pushes for an equalizer the more likely Colombia will punish them on the counter attack.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Palace.

Aston Villa has clinched a Champions League spot for the first time in over 40 years, and that sets them up for a let down here in an away match on the final day of the regular season. Crystal Palace comes into their final match undefeated in their last seven games. During that span they have wins over Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham. The home team has a lot more to play for, and the last time Aston Villa played at Crystal Palace they lost by a score of 3-1.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on VAN.

Austin has just four wins in their last 21 away matches, while Vancouver is +18 in goal differential at home since the beginning of last season. Vancouver is 3-1-1 in their last five matches versus Austin, and they are 3-0 in their last three home games in this series. A win tonight would put Vancouver in 1st place in the Western Conference standings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on Forrest.

Nottingham Forest has plenty to play for on Saturday, as they are currently tied on points with Luton Town, clear of the relegation zone only based on tie breaker criteria. Relegation is not in question for Sheffield United, who sit dead last in the Premier League, 10 points back of Nottingham Forest. Sheffield has a home record of 2-4-11 with a -33 goal differential in those matches. Sheffield has conceded a whopping 97 goals in 35 matches this season, which can only be described as "disgraceful".

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Aston Villa.

Aston Villa is currently holding down a Champions League spot, sitting 4th in the Premier League table. They have a home game against Brentford, who are 3-1-11 in away matches this season. While midfielder Jacob Ramsey will be a big loss for Villa, the return of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez should soften the blow. Villa is 2-0-1 in their last three versus Brentford, and their last home game in this series was a 4-0 win back in 2022.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on VAN.

Vancouver is off to a hell of a start, sitting in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 3-0-1. They have long been one of the bottom feeders of MLS, but even at the worst of times they are competitive at home. The Whitecaps have won two of their last three home matches versus Salt Lake, outscoring them by a combined 7-4 margin in those contests. The addition of former Salt Lake midfielder Damir-Kreilach makes Vancouver a better team, and also adds more motivation as he faces his former squad.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MUTD.

It has been a difficult season for Erik Ten Hag and Manchester United, but things appear to be falling into place. The Red Devils have played themselves back into contention for Champions League spot with four straight wins. Luton Town is struggling to stay out of the relegation zone, sitting just one point clear of Everton. Manchester United has twice as many wins in away matches than Luton Town has in their home matches. I will ride the Red Devils while they are hot.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over.

Don't look now but Erik Ten Hag has the Red Devils playing on top form! Manchester United has struggled all season, but they come into this match at Aston Villa unbeaten in their last five matches. They scored a whopping 15 goals in those games. United have five wins in away games, only three teams in the Premier League have more. Aston Villa has just one win in it's last five matches, and that was against bottom of the table Sheffield United. History suggests a high score, as these clubs have gone over in four of the last five meetings.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

Liverpool sits top of the table in the Premier League five points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal. They will be an underdog at Arsenal on Sunday, and Liverpool has lost just once in 11 away matches this season. They have a Premier League best +11 goal differential in those games. Arsenal has only one win in their last five matches versus Liverpool, and that is despite the fact that three of those were home matches for Arsenal.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Palace.

Relegation is not a question for Sheffield United, with just two wins and 10 points in 21 matches, it's a forgone conclusion. Crystal Palace on the other hand is five points clear of the relegation zone, but that makes this game even more critical for their survival in the Premier League. Sheffield is winless in away matches, with a pair of draws and eight losses an a -20 goal differential. Palace has won three straight meetings versus Sheffield by a combined 5-0 score.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AFC Bournemouth.

It should not come as a shock that Bournemouth got off to a terrible start. Bournemouth fired manager Gary O'Neil over the summer and replaced him with Andoni Iraola, and it was always going to take some time to adjust. Iraola was successful fielding a competitive side with a low payroll in Spain, and that success has carried over here in his first season in the Premier League. Bournemouth come in undefeated in their last six matches, hosting a Fulham side that has just one win in nine away matches, and a -11 goal differential in those games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Newcastle.

Chelsea comes into this match with an overall record of 4-4-4, and they are coming off a 4-4 home draw versus Mancester City. They were fortunate to salvage a point in that match, after being awarded a penalty in injury time leading to the equalizer. Newcastle has won five of six home matches with a +11 goal differential. Chelsea is sitting in 10th in the table, yet the odds for this match are in direct contradiction to the numbers. Newcastle has scored six more goals, and conceded three fewer goals than Chelsea in a dozen matches. The home team is undefeated in the last four head to head meetings. While the draw looks likely, Newcastle appears to be the far more likely side to take maximum points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Newcastle.

Newcastle is undefeated in their last five matches in all competitions, and they have posted five consecutive clean sheets. They have outscored the opposition 12-0 in those games. PSG is coming off a draw against the last place team in League 1. Paris sits just 5th in the table in the French league, and still bettors have them pegged as a favorite here against one of the top teams in the Premier League. PSG will be lucky to come away with a point here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Gunners.

It's no surprise to see Arsenal undefeated after five matches in the Premier League. Arsenal was a favorite to win the league coming into this season, while expectations were far lower for Spurs after losing Harry Kane. So an unexpected 4-0-1 start for Tottenham might not be all it's cracked up to be. Three of their wins came against teams that are currently winless and early favorites to face relegation. This away match at Arsenal will be their first versus a team with a winning record. The step up in competition is likely to be trouble for Tottenham. I have Arsenal winning by a score of 3-1.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

Aston Villa has been great at home, outscoring the opposition a combined 7-0 in their last two matches. They haven't been as good on the road, losing 5-1 at Newcastle in their season opener. This trend goes back to last year, when they won six of 19 games and had a -7 goal differential in 19 away matches. Liverpool won 13 of 19 home matches last season, and only Manchester City had a better goal differential. Liverpool is 4-0-1 in the last five head to head matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on Over.

Don't look now but the Houston Dynamos are starting to live up to their name. They are one of the hottest teams in MLS, winning four straight and scoring a total of 13 goals in those games. Austin F.C. comes into this Texas showdown off a 3-0 win over Dallas, and they have gone over in five straight matches overall. Get ready for another shootout in Texas.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Atlanta F.C.

Atlanta is undefeated in their last five matches, while New York City comes in winless in their last five overall. New York City was fortunate to score on a penalty in injury time to salvage a 1-1 draw in their last match. Home field advantage should come into play here, as Atlanta has a +16 goal differential at home while New York City is -6 on the road. Atlanta has scored 10 goals in their last three home matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

Historically we have seen high scoring games in the "Trafico" series, but things are different this year. The LA Galaxy sit in last place in the West, and they have only scored 10 goals in 13 matches. LAFC has allowed the fewest goals of any team in the West, conceding 10 goals in a dozen matches. The under is 7-0 in LAFC's last seven matches in MLS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

Never mind the high price, this is a very high percentage situation. Liverpool at home this season are 13-4-1, and they have won five straight versus Aston Villa. Perhaps the most significant is the magnitude of this game for Liverpool, who can still move ahead of Manchester United for a spot in the Champions League. Aston Villa on the other hand have already achieved everything they could have achieved this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on Over. 

It should come as no surprise that these two teams have gone over the total in each of the last five meetings. Manchester City leads the Premier League in scoring with 89 goals in 34 matches, and Real Madrid leads the Spanish La Liga in scoring with 69 goals in 33 matches. Erling Haaland is the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or, and Karim Benzema is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner. History tells us we should see plenty of scoring in this first leg match. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

So Chelsea comes into this away match at Bournemouth as a huge favorite, despite losing five straight matches in all competitions. During that span the Blues conceded 11 goals. Bournemouth is now tied on point with Chelsea, and they have four of their last five matches. Only Leeds United has conceded more goals than Bournemouth (64) so far in the Premier League this season. Cheslea has gone over in three straight matches at Bournemouth, and that trend should continue here today.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Newcastle.

The Magpies sit 3rd in the Premier League table, tied on points with Manchester United. They have to keep winning games down the stretch if they want to secure a spot in the Champions League next season. They face an Everton squad that sits in the relegation zone, and certainly you have to consider this a "must win" game for the Toffees. The thing is, you don't find yourself in the relegation zone unless you consistently lose the games you should have won. Newcastle has won four of the last five versus Everton, and they have the 3rd best away record in the Premier League.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on RMA.

This looks like a mismatch. Chelsea is reeling, recently firing manager Graham Potter, and hiring former player Frank Lampard as the new manager. Lampard has a record of 37-40-19 as a manager, so it seems a curious choice for a club with one of the highest payrolls in Europe. Chelsea has failed to score in three straight matches, while Madrid has scored a dozen in their last three. Karim Benzema ranks 4th all time in Champions League scoring, and he scored a hat trick at Liverpool earlier this year. I like Madrid to win this game in a blowout.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MCI.

Six time Champions League winners Bayern Munich will be the underdog at the Etihad in the first leg of this Champions League Quarterfinal. Bayern has not impressed with recent form, and this team is really missing Robert Lewandowski. The Polish International scored 50 goals in all competitions last year with Bayern, and he is replaced by Sadio Mane and Jamaal Musiala. Between the two of them they have scored just 17 goals in the Bundesliga this season. Manchester City is stacked, with Norwegian phenom Erling Haaland breaking the teams single season goal scoring record in the middle of the season. Manchester City has a +33 goal differential in 14 home matches in the Premier League this season. I think Bayern would do well to keep this game close, and a loss by one goal might not be a bad result heading into the second leg.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

So it's a down year for Liverpool, coming into Sunday's match winless in their last four in all competitions. They failed to score in three of those four matches. The good news is that all those results came away from Anfield, and their last home match was a record breaking 7-0 win over Manchester United. They have just one loss in 13 home matches this season, and they have won six straight home games versus Arsenal. They rested several players in a midweek draw at Chelsea, and that means almost everyone is fit for this clash versus Arsenal.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on RMA.

Real Madrid has won their last two games by a combined score of 10-0. Ballon Dor winner Karim Benzema has scored six goals in those games. They host Villarreal here on Saturday, and I wouldn't want to step in front of this juggernaut right now. Madrid has not lost in 13 home games this season, and they have a +23 goal differential in those matches. Madrid has scored more than double (32) goals at home, than Villarreal have scored on the road (15).

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Chelsea.

It's been a disastrous season for Chelsea despite having the highest payroll in the Premier League. The spending spree has brought in star players but the results haven't translated on the pitch. Chelsea sits 10th in the table, tied on points with Aston Villa. The two teams will play at Stamford Bridge Saturday, and the bookmakers are offering a reasonable price on the home favorite. Keep in mind that Chelsea is 9-1-1 in their last 11 Premier League matches versus Aston Villa, with only one loss in their last 19 home matches. Villa comes in undefeated in their last four matches, but all those games were against teams facing relegation.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

Newcastle has fallen on tough times, failing to score a goal in three straight matches. They are winless in their last five matches, with just two goals in those games. The only points they have to show for themselves come from a pair of 1-1 draws. They host Wolverhampton Sunday, and three of their last five versus Wolves ended with a final score of 1-1. Four of the last head to head matches went under the total. Wolves is coming off a 1-0 win over Spurs, and they have failed to reach the total in each of their last four matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on RMA.

In the United States they say "It's all about the Benjamins", but in the Coppa del Rey in Spain it's all about Karim Benzema! The Ballon Dor winner has returned to form, and he's netted four goal in his last three games played. The first leg will be a home game for Real Madrid, and Barcelona comes limping in off back to back losses and leading scorer Robert Lewandowski is out with a hamstring injury.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

So Manchester United comes into the Carabao Cup Final on a roll. They have scored at least two goals in 10 straight matches in all competitions. We saw Liverpool and Chelsea play a 0-0 draw in last year's Carabao Cup Final, but history tells us that we should expect more scoring here. Since 2020, the over has hit in 15 of the 23 Finals. Five of those games involved Manchester United, and three of those games saw 3+ goals. I am predicting a 2-1 win for United over Newcastle.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Arsenal.

So Arsenal is battling to stay top of the table in the Premier League, with Manchester City just two points behind. They need to pick up all the points they can from here on out, and an away match at Leicester might look like a tricky spot. Actually it might be more favorable than you would think. Leicester ranks 19th in the Premier League in home/away splits, while Arsenal has the best away record among the 20 Premier League clubs. The Gunnars are 9-1-2 in away matches, with a +15 goal differential. They have won four straight against Leicester, and two of those wins came at King Power Stadium.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on OVER.

These are the top two scoring teams in the Premier League, and while in some cases a Cup match might not be as significant as a league game, in this case it's an opportunity for both these teams to make a statement. Arsenal sits five points clear of City in the Premier League standings, and a win here at the Etihad might be soul crushing for Pep Guardiola's side. It won't be easy, as Man City has scored a whopping 38 goals in 11 home matches. Arsenal though has the best away record in the Premier League, and they have scored 20 goals in 10 away matches. I like both teams to score here, and we should see a high score. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Over 2.5.

The Manchester Derby will feature two of the Premier League's highest scoring teams. Manchester City has scored a Premier League best 45 goals in 17 matches, while Manchester United has scored 15 times in their last six matches in all competitions. Eric Ten Hag finally has this team playing the attacking style we are familiar with from his time at Ajax. The last two meetings between these teams were high scoring. City winning both matches by a combined 10-4 margin. With injuries to their top two defenders, Manchester United may have an opportunity to avenge those losses. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

Lionel Messi is tied for the tournament lead with five goals, and three of those have come via penalty. Argentina has been awarded four penalties so far, tying the record. With one game to play, you have to think there is a good chance Messi gets another opportunity from the penalty spot. Argentina has scored two or more goals in five straight matches, while France has scored two or more in four of their last five. I don't think either team is going to post a clean sheet here, and 2-1 seems like the most likely final score.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Netherlands.

Lionel Messi has scored three goals in four games at this World Cup, and at the age of 35 some consider him the G.O.A.T. He did miss a penalty against Poland, and overall he's seen more than his share of disappointment at the World Cup throughout his career. Argentina will be a huge favorite against Netherlands, despite the fact that the Dutch are undefeated in 11 World Cups matches under manager Louis Van Gaal. Netherlands 3-1 win over USA was far more impressive than Argentina's 2-1 win over Australia. The Dutch have perhaps the best defense of any squad at the World Cup, with Virgin Van Djik widely considered the best in the world. I think the bookmakers have the wrong team favored here, Holland has a younger, more talented group of stars and a superior coach

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 2* play on Mexico.

The last time that Mexico failed to advance from the Group Stages at the World Cup it was 1978, They have made the Round of 16 in eight consecutive tournaments, and they face a must win here against Saudi Arabia if they intend to keep that streak alive. Saudi Arabia suffered a let down after their upset win over Argentina, losing their second match 2-0 to Poland. If Argentina defeats Poland and Mexico defeats Saudi Arabia, then goal differential comes into play. A win for Poland would put Mexico in control of it's own destiny.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* on Liverpool. 

So Manchester City looks like an unstoppable force this season, while Liverpool has had a poor start in the Premier League. This has the Citizens pegged as heavy favorites heading to Anfield on Saturday, in a game where a draw would probably suit them just fine. In fact the last two times these teams met in the Premier League the result was a draw. Liverpool also knocked City out of the FA Cup and won the Community Shield versus City. While Pep Guardiola may have the superior squad this season, playing at Anfield is a daunting task. It's been five and a half years since Liverpool lost at home in front of their fans in a Premier League match. Manchester City hasn't won at Anfield since 2003, and that is their only win in 20 visits to Liverpool all time (modern era). 

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on Bayern.

Robert Lewandowski left Bayern in the off-season to join Barcelona, and returns to face his former club in a Champions League match in Munich on Tuesday. While he's off and running with his new club, his replacements at Bayern are also making their mark. Jamal Musiala leads the team in scoring with four goals in five matches, while Sadio Mane has scored three times in six matches. These teams have played three times over the last seven years, Bayern has won all three of those matches by a combined score of 14-2. As good as Barcelona looks, this is a tough spot and they will do well just to keep the game close.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on KC.

Kansas City sits dead last in the MLS standings, but after picking up William Agada and Erick Thommy in the mid season transfer market, they are not the same squad. They have scored 11 goals in their last three matches, winning two of those games. They host San Jose Saturday, and this appears to be a let down spot for the Earthquakes. San Jose is coming off a 2-1 home win over LAFC, but the Earthquakes have just one win in 13 away matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Austin.

Only four teams have a positive goal differential on the road, and one of those teams is Austin FC. There are only three teams in Major League Soccer with a negative goal differential at home, and one of those is Sporting KC. Ranked dead last in the Western Conference, Sporting KC also has the worst home record in the league. Austin FC leads MLS in scoring with 45 goals in 22 matches, while Sporting KC ranks dead last in the league with just 19 goals in 23 matches. Home field may not make a difference here in tonight's match.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Montreal.

Just last week Montreal was sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference, but after losing on the road at LA they have slipped to third. A home game against the last place team in MLS appears to be a great spot to get back on track. Sporting KC is just 1-2-7 with an MLS worst -16 goal differential in 10 games on the road. Montreal has a fairly average home record with five wins in eight matches, but they did score 16 goals in those games. All three of their home losses came against teams versus a winning record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Madrid.

Here is what I said about Madrid prior to their win over Manchester City in the Semifinal: " Karim Benzema scored twice for Real Madrid, and he leads all scorers in Champions League play with 14 goals in 10 matches. He's the best player in the world at the moment, so it's expected that he will score at home in the second leg." Madrid scored three goals in five minutes to come back from the dead and eliminate City. Liverpool comes into the Final off a let down on the final day of the Premier League. They appeared to have passed Manchester City on points, but the Citizens staged a late comeback of their own to hold on and win another title. Liverpool has played two draws, and won by a single goal twice in their last five matches. Madrid is 4-0-1 in their last five matches versus Liverpool, and I wouldn't be surprised if this game goes to extra time to decide a winner.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

10*

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid +1.5.

Manchester City has no business being such a big favorite here in the first leg of this Champions League tie. While City is under heavy pressure in a heated Premier League battle with Liverpool, Madrid is on the verge of clinching another La Liga title. Karim Benzema looks like the best player in the world at the moment, with a dozen goals in nine matches in Champions League play. Manchester City has injury concerns that might cause Gabriel Jesus to play out of position at right back. We expect a cautious approach from both teams, and a draw seems like a likely result. Only once in the last five head to head meetings has either of these teams won by more than one goal.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

There are only three teams in the Premier League that have scored 30 or more goals as well as conceded 30 or more goals. Two of those teams will play each other on Saturday when Manchester United hosts West Ham United. The Hammers have scored two or more goals in each of their last five matches, and they have scored 41 goals in 22 matches in the Premier League this season. These two teams are fighting for a spot in the Champions League, and we should see an exciting game with both teams scoring here at Old Trafford.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Brighton Hove Albion is coming off a pair of 2-2 games against Premier League powerhouses Liverpool and Leicester. They host Newcastle today, and they have won their last two versus Newcastle by a combined score of 6-0. Newcastle has conceded 23 goals in 10 matches so far this season, only Norwich has conceded more. The good news for Newcastle is that they have only been held scoreless in one of their last eight matches, scoring nine goals during that span. Expect a high score here.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Under.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers, otherwise known as "Wolves", will host Newcastle United on Saturday, and we shouldn't expect to see a high score here. Newcastle is coming off consecutive 1-1 draws, while Wolves has gone under in four of their last five matches in all competitions. Goals have been few and far between for Wolves, scoring in just three of their six matches. The good news is that they have only conceded five goals in those games. History paints a pretty clear pitcture, as the last four head to head meetings all ended with the same score (1-1 draw).

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Chelsea.

Chelsea sits in a first place tie with Liverpool, and they host fifth place Manchester City on Saturday. While City are defending champions, they failed to land a striker this summer, while rivals Chelsea and Manchester United signed the likes of Lukaku and Ronaldo. Manchester City was fortunate to come away with a draw at home versus Southampton last weekend, and they could be in trouble here at Stamford Bridge. The last time these teams played head to head was in the Champions League Final, and Chelsea won that game 1-0. Chelsea has won three straight versus City, posting a clean sheet in two of those wins.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Two of the top teams in the Premier League will meet in London on Sunday, and I expect to see plenty of scoring when the Hammers host the Red Devils. West Ham has not lost in four Premier League matches so far, and they have scored 10 goals in those games. Manchester United has scored 11 goals in four matches, settling for three wins and a draw. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win over Newcastle in his Red Devils debut (2nd stint), and he's sure to find the net here in London. Manchester United won 3-1 the last time they played at West Ham.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Arsenal sits dead last in the Premier League table, and coach Mikel Arteta is on the hot seat. They host Norwich City, and these teams have a history of playing high scoring games. Both clubs are winless in the Premier League with a -9 goal differential, and both teams won by a score of 6-0 in their respective Carabao Cup matches against Championship clubs. I wouldn't fancy either of these teams to post a clean sheet, and I expect a high score here in London. The last three head to head meetings all went over the total.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Chelsea.

Chelsea finished fourth in the Premier League last season, but they won the Champions League Final versus Manchester City. They were a different team after Thomas Tuchel took over for Frank Lampard. They went on a spending spree last summer, and have since added more big names ahead of this season. The likes of Werner and Havertz should be better in their second year at the club, while Romelu Lukaka is a familiar face in the Premier League. Arsenal is a bit of a mess, and they aren't at a level that would allow them to compete with the top five clubs in the league. The Gunners haven't won in five matches, and they have only scored once in their last three matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Italy.

England fans fancy their team as the favorites to win the Euro, but perhaps Graeme Souness said it best:

"If I was Gareth Southgate, sitting down to write his Russia 2018 report for the FA, then top of my notepad would be the following – never allow that song, 'Football's Coming Home', to be played again during a major tournament," declared Souness.

"Football's coming home, is it? So, England effectively own the sport. I don't think so.

"They didn't have a monopoly on it when their teams and the FA were big players in the global power game back in the last century, and they don't now."

Their win over Denmark was a result of a controversial penalty that Kane missed, but had the good fortune to score on the rebound. All the pressure is on the English here in the Final, and they are up against an Italian side that is unbeaten in their last 33 matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on England.

Denmark takes on England in the Euro Semifinal, and the Danes will be playing the roll of Cinderella. Denmark is coming off a win over the Czech Republic, a match that they were favored to win, while England is coming off a 4-0 win over the Ukraine. The Three Lions still haven't conceded a goal in this tournament, and that bodes well here against the Danes. Denmark did win their last game against England 1-0 in 2020. England had two players sent off with red cards, and played the majority of that game with 10 men. The Three Lions were 3-0-1 in the previous four versus Denmark. Harry Kane got off to a slow start at the Euros, but he's found his form here in the last few games. I like England to cruise into the Finals with a decisive victory.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Ukraine.

A 3-2 loss to Netherlands in their opening match was actually quite an impressive result for Ukraine. After going down early, they battled back to draw even at 2-2. Even though they lost on a late goal, the two goals will put them in good standing to advance from the first round. Northern Macedonia lost their first match by a score of 3-1, and they are likely over their heads in this tournament. Not only is Northern Macedonia 0-1-2 in their last three matches versus Ukraine, but they didn't score a single goal in those matches.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on England.

The Three Lions come into the Euros hoping to avenge a disappointing loss to Croatia in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup. England has won five straight matches heading into the tournament, and they won their last match versus Croatia by a score of 2-1 back in 2018. Croatia hasn't look good at all in recent matches leading up to the tournament. They are 2-1-2 in their last five matches, with losses to Belgium and Slovenia, and a draw against Armenia. England on their home soil, should be able to get a win here over Croatia team that isn't on top form.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Everton.

It should come as no surprise that Everton has returned to form. They got off to a hot start this season, before enduring a tough stretch of mediocrity. They come into this home match versus Fulham with points in four of their last five matches. They earned a spirited draw at Old Trafford last weekend, and then they won a thriller by a score of 5-4 over Tottenham in the FA Cup mid week. While they will miss their top goal scorer, they still have superior quality in the ranks in comparison to their opponent. "We have back Andre Gomes, James, Josh King, and in the next week we think Allan will be back, so the squad is ready for the next games," Ancelotti said.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Arsenal has struggled of late, losing back to back games by a combined score of 6-2. They will be tested here on Boxing Day, hosting a Chelsea team that has scored 29 goals in just 14 matches. These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, with each of the last four meetings going over the total. Chelsea has the second best goal differential in the Premier League (+15).

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Seattle.

The Sounders are the defending champions, and they are coming off an impressive win in their Semi Final match versus Minnesota. After a disallowed goal, they found themselves trailing with just a minute remaining in regulation. After scoring the equalizer in the 89th minute, they got the game winner in the third minute of extra time. Columbus has had an outstanding season, but with a pair of key midfielders set to miss the Final, they are at a disadvantage. Seattle may also find an advantage in set pieces, as they ranked second in the MLS in scoring off such plays.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Under.

Both the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas rank near the bottom of MLS in scoring, and recent head to head meetings have been low scoring. Dallas has failed to score a goal in two of it's last three versus Houston, and the Dynamo have scored just three goals in the last three head to head matches. Dallas has gone under in each of it's last five MLS matches, while Houston has gone under in six of it's last eight overall. It's tough to see these teams combining to score more than three goals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AC Milan.

Celtic will be the home team in Thursday's Europa League clash versus Italian Giants AC Milan, but there won't be any fans in attendance. Milan currently sits top of the table in Series A, while Celtic sits second in the Scottish League coming off a 2-0 loss to Rivals Rangers. Celtic will be shorthanded for this match. Scotland international James Forrest and young winger Mikey Johnston are both out with injuries. Midfielder Ryan Christie, Israel international Nir Bitton and defender Hatem Abd Elhamed all tested positive for Covid-19, and it's almost certain they won't be available to face Milan. Celtic has lost four of their last five versus Milan, and I expect history to repeat itself here on Thursday.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over.

The Merseyside Derby has been very one-sided for decades, but this Saturday's match between Liverpool and Everton is a little different. So far it's Everton sitting top of the table in the Premier League, and they have scored 12 goals in just four matches. The defending champions have struggled on defense so far, allowing 11 goals in four matches. They haven't had any trouble scoring goals, with 11 in four matches. I am going to go out on a limb and predict an exact score of 2-2.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Portland.

Real Salt Lake may not have the luxury of focusing on football in this match, as the club is mired in controversy. Dell Loy Hansen (club owner) made the following comments about the players decision to boycott their last match: "It's taken a lot of wind out of my sails, what effort I want to put into recruiting players and building a great team," Hansen said. "It just seems that's not a very good path to take." His criticism of the players has not been well received, and he is now facing an MLS investigation into alleged racist remarks. Players are demanding he sell the team. They will be on the road at Portland, facing the champions of the MLS is Back Tournament in Portland.

Take the Timbers.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Bayern Munich.

I've been calling Bayern Munich the best team in Europe since the return to play back in May. They have certainly looked the part, winning their last three Champions League matches by a combined score of 15-3. Their 8-2 win over Barcelona will not soon be forgotten. Paris has taken a much different path, needing to rally with two late goals to escape what looked like a sure defeat to Atletico Madrid. Simply put, it seems that Bayern is in a class of it's own, and Paris is unlikely to match them.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid +1.

I had Real Madrid in the first leg, and here is what I said prior to that match: "Manchester City will head into the first leg of this Champions League tie looking to survive with a chance to win the second leg at home at the Etihad in March. Real Madrid is undefeated at home in domestic competition, and they are also undefeated at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid has won this competition seven times, while Manchester City has suffered many disappointments. Madrid is in first place in Spain, with a +26 goal differential, while the Citizens are just the second best team in the Premier Leaague. It will be quite tough for City to come away with a win here, but a close loss with an away goal would still be a solid result."  Now that City has a lead on aggregate as well as away goals, they can sit back and play for a draw. The problem is that City isn't a team designed to play defense, and that leaves them vulnerable to an upset.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

It was supposed to be an all Manchester Final in the FA Cup (according to the bookmakers), but Chelsea and Arsenal each recorded upsets in the semi finals. Neither of these two clubs are among the top defensive teams in England. Chelsea conceded 54 goals this season, while Arsenal conceded 48. David Luiz broke a Premier League record, conceding the most penalties in a season (5). These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over 2.5 in four of their last five matches. Three of those games saw 4+ goals combined.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Portland Timbers.

After winning their first two games of the group stages, Portland played a 2-2 draw against an LAFC team that was by far the best in MLS last year. They face Cincinnati in this elimination game Tuesday, and Cinci bounced back with a pair of wins after getting blown out by a score of 4-0 in their opening match versus Columbus. This Cincinnati team finished last year with the worst goal differential in MLS (-44). That's twice as bad as the second worst Vancouver (-22). I am not reading too much into their wins against a shorthanded Atlanta team and a Red Bulls squad that outshot them 19-4.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Manchester United.

The hottest team in England right now is Manchester United. The come into Sunday's FA Cup Semi Final versus Chelsea undefeated in their last 19 matches in all competitions. They have had Chelsea's number winning four of the last five meetings, with one draw. Chelsea has also been moving up the table since the restart, but they have looked awfully sloppy at times. They have lost twice in their last five matches, falling 3-0 to Sheffield United, and 3-2 to West Ham. While Chelsea has a one point lead in the Premier League standings, the goal differential tells a different story. Manchester United is +28 compared to Chelsea's +15.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Leicester.

AFC Bournemouth is facing relegation, so you would think they would have plenty of motivation. That would be true in most circumstances, but with the return to play during a global pandemic, not everyone is putting top priority on football. Given that they have just four matches remaining all against challenging opponents, their chances of avoiding relegation appear to be slim to none. They are winless in their last nine matches, and the only reason they salvaged a draw against Spurs the other day was due to a poor call from VAR. Harry Kane should have had a penalty in the first half, but for some reason VAR controversially ruled no penalty. Leicester is now just one point ahead of Manchester United for the final Champions League spot, so this is a must win.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Watford.

Norwich City will be relegated, there is little doubt about that. The question is who will be joining them. At the bottom of the table you have Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Watford separated by a single point. Watford is winless in their last five matches, with their last win coming by a score of 3-0 over Liverpool. They come into this match needing a win, and their opponent isn't likely to provide much resistance. Norwich has been held scoreless in five of their last six matches, and they have scored the fewest goals in the league this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Lazio

After going up 2-0 early against Atalanta, Lazio went on to lose by a score of 3-2 in their last match. Atalanta might be the only team in the Series A capable of such a stunning comeback, and the result was a major setback for Lazio's title hopes. They enter today's match sitting seven points back of first place Juventus, and that makes this a must win. Lazio is 4-0-1 in it's last five matches versus Fiorentina, and the underdogs don't have much to play for. Safe from relegation, Fiorentina might just throw in the towel against a highly motivated opponent.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Borussia Dortmund.

I bet on Dortmund in there first game back, and they didn't disappoint in a 4-0 win over rivals Schalke. Here is what I said prior to the match: "This looks like a mismatch on paper, when you consider Dortmund has scored more than twice as many goals (68) as Schalke (33). While momentum seems to have been lost, it might be logical to expect a team competing for the top spot in the Bundesliga to have taken their fitness more seriously during the layoff. Without fans there won't be much of a home field advantage..." This week they face Wolfsburg, and they need maximum points to keep pace with first place Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg didn't look sharp in their first game back, playing to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, but scoring the match winner in injury time versus FC Augsburg. Wolfsburg is 0-4-1 in their last five matches versus Dortmund, and they haven't scored a single goal in any of those five contests.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Bayer Leverkusen.

It's been a tough season for Werder Bremen, conceding a league worst 55 goals and sitting just one point ahead of last place SC Paderborn 07 (honeslty can't tell you anything about them).  Bremen is 0-4-1 in their last five matches, and they host a Leverkusen side that is 4-0-1 in their last five matches. Home field isn't expected to have much significance without any fans in attendance, and as I have noted in recent days, the teams competing at the top of the table are expected to have taken their fitness more seriously during the long layoff.  An additional week of training should also benefit Leverkusen.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Real Madrid.

Manchester City will head into the first leg of this Champions League tie looking to survive with a chance to win the second leg at home at the Etihad in March. Real Madrid is undefeated at home in domestic competition, and they are also undefeated at home in the Champions League. Real Madrid has won this competition seven times, while Manchester City has suffered many disappointments. Madrid is in first place in Spain, with a +26 goal differential, while the Citizens are just the second best team in the Premier Leaague. It will be quite tough for City to come away with a win here, but a close loss with an away goal would still be a solid result.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Leipzig +0.5.

Tottenham is coming off a 3-2 win at Aston Villa, and Son Heung Min scored the winning goal in injury time. We have since learned that Son will likely miss the rest of the year with a broken arm. Already without Harry Kane, and struggling on defense, it's going to take a miracle for Tottenham to avoid crashing out of the Champions League. Jose Mourino's squad was quite fortunate to have won their last match against a bottom feeder in the Premier League. This is a huge step up in class facing a team that is competing for top spot in the Bundesliga.

Take Leipzig.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Liverpool sits 13 points clear of second place Manchester City in the Premier League standings, and they come into Thursday's game against Wolves as winners of nine straight matches in all competitions. They haven't conceded a single goal in seven straight matches. Wolves aren't an easy out at home, where they have scored 17 goals in 11 matches. Liverpool though has scored 21 goals in just 10 away matches. The last time Liverpool played on this pitch they lost 2-1 in last year's FA Cup. I expect to see at least three goals in this match.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Chelsea sits fourth in the Premier League table, and they come into Saturday's home fixture versus Burnley off a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Clean sheets have been few and far between for Chelsea, and they have conceded a whopping 29 goals in 21 matches. Burnley can certainly score, they have 24 goals in 21 matches.  Chelsea hasn't been all that strong at Stamford Bridge, with just a +1 goal differential. These two teams have scored at least three goals combined in the last five head to head meetings, and they have scored at least four in each of the last three meetings.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

The Spurs played Wolves twice in 2018, and they won both scoring a combined six goals in those games. Wolves wasn't an easy opponent, scoring three goals of their own in those matches. Tottenham has been scoring plenty of goals lately, with at least three goals in each of their last six matches. They have also conceded their share, allowing eight goals in their last six matches. They posted just one clean sheet during that span, in a 5-0 win over Burnley. Wolverhampton hasn't had any trouble scoring either, with two or more goals in five of their last six matches. We aren't likely to see either team post a clean sheet here on Sunday.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Chelsea +1.5.

Manchester City is coming off a devastating loss to Liverpool before the international break, a result that makes it highly unlikely that they will repeat as league champions. Chelsea now sits ahead of City in the Premier League table, and the Blues come into the Etihad as winners of seven straight league matches. Chelsea has all the momentum in their favor, while City is in a bad place at the moment. My money is on Chelsea to give the Citizen's all they can handle.

Take CHE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

It's been clear very early this season that Liverpool is the team to beat in the Premier League. Last week City had to come from behind and score in the dying minutes to beat a Southampton side that is facing relegation. Poor defending has plagued City since the beginning of the season, as evidenced by losses to Norwich and Wolverhamton just a few weeks apart. Liverpool has the edge in the last five head to head matches (2-2-1) and Liverpool is 22-0-2 at Anfield the last two seasons.

Take Liverpool.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5 goals.

Chelsea comes into Saturday's match versus Burnley in top form, the Blues have won five straight matches in all competitions. Chelsea sits fourth in the Premier League table, and their 19 goals for are just two less than first place Liverpool. The difference is that Chelsea has also conceded 14 goals, which is twice as many as Liverpool. Recent matches versus Burnley have been high scoring, with three or more goals scored in each of the last four meetings. The last time these two teams met the result was a 2-2 draw. I fancy Burnley to get a goal here, but I don't think it will be enough to salvage any points.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on AFC Bournemouth.

Norwhich City is coming off three straight losses by a combined margin of 9-1. This follows their stunning upset win over Manchester City, which appears to be an outlier, rather than the type of performance you can expect week to week. That was also a home game, and Norwich 0-4 with a -9 goal differential in away matches (worst in the Premier League). Bournemouth has a winning record with a positive goal differential in home matches dating back to last season, and this is a team that is poised to secure a spot in the top half of the table.

Take Bournemouth.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

Both Bournemouth and West Ham are off to a great start in the Premier League, sitting 5th and 6th respectively in the table. That's above Tottenham and Manchester United. These teams can certainly score. Bournemouth scored three in a 3-1 win over Southampton in their last match, and prior to that they defeated Everton by a score of 3-1. West Ham is coming off a 2-0 win over Manchester United. In the last five head to head meetings, both teams scored in four of those matches. 

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LA Galaxy.

When Zlatan Ibrahimovic landed in LA in 2018, LeBron James had just signed with the Lakers. Zlatan was asked to comment about coming to LA, and he said "now LA has a King and a God." At the time it seemed a little over the top, but he since established himself as the most dominant player that MLS has ever seen. He's scored 26 goals this season, just two fewer than Carlos Vela of LAFC. The Galaxy are moving up in the standings, and they host a Montreal team that is coming off a home loss to expansion team Cincinnati. You could call this a must win for Montreal, but if they can't beat Cincinnati at home, are the playoffs at all a realistic goal? I like LA to walk all over the Impact here in this game.

Take LA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

It has been a successful return to the Premier League for Norwich City, scoring six goals in three matches. While they have just one win (3-1 over Newcastle), their losses have come to top clubs Chelsea and Liverpool. Scoring a pair of goals at home in a 3-2 loss to Chelsea suggests that this team can find the net. They face a West Ham team on Saturday that has had all sorts of trouble keeping opponents off the score sheet. West Ham has conceded a Premier League worst seven goals in three matches, and few teams conceded more goals than the Hammers last season. History suggests we should see some scoring in this match, as the last two meetings ended in a 2-2 draw.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Over 2.5.

AFC Bournemouth scored 56 goals in the Premier League season, the most of any team outside the top 6. They weren't quite as sharp on defense, conceding 70 goals, the most of any team that avoided relegation. They will play at Villa Park on Saturday, and Aston Villa is coming off a 3-1 loss to Spurs in their first game back in the Premier League. These two teams have gone over in two of the last three head to head matches, and I expect to see another sloppy game with plenty of goals here in this match.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Atlanta FC.

I bet on Atlanta in their last home match, and they defeated the LA Galaxy by a score of 3-0. Here is what I said prior to the match: "The defending champions got off to a brutal start to the season, but Atlanta comes into today's home game versus the LA Galaxy with the second best home record in all of MLS. They have lost just one in 12 home matches this season." I also bet on NYFC in their last home match, but their win over Houston was far from impressive. They needed a late goal to win 3-2 against a Dynamos side that was down to 10 men for the entire second half.

Take ATL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on Toronto FC.

Toronto is coming off a 3-1 home loss to Houston, the team with the MLS worst road record. A week later they host a Cincinnati team that has allowed an MLS worst 51 goals. Toronto rested several starters in the first half in their loss to Houston, and they payed the price. Expect a far stronger lineup here on Saturday. Cincinnati is coming off back to back losses by a combined score of 6-1, and they rank dead last in MLS with a -30 goal differential. They are 2-1-9 with a -21 goal differential on the road. This is a far bigger mismatch that the price would suggest.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on over 2.5.

Toronto FC now has everybody back from international assignments, and they have won back to back games by a combined score of 5-1. They host Houston Saturday, and the Dynamo have lost three straight by a combined score of 11-3. Houston has been plagued by sloppy defending all season, and that is especially true on the road. The Dynamo are 1-8 with a -13 goal differential in nine matches on the road this season. This should be another blowout loss for Houston.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Mexico.

The USA Women already won the World Cup Final earlier in the day, but don't count on the men making it a clean sweep in the evening. They face a far more talented Mexican squad, and they just don't have the experience to match up against Mexico. History certainly favors the Mexicans, as they have defeated the USA in four of the last five meetings in the Gold Cup Final. USA will miss the likes of Michael Bradley and Jose Altidore.

Take MEX.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Germany.

The Germans have won all four of their matches at this World Cup, and they have posted clean sheets in all four of those games. They will meet Sweden in the Quarterfinals, and they are 4-0-1 in the last five head to head matches versus the Swedes. The Swedes lost 2-0 to the United States, and they really were not all that competitive in that game. Prior to that they won three straight matches against inferior teams, but didn't look all that sharp in any of those wins. They were quite fortunate in their win over Canada, and the Canadians failed to take advantage of several quality chances, including a missed penalty.

Take GER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Netherlands.

I won with Netherlands in their last match, a win over Japan. Here is what I said prior to that game: "The Dutch ladies come into the knockout round as winners of all three of their group stage matches, and they have won five straight in all competitions by a combined score of 16-2. They are great at using a size advantage on set pieces setting up headers in the box." They face Italy in the Quarterfinals, and the Italians coming off a 2-0 win over China. I've been far more impressed with the Dutch in this tournament, and I expect them to handle Italy.

Take NED.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Netherlands.

The Dutch ladies come into the knockout round as winners of all three of their group stage matches, and they have won five straight in all competitions by a combined score of 16-2. They are great at using a size advantage on set pieces setting up headers in the box. This should be particularly difficult to deal with for a Japan team who's ladies are much smaller than the Dutch. Japan has just one win in it's last four matches, and they didn't look all that sharp in a 2-0 loss to England.

Take NED.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on USA.

Sweden has been one of the top teams in Women's soccer in recent seasons, and they have beaten the Americans at the World Cup in 2011. The Swedes are 1-1-3 in the last five head to head matches, but I haven't been all that impressed with Sweden at this tournament. A 5-1 win over Thailand wasn't as impressive as the score would indicate, and their win over Chile wasn't convincing either. This USA team has already made it clear that they will take as many goals as they can get, and I expect them to fill the net once again here against Sweden.

Take USA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on LA Galaxy.

Zlatan came off his suspension and didn't waste any time making his mark. Ibrahimovic scored and added an assist in a 2-0 win over Kansas CIty last week. He faces plenty of criticism for his bad attitude, his arrogance and his overall bad behavior. His talent though is undeniable, outside of Messi and Ronaldo, he is probably the best pure scorer in the world. At 37 years old he must be past his prime? His 10 goals in 11 matches this season tell a different story. He faces a New England team that has conceded an Eastern Conference worst 32 goals, and the result should be another easy W for LA.

Take LA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool.

Manchester City just barely edged out Liverpool for first place in the Premier League this season. It came down to the final day, with City winning the league by a single point. Liverpool scored 89 goals in 38 matches (22 more than Spurs). They conceded just 22 goals (17 fewer than Spurs). Tottenham is only in the finals after a controversial win over Manchester City, and a shocking come from behind win over Ajax. This Spurs side is lucky to be here, and I expect them to be outclassed in the Final by a superior Liverpool squad. Harry Kane is set to return from an ankle injury. Asked whether Kane would play against Liverpool in Madrid, Pochettino said: "I can't say he's 100%, whether he will be available or on the bench or out, but we are so happy and positive about his progression.

Take Liverpool.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose Earthquake.

The newest team in the MLS (Cincinnati) comes into Saturday's match at San Jose as losers of four straight. What's worse is that they failed to score in all four of those games. San Jose has just two wins this season, but they are 2-2-1 in their last four overall, and they have won their last two home games by a combined score of 7-1. Shea Salinas is in scorching form for the Eathquakes, scoring three times in his last three matches. San Jose is 2-2-1 when he's in the starting lineup, and 0-3 when he doesn't start.

Take SJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule