Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Sunday, August 20:
TOP PLAY
The play: EPL, Chelsea money line at West Ham
The odds: +105
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 11:30 a.m. (USA Network)
Our take: Pundits singled out two teams as the most impressive during the Premier League’s opening weekend: Chelsea and Newcastle. The latter is no surprise after blitzing Aston Villa 5-1 on Tyneside. However, the former drew 1-1 with Liverpool, so why did the Blues stand out?
Mauricio Pochettino’s young side looked dangerous. They played with intent, they went toe-to-toe with a far more experienced — and arguably talented — Liverpool side and they were a complete antithesis of the Chelsea side of last season. Add a £115 million defensive midfielder into the equation and the Blues could be challenging for a Champions League place again this year.
It’s worth noting that despite Pochettino only having six wins in 15 matches against West Ham in his career, Irons boss David Moyes has never beaten Pochettino head-to-head. The hosts have also lost more London Derbies than anybody else in the capital — including four of the last six against the Blues.
PREMIER LEAGUE UNDER PLAY
The play: EPL, Aston Villa vs. Everton UNDER 2.5 goals
The odds: -114
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 9 a.m. (USA Network)
Our take: Sean Dyche faces an uphill battle in keeping Everton up another year. However, the Englishman is a survival specialist after keeping Burnley in the top flight for so many years and helping Everton stay up last season. The brand of football played by Dyche’s sides isn’t sexy by any means, it is impactful though.
Dyche’s compact defensive style will make it increasingly difficult for Aston Villa to find the back of the net. Factor in the injuries on both sides to players like Emi Buendia (Aston Villa), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) and Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) and the goals will be even harder to come by in this bout.
This is going to be an ugly, gritty showdown to start your Sunday off right. Seven of Everton’s last eight matches in all competitions (including preseason) have gone under 2.5 goals. Thus, one goal may just be the difference between these two sides.
HOW WE’VE FARED
UFC 292: Aljamain Sterling to win by points (LOST)
NFL: Houston Texans -2 vs. Miami Dolphins (LOST)
Saturday’s record: 0-2
Total for the week: 2-7, 2 pending
Total for August: 14-24, 2 pending
Total for 2023: 188-218, 2 pending
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
