The Argentina vs Spain World Cup final has every opportunity to end Under 2.5 goals. Final matches almost always involve less risk than typical tournament games. Neither team will want to be the first to give up a big chance, so the first half could turn into a showcase of possession, spacing and defending counterattacks over committing numbers forward.

Spain’s defensive prowess throughout the tournament is the most important factor supporting the Under bet. La Roja has conceded just one goal over seven matches, tallying six clean sheets on its way to the final. Spain dominated France defensively in the semifinal, winning 2-0 and demonstrating an ability to dictate play with possession while still protecting its back line. Argentina has Lionel Messi and some other weapons, but this is easily the most complete defense it will have faced in Spain.

Spain’s ability to keep possession will also limit total-scoring chances. When Spain has the ball for extended periods, the opponent is forced to sit back and rarely gets opportunities to mount attacks. Spain has averaged 56% possession in knockout-stage minutes where it has led the game, proving that it can play for draws rather than trying to run up the score.

Argentina has also shown that it can play a waiting game if needed. The reigning champs haven’t panicked during close matches and know how to strike at the right moment. They were behind England for most of the semifinal before scoring twice late to win 2-1, but Spain will likely force them to be more patient. Argentina will know that giving up midfield dominance can open up space for Lamine Yamal and the rest of Spain’ attack to hurt them on the counter.

A low-scoring affair fits with how both teams will approach the matchup tactically. Expect Argentina to sit deep with a compact shape, defend the middle of the field and force Spain to play around the edge of the box. Spain will do everything in its power to limit Messi from receiving the ball in central positions where he is most dangerous. Such a game would have a lot of possession without many scoring chances.

Even the stakes of the match point towards Under betting. Spain is playing for its first World Cup victory since 2010, while Argentina would become the first back-to-back winner since Brazil in 1962 if it triumphs on Sunday. Both teams know what’s on the line and should focus on defensive structure instead of making game-changing mistakes.

Jim's Play: 225627. Argentina/Spain UNDER  (Soccer Total of the Year)

A busy France-England third-place game could hit the scoreboard often enough to push the Over, especially Over 3 goals. The stage sets up for a match much more wide open than your typical World Cup elimination game. Since neither team advances to the final, both managers can be aggressive with rotations and allow their attackers freedom. Playing for third place has historically led to run-and-gun soccer, and you’ll find multiple current previews predicting another tournament-high scoring affair.

France boasts plenty of attacking firepower on its own. Kylian Mbappe continues to hunt for World Cup scoring title and thus should have extra incentive to attack rather than soak up pressure. France can also deploy speedsters like Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Michael Olise around him to create 1-v-1 advantages throughout the frontline. England won’t be able to track every attacking option if it rotates its backline or pushes fullbacks upfield.

England will likely have scoring chances too. The Three Lions put up three goals against Mexico and two goals against Norway during the knockout stages while playing against two decent defenses. England possesses their own attacking stars in Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and several dynamic players on the wings who can punish French defenses. Les Bleus may even have to abandon their preferred defensive lineup if both teams rotate heavily. England proved against Mexico how quickly a game can swing open once the first goal kicks off.

England hasn’t been shut down entirely during this tournament. The team conceded at least once in each knockout match while surrendering five goals combined between Mexico, Norway and Argentina. France fared better defensively heading into the semifinals, but Spain beat them twice. France may roll out a shaky defensive unit if it elects to rotate heavily. Unfamiliar defenders struggling to cover fast-paced attackers has historically led to breakdowns and high quality chances.

Goal flow will likely be high too. Whoever scores first would be forced to throw numbers forward in order to chase the game, as sitting on a 1-0 or 2-1 lead offers little consolation for finishing third. England finally got rolling offensively in the second half of its Round of 16 match before coasting to a 3-2 win. France has scored first in three of its five matches this tournament, meaning Mbappe would have room on the counter if England strikes early. Frequent substitutions on both sides could open up more space if attacking players enter the game fresh while the backline loses steam. Goal flow and lack of rotations have been two of the main reasons I like this total over. 

 France and England both have strong reasons to finish this World Cup on the right note. Both squads possess multiple elite attackers capable of breaking the game open at any moment. As long as neither manager feels the need to bunker down for the entire match, this game has a formulaic path to at least four goals.

Jim's Play: 225623. England/France OVER 

France has several advantages over England heading into Saturday’s world Cup third-place game: fresher legs, a better counterattack and a significant motivational factor with Didier Deschamps playing his final match as manager.

France enjoyed more rest between the semifinals and third place. Les Bleus played its first match on Tuesday, while England took the field Wednesday and suffered a 2-1 loss to Argentina despite leading late. England now must recover physically and mentally with less downtime before the third-place game. Midfielder Declan Rice has reportedly battled fatigue, sickness and multiple injuries in the run-in to this match, while Reece James is questionable and Jordan Henderson will not play. France has lost William Saliba to injury as well, but boasts a deeper pool of athletic defenders and forwards that should be able to absorb rotation better.

Kylian Mbappe gives France the biggest edge on an individual basis. Mbappe is fully healthy and leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, tied with Lionel Messi. Goals scored in the third-place game count toward the Golden Boot, so France’ captain has the incentive of scoring what would be the game-winning goal and securing the award. England can’t play overly aggressive at the back because Mbappe will expose any space behind the defense, and France has options to rotate onto the wings as well with Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue.

Emotionally, France wants to win for Deschamps. The coach confirmed on Thursday that this will be his last match in charge, which will be his second appearance on the world Cup podium after lifting the trophy in Russia four years ago. Several French players have said they hope to send their coach out with a win. Of course, England has everything to play for as well, but Laura Ianney’s side is coming off a heartbreaker.

With more speed, depth and days of rest working in their favor, France looks like the better team even in this game for third place.

Jim's Play: Take: 225624. France

England’s best path to victory starts with the overall size, depth and ability to attack Argentina from different angles. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have shouldered most of the scoring responsibilities so far, but this England team can also hurt you with Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and its fullbacks. Expect that diversity to make it difficult for Argentina to sit deep and focus on stopping just one player.

England’s midfield battle will likely be determinant. Declan Rice provides enough physicality to disrupt Argentina in the buildup while Bellingham can surge forward to attack the space around Argentina’s own holding midfielders. Messi poses the biggest threat, but Argentina has already identified England’s size up the middle as one of their biggest challenges heading into this match.

As impressive as Messi has been, England still has the defensive tools to limit his impact. It won’t be able to completely take him out of the game, but England can use its athleticism to crowd the middle of the park, force Argentina wide and make Messi receive the ball further away from goal. Throw in Jordan Pickford in goal and England has the experience of multiple players who have excelled in big knockout games.

Argentina is averaging three goals per game in knockout wins over Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland, so England will need to limit the chances early. That said, Argentina has also conceded five goals combined over those three matches. If England pushes forward and uses its pace and movement on the counter, there will be openings to exploit – especially if Argentina’s fullbacks get caught upfield.

The good news for England is that it has already faced treacherous knockout opponents in Mexico and Norway, winning each game. This experience will bode well if the match is close late. Thomas Tuchel has talked about simplifying the message and preparing his team to simply play England’s style of soccer rather than getting caught up in this rivalry’s history.

Expect England to remain compact, clog the middle of the field and limit Argentina’s opportunities through central combinations. When attacking, look for those opportunities to come through Kane, Bellingham and Saka.

Jim's Play: 225620. England (Goal Line) 

France’s case starts with transition. Spain will undoubtedly have the ball for large periods of the game, but no team has punished opponents on the counterattack quite like Les Bleus have during this tournament. Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise are three players who can make the difference from defending one goal to creating a chance in matter of seconds. France will almost certainly have Mbappe available after his fitness scare, giving them the biggest game changer on the field.

France has also looked like the complete package throughout the knockout stage. Wins against Paraguay (1-0) and Morocco (2-0) came against two teams who created chances, but France has also looked spectacularally solid at the back. Being able to win both open games and tactical battles will be key against Spain, who are prone to dropping deep with their possession-heavy style. Winning consecutive World Cup finals would make France just the third nation to accomplish the feat.

Spain have earned their place in the semifinal after impressive wins against Portugal and Belgium, while its commitment to playing out from the back has seen it concede only one goal in Qatar. Spain’s aggressive nature will leave spaces behind the fullbacks, however, which is where France loves to attack. Even if Spain commits numbers forward to attack France’s back line, Mbappe and Dembele should have too much pace to worry about. France’s center backs may just be physical enough to deal with Spain’s patient buildup play as well.

France has been here before under Deschamps, reaching multiple World Cup finals with this club. Experience goes a long way in knockout football, and might just prove decisive if the match is close. This is probably going to be close, high-quality game, but France just strikes you as having the better finishers when chances are limited and the defending to contain Spain’s attacks.

Jim's Play: 225616. France 

England enters this quarterfinal as the stronger overall side, but Norway has already shown it can beat elite opposition after eliminating Brazil 2-1. The key matchup will be England’s ability to control possession and limit Norway’s counterattack, particularly the service into Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth.

England should have an advantage in midfield with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. If they can control second balls and prevent Martin Odegaard from receiving the ball in space, Norway may struggle to consistently connect its midfield to Haaland. England also has greater attacking depth on the wings, where Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke can stretch Norway’s back line and create room for Harry Kane.

Norway’s best opportunity will come in transition. Haaland does not need many chances to score, and Norway’s direct style can punish England if its fullbacks push too far forward. England is also without suspended defender Jarell Quansah, although Marc Guehi, Declan Rice and Reece James have all returned to full training, leaving Thomas Tuchel with an otherwise healthy squad.

The game could remain tight through the opening hour, but England’s deeper bench and greater variety in attack should become important late. Norway can threaten and is capable of scoring, but England has more ways to change the game if the initial approach is not working.

I'm looking at a final with England pulling out the win: England 2, Norway 1

Take: England - 1/2 goal 

 Form and balance favor Columbia here on Tuesday.  Colombia enters Tuesday’s match unbeaten, and having conceded only one goal so far in the tournament. That defensive foundation is exactly what you want against Switzerland, who press high and force opponents to play out from the back. Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo has also preached versatility and adapting his tactics depending on the opponent, which should come into play here.

Colombia also boast the attacking firepower. Los Cafeteros edged past Ghana, 1-0, to get here while Switzerland needed two goals to knock out Algeria. Both teams should feel good about their chances moving forward, but Colombia create scoring chances via speed, width, and pure talent. Luis Diaz could singlehandedly change the outcome of this game, but Colombia also have James Rodriguez to find the back of the net through crafty passing.

Switzerland have experience on their side, they’re organized defensively and unlikely to give up many chances. Colombia need to be mindful of this and play with a degree of maturity. If they play through the midfield, capitalize on turnovers with aggression, and get Diaz isolated against defenders Colombia have the better attackers if the match opens up. In what could be a low-scoring game with few opportunities, Colombia have players who can capitalize on a single opportunity.

Jim's Play: 225595. Columbia

Spain can certainly win this, they’ve earned the right to be favored on Monday with the cleaner recent slate entering the Round of 16, better possession profile and more reliable defensive form heading into the game. Spain are currently favored as well, priced around 10-11 to win outright in 90 minutes and 4-9 to qualify which shows just how heavily this matchup is being tilted in La Roja’s favor.

Spain’s advantage is on possession. Against Austria, Spain won comfortably, 3-0, but they also did so with complete defensive dominance allowing zero shots on goal. That is key against Portugal who have dangerous players who need the ball in threatening spots. Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva are all threats who need touches to make things happen. If Spain can dominate possession through their midfield like they did against Austria, Portugal can find themselves victim to long periods without the ball.

Don’t get me wrong, Portugal is dangerous. They punched their ticket with a 2-1 win in extra-time against Croatia but Spain looked far more sharp and complete against Slovakia. Spain have too many ways to hurt Portugal for me. If they win the midfield battle they can slow the game down with Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s young core can break Portugal apart in several ways.

The other aspect? Balance. Portugal have stars, yes, but Spain connect across the pitch better. They can disrupt Portugal with their press, prevent Ronaldo from seeing the ball with their midfield and have dangerous wingers who can force Portugal’s fullbacks to play defensive roles.

Give me Spain to control the match, keep Portugal’s transition opportunities to a minimum and earn the better chances to score over 90 minutes.

Jim's Play: 225583. Spain  

Mexico can pull off an upset on Sunday for several reasons. This game checks all of the boxes of an upset recipe: home-field advantage, altitude, Mexico’s defensive form, and England looking shaky of late. That said, while Mexico are big underdogs, they are live at  around +200 on the money line or -0 goals and +1.10 on the goal line. The game kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Home field is the first advantage. El Tri is not just playing a neutral-site World Cup knockout game, they’re playing at the intimidating heights of Mexico City, where the crowd will make this feel like a countrywide celebration. England had to prepare for that advantage well in advance because of the travel. Not only will Mexico have the crowd support, they also have the benefit of playing at over 2,200 meters above sea level. England will again have to deal with the altitude affecting their game. Even Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel knows his team will have to overcome issues related to altitude, including condition, training, and even sleeping.

Jim's Play:  225580. Mexico 0

The USA opened as a huge favorite while the total opened at 2.5 goals. Given the line movement and match background, the over has plenty of value in this matchup on Wednesday, July 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET in Santa Clara. 

Why Bet the Over?  For starters, both teams should score, likely in a USA 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 type of game. The betting market has also already priced the over as the favorite, which is another factor that can't be ignored.

Digging deeper, there are plenty of reasons to bet the total up in this game. First, the U.S. attack. The Americans have the pieces to strike early, and one current tournament trend circles back to the U.S. scoring a first half goal in 10 of its last 13 matches against 2026 World Cup teams. Scoring first would open the game up and force Bosnia and Herzegovina out of its shell, which is exactly what over bettors are looking for.

Bosnia and Herzegovina gives itself plenty of chances to stay with this trend. They won't just bunker down for 90 minutes because they possess plenty of attacking threats to hurt teams that lose focus. Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced out of Group B with a draw against Canada, a loss to Switzerland, and a dominant victory over Qatar. They also possess the type of direct style that can create scoring chances without having the lion's share of possession.

This is also a knockout game, which typically leads to more scoring. If the U.S. jumps ahead, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to attack to equalize. If Bosnia and Herzegovina scores first, the USA has the pressure of home-field advantage and attacking weapons to equalize. It's a recipe for late goals no matter which team comes out on top.

Scoring is likely based on the tactical matchup as well. Bosnia’ bold attacking style will create chances against the U.S. back line, while the Americans should have enough speed up top to create chances vs. a structured but short-of-quality Bosnian defense.

Edin Dzeko will keep possession alive for Bosnia and Herzegovina while Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and the American midfield offers the U.S. multiple avenues to attack.

Jim's Play: 225537. Bosnia and Herzegovina vs USA Over 

England covering -1.5 goals simply means they win by two or more. You can start breaking this matchup down with the obvious disparity in quality. England are massive favorites going into this Round of 32 matchup, as the market has assigned England status as the overwhelming favorite with DR Congo pegged as a big-time underdog.

Reason #1 Why I Like England -1.5: Attack Depth. England will have different avenues to attack DR Congo with Harry Kane’s finishing, Bukayo Saka’ width, Jude Bellingham late runs, and Phil Foden’s creativity between the lines. If this game stays locked up for a bit, expect England to eventually break the Congo defense down thanks to their versatility in creating chances from wide areas and central partnerships.

The biggest strength DR Congo has heading into this matchup is their structure. The Africans have kept structured defensively all tournament long, and their tactics have been heavily inclined to sitting deep and frustrating their opponents. That’s the biggest thing that could threaten this side passing the handicap marker. However, sitting deep also leaves them vulnerable if England scores first. If DR Congo must chase the game, look for England to expose them down the wings even more with their speed advantage.

Scoring first also helps the favorite keep pouring pressure on in a knockout-stage game. England will likely want to come out banging and try to make a statement right away. They have the talent advantage to score on DR Congo, and if they take the lead at the break it will force Congo to open up in the second half. Once they do that, England can capitalize on the chances they create and keep adding on to put this game away.

England will have the advantage in set pieces as well. In close elimination games, corners and free kicks often decide who comes away with a victory. England have the height, crossing ability, and personnel in the box to make DR Congo pay if they are unable to find goals during open play.

Jim's Play: 225530. England -1.5 goals 

I look for Japan to win on Thursday and one reason why is because Japan has been the more consistent team through two group matches. Japan is unbeaten through a Netherlands draw and Tunisia victory in Group F while Sweden rode its edge-of-your-seat win over Tunisia to a colossal meltdown against the Dutch last week. That matters because Japan has proven it can beat both a top opponent and a weaker opponent while keeping things clean. Sweden’s profile has been much more boom-or-bust. 

Japan’s biggest advantage might be setup versus Sweden’s patchy defense. Reuters said Sweden manager Graham Potter told reporters that his team needs to shore up some defensive frailties against Japan or else get more control of space between the lines. He noted Japan could hurt them on the wings and through the middle, which dovetails perfectly with how Japan attacks and poses problems. When the other manager is telling you he needs to clean things up at the back versus your team instead of telling you how he’ll attack you, that is usually a good sign the matchup favors you.

Japan has also displayed a more sustainable attacking flow. Daichi Kamada and Ayase Ueda are the ones to watch for Japan with Ueda coming off two goals against Tunisia while manager Moriyasu offered a post-match quote about how his team isn’t going into a Group F matchup just looking to survive. That should mean Japan will come out to play and with a first-place finish still very much alive, they’re unlikely to just accept a draw. Japan also has shown it can hurt opponents through the attack even against elite competition.

Finally, Japan deserves credit for accomplishing what it has without key contributors. Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma, and Takumi Minamino as missing in action for Japan due to injuries, but manager Moriyasu had nice things to say about how the team has adapted and stayed united to maintain a high level of play without them. If Japan is this good while missing multiple weapons, just imagine what it looks like when healthy. That’s not to say Sweden doesn’t have its weapons with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, but Japan just looks more complete to me over 90 minutes.

 If Japan can get ahead, I think the game tilts even more in their direction as Sweden will have to abandon some defensive principles to find goals of their own. Could be a close game, but Japan should control long periods of this game either way and come out on top.

Jim's Play: 225234. Japan

Mexico should be favored to win this Group A finale for several reasons. For starters, Mexico has mostly earned it through the first two games. Mexico has six points, two wins, and zero goals against as reasons why they have already won Group A, and I agree. Mexico dominated both South Africa and South Korea while playing stingy defense. Mexico will also be playing at home where it has another advantage in the crowd at Azteca. Czech coach Miroslav Koubek was not shy about Mexico’s home-field advantage telling reporters that it “will be difficult to play against Mexico at this stadium.”

Likewise, this matchup is favorable because Czechia has struggled to close out games. The Czechs lost 2-1 to South Korea after taking the lead and drew 1-1 with South Africa despite another opener.  Dropping points from winning positions in two straight games will not bode well against a Mexico team that has been far more disciplined than what Czechia has faced so far. This Mexico team has yet to be broken down at all, so if Czechia gets behind AGAIN, there’s a good chance they’ll have to play with more space than they’re accustomed to.

Lastly, Mexico has a reason to prove something still. Head coach Javier Aguirre told reporters that he wants to see Mexico play with more consistency and discipline for 90 minutes. Aguirre is still looking for answers despite Mexico’s perfect start, so we should probably expect him to continue pushing players until he finds the right combination. Aguirre is not making sentimental decisions when it comes to finalizing his lineup, so even if he rotates a few spots he should still field a competitive team that he thinks can win.

Expect Mexico to grind out another victory while looking more balanced than Czechia. The way Mexico wins is by playing with patience and allowing Czechia to make a mistake. Mexico has the better defense, better crowd support, and is playing a team that can’t keep leads. All recipe for a Mexico controlled game as time passes. I'm taking Mexico to win here on Wednesday.

Jim's Play: 225217. Mexico

Morocco should certainly have enough goals in them to cover here even with something to play for. Morocco sits on four points after a 1-1 draw with Brazil and a victory over Scotland, while head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said a win over Haiti would put them on seven points and set up a legitimate opportunity to finish above Brazil in the group. Equally notable, he suggested Morocco will still play their strongest available lineup. That is key for a 2-goal handicap because there is no sense they are just going to roll over here or rotate heavily while this match still matters.

The line also leans towards Morocco when we look at the matchup. Haiti are already eliminated after losing their first two matches to Scotland and Brazil. More specifically, they lost 1-0 to Scotland while getting blown out 3-0 vs Brazil. Morocco meanwhile have shown by grabbing a point against Brazil that they can hang with top competition, and they have generally been harder to score on than Haiti. If Brazil could score three goals against Haiti, Morocco should have every opportunity to hit a 2-0, 3-0, or 3-1 type score if they dominate possession and capitalize on early chances.

Really the biggest factor in favor of this angle is how the game will play once it begins. Haiti’s own head coach said his team will be looking to secure their first-ever points at a World Cup, captain Johny Placide is retiring after this match, which means they have both competitive reasons and emotional reasons to play and attack from the opening whistle. Haiti will have every incentive to stay in the match, but that could work against them if they give Morocco an early goal. The bigger obstacle for Morocco might actually be the other way around: if they fail to score early, they could find themselves in a defensive chess match against a Haitian side instructed to sit deep and survive.

As it stands my I see Morocco controling  this game, wear Haiti down, and enter the 3-0 final score range. 

Jim's Play: 225210. Morocco -2 goals

I think Morocco can win outright on Friday. This is one of those matchups where I like basing my decision off of which team has more talent and which team has more bite to its attack. Morocco’s opening result was a 1-1 draw with Brazil, which was one of the best outcomes of group play overall. Scotland boss Steve Clarke calling Morocco “even better” than the squad that reached the semifinals at USA 2022. Clarke also hinted Scotland would probably be forced into a more defensive mindset here, perhaps even utilizing a five-man backline because Scotland’s biggest worry has to be Morocco’ s play on the wings, particularly Achraf Hakimi. If you’re setting up that way, it usually means a lot: Scotland has the matchup figured out and realizes Morocco has more chance to control the outcomes when the game does get dangerous.

Scotland also struggled more against its Group G opponent. Haiti is not Brazil. Yes, Scotland got the 1-0 win, but it was far from convincing. Coupled with  Scotland manager Steve Clarke preparing his team to “try not to lose” instead of try to win this match, I like betting on which team has the higher potential to win by multiple goals. Morocco does not need to explode for six or seven goals to win this football game. If it’s tactical and boring, that normally benefits Morocco because they have enough individual talent to change a 1-0 or 2-0 game with a single play.

Jim's Play: 225349 Morocco

The 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Final is set for Sunday, March 23, 2025, featuring Mexico and Panama at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California at 9:30 PM ET (6:30 PM PT). 

Mexico under coach Javier Aguirre. Mexico secured their spot in the final with a 2-0 victory over Canada, highlighted by Raul Jimenez's two goals. Jimenez's performance was instrumental, scoring early and adding a second with a free kick. Mexico aims to capture their first Nations League title, having previously won the 2023 Gold Cup at the same venue. Panama coached by Thomas Christiansen. Panama reached the final by defeating the United States 1-0, with Cecilio Waterman scoring in stoppage time. This marks Panama's first appearance in the Nations League final, reflecting their progress under Christiansen's leadershi. In recent encounters, Mexico has maintained dominance over Panama. March 21, 2024 (Nations League): Panama 0-3 Mexico. July 16, 2023 (Gold Cup): Mexico 1-0 Panama. June 18, 2023 (Nations League) Panama 0-1 Mexico. February 2, 2022 (World Cup Qualifying): Mexico 1-0 Panama. September 8, 2021 (World Cup Qualifying): Panama 1-1 Mexico. Mexico enters the final with a psychological advantage, having consistently defeated Panama in recent years. Their robust defense and the attacking prowess of Jimenez and Gimenez position them as favorites. With the USA out of the finals that opens it up for Mexico here on Sunday. Play Mexico. 

The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) is set to face Canada in the third-place playoff of the 2025 Concacaf Nations League on Sunday, March 23, 2025. The match will kick off at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (3:00 PM Pacific Time) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Though not the grand final, this match holds weight. For both the United States and Canada, it’s a chance to restore pride, gain momentum ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup, and fine-tune their squads as they both gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they’re co-hosting alongside Mexico. A bronze medal in the Nations League isn’t the ultimate prize, but for two nations with growing soccer expectations, it’s meaningful—especially coming off semifinal losses that left fans and managers frustrated. The U.S. enters this match under pressure following a disappointing 1-0 semifinal loss to Panama. Mauricio Pochettino’s side struggled with cohesion and energy. His post-match remarks hinted at deeper concerns: motivation, leadership, and perhaps a need to rethink tactical roles. With stars like Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, there's no shortage of talent—but converting that into results is the key. Canada fell to Mexico in the semifinals, 2-0, and while that result was expected by some, Jesse Marsch’s squad still has plenty to prove. The team looked dangerous in spurts, with Jacob Shaffelburg emerging as a breakout performer. Canada’s recent success—including beating the U.S. last September—shows they’re no longer underdogs in this rivalry. The rivalry has tightened in recent years. In their last five meetings the momentum has swun slightly to Canada. However, historically, the U.S. has had the upper hand.  USA must control tempo early and improve in the final third. Transition defense has to be sharper against Canada’s pace. Canada looks to sit compact and break on the counter. Exploiting space behind U.S. fullbacks will be crucial. Tough call here as this one will be tight, but I expect either team to finish with a 2-1 win and as such I'll be on the OVER. 

Sweden advanced to this stage by knocking out favorite USA in penalty kicks. It looked like the USA was going to win the kickoff, but they missed two late shots to give Sweden the win. Meanwhile, Japan is coming off a win over Norway, 3-1. Japan has also scored 14 goals while allowing just one goal. That makes Japan the top team in the World Cup in goal differential. Sweden is third in goal differential with a 9-1 advantage. Have to think Sweden might be in for a bit of a letdown after beating the USA in that emotional penalty kick segment. Plus Japan just has so many weapons on offense. I'll take Japan here today on the money line as a small dog. Play Japan money line.

 In what might be their biggest test thus far, the USA Women's team looks to continue defending of their World Cup Championship here early on Sunday against Sweden. The USA really limped through the group section. First they beat Vietnam 3-0 as a 6 1/2 goal favorite. Then they had to come from behind to gain a draw with the Netherlands, 1-1. And in their final group game, they needed a draw or win to advance vs Portugal. A loss and they were eliminated. They did draw, 0-0. But three games they were big favorites in and they just did get by. As for Sweden, they are the World's 2nd ranked team. They opened World Cup with a win over South Africa, 2-1, then easily beat Italy, 5-0 and finally a 2-0 win over Argentina. They have a 9-1 goal advantage this World Cup. I have not been impressed with the way the USA has played thus far. And, to make matters worse they will be without a key player for this game. Rose Lavelle picked up her second yellow card in the game vs Portugal and will be suspended for this round of 16 game. Lavelle is considered one of the team's top players. I will take Sweden here on Sunday on the goal line +1/2 goal.  

Women's World Cup continues on the other side of the world in Australia as the USA faces Portugal in this 3AM Eastern clash. This is the final group game. If Portugal wins they advance to the next stage. If they draw then they need the Netherlands to lose to Vietnam to advance. The USA will advance with a win or a draw. They just not need to lose to advance. The USA had a draw with the Netherlands in their last game. Portugal beat Vietnam, 2-0. The USA is a big favorite here today so a loss would be a shock. They only need to NOT lose to advance. The USA haven't lost in 19 straight Women's World Cup games with 15 wins and four draws. I expect a win here early in the morning by the USA. I'm going to lay 1.5 goals.

Brisbane Stadium is the host site on Saturday morning for this Women's World Cup clash between France and Brazil. This group F match has what are expected to be the two best teams. France opened with a difficult 0-0 draw last Sunday against Jamaica. Meanwhile, Brazil cruised to an easy win over Panama on Monday, 4-0. This is one of the marquee matchups thus far as France is ranked No 5 in the FIFA standings and Brazin is No 8. France is 5-2-1 in 2023 and Brazil is 4-0-3. France has taken the last meeting between these clubs in 2022, 2-1. Both teams can score as both average right around two goals per game. Very even match here on Saturday, but I'll take Brazil at this nice dog price. Play Brazil.

UEFA Championship League action here on Wednesday has Chelsea taking on Real Madrid. Real Madrid are the reigning EUFA Champions and have lost just one of their last 10 EUFA games. This is the third consecutive season that these two teams have met. They are 1-1 in the previous two games with Madrid winning in the quarter-finals last season. Chelsea in a bit of a funk, losing to Wolverhampton on Saturday and now winless in their last four games. In addition, they have gone 323 minutes in the Premier league without a goal. Real Madrid at home here today makes a huge difference. With Chelsea's recent form and home field to Madrid, I'll be on Real Madrid here today.

It's two storied rivals meeting tonight in the CONCACAF Women's Championship as the USA and Canada will meet to crown a champion. This is the first time these teams have played each other since last year's Olympic match which Canada won, 1-0.  That was a rare win for Canada too. In their 25-game history, the USA has won 20 of the previous 25 meetings with their neighbors to the North.  The USA has also been on a 17-game unbeaten streak since their loss to the Reds in the Olympics.  

Both teams breezed through their group play and both teams did not allow a single goal, outscoring both of their opponents by a goal differential of 12-0. The USA has won this Concacaf eight times, whil Canada has won twice and been runner up five times.  Both teams in excellent form and both playing great defense too. The USA team still has a bad taste in their mouth from that loss in the Olympic and their recent play proves they are on a mission. This will be the revenge game here tonight the USA women's team. Play USA.

Premier league action here today as Southamtpton hosts Aston Villa at Saint Mary's Stadium. Both teams have struggled of late. Southampton has eight points over their last six matches while Aston Villa has lost four consecutive games. Southampton has recent wins over Leeds and Watford and a draw with Burnley over their last four matches. Villa has struggled, but more so on the road where they have lost to Tottenham, Aresenal and West Ham. Moreover, they have a -7 goal differential during that span. This almost looks like a gift today with this Southampton club. Take Southampton

It's the final of the 2020 EURO Futbal championship as Italy takes on England for the title. Home advantage here today to England as this game will be played in Wembley Stadium. Italy got here via a penalty shootout with Spain. England was tied with Denmark, 1-1 after regulation and that game too 120 minutes of play for England to come out on top, 2-1. England hasn't played in a major tournament final for 55 years. Italy bring a 33-game unbeaten streak into today's contest and a +76-goal differential. England had five clean sheets in a row before Denmark broke that streak early in their semifinal game. That's a testament to this English defense, which has been great. I see this game being tied at the end of regulation, possibly 0-0! I don't believe these two teams will put three goals on the board in regulation to get this game over. I will take the UNDER and look for a close, hard fought contest. PLAY UNDER.

It's the final of the 2020 EURO Futbal championship as Italy takes on England for the title. Home advantage here today to England as this game will be played in Wembley Stadium. Italy got here via a penalty shootout with Spain. England was tied with Denmark, 1-1 after regulation and that game too 120 minutes of play for England to come out on top, 2-1. England hasn't played in a major tournament final for 55 years. Italy bring a 33-game unbeaten streak into today's contest and a +76-goal differential. England had five clean sheets in a row before Denmark broke that streak early in their semifinal game. That's a testament to this English defense, which has been great. I expect to see a close, low scoring game. I'll take Italy plus the half goal and lay the small price. Play Italy +.5 or +1/4 goals

The semifinals of Euro 2020 here has Denmark taking on England for the right to play Italy for the Championship. England has had an easy time getting to this point in the tournament and easily took care of the Ukraine in the quarterfinals. England is 4-0-1 in the tournament thus far. Denmark lost their opening match to Finland, but has risen to the cause since by scoring 10 goals over their last three matches. England has a huge advantage by playing at home here today. No wonder then why the line has Denmark at +4.15 on the money line. England has held their last three opponents to no goals and scored six times themselves. So this game will have the Denmark hot offense against this England defense. Denmark has the 2nd most goals in the tournament. Should be a great game and if Denmark can get a lead, they have a great chance to win. I'll take the Danes on the goal line at +.5 and +1.30. Play Denmark.

Two of the world's best meet here on Tuesday in the 2020 Euro semi-finals as Italy takes on Spain. The winner of this game will head to the Euro Finals. Italy had a huge win over the world's top ranked team in Belgium, 2-1. The Italians have now run their unbeaten streak to 32 games. Italy has one of the best defenses, evidenced by holding offensive powerhouse Belgium to just a single goal. You have to go back to 2018 vs Portugal for Italy's last loss. Meanwhile, it's been a bumpy road here for Spain. They had to go to extra time in the round of 16 to defeat Croatia and then penalty kicks in the round of eight. Spain finished the group play 1-0-2, having opened with two draws and then a win. That makes them 7-0-3 over their last 10 games while Italy is 10-0 in their last 10. This looks to be another nail biter, but Italy looks like a team determined to get to the finals. Play Italy.

Baku is the site for this Euro Championship matchup between Denmark and Czech Republic. Denmark fresh off their 4-0 win over Wales while the Czechs got here via their win over Netherlands, 2-0. The Czech's only loss thus far was to England, 0-1. Denmark lost their opening game to Finland in a emotional game that saw Christian Eriksen collapse on the field around halftime. Denmark then dropped their second game to Belgium. But a 4-1 win over Russia got them into the next round based on goal differentials. Denmark has now won their last two Euro games and is 5-4-1 overall their last 10 competitions. Meanwhile, the Czechs are 2-1-1 in Euro play and 5-3-2 in their last 10 overall. If Denmark can match their play they did vs Wales, this will be a win for them today. I believe the Danes are the better team at this point and that's who I will be on today. Play Denmark.

A pair of heavyweights go toe-to-toe here in the Elite 8 of the Euro 2020's as Italy takes on Belguim. Belgium is ranked the World's number one team and have not lost this year. Both teams are in great form with Belgium going 9-0-1 over their last 10 games and Italy at 10-0-0 in their last 10 games. Difficult game here with these two teams facing each other. I'm taking Italy only because Belgium is having some injury issues. I'll take the shot with Italy here today.

Ukraine can thank Sweden for their even being in the 16 knockout round. It was Sweden's later winner in Group E play last week that helped push this Ukraine squad into this round. Sweden has been in fine form with a 2-0-1 group round in the Euros and a 7-0-2 record their last nine overall matches. Can't say the same for this Ukraine squad. Not only were they lucky to get here but they were just 1-2 in the group round. They are 4-4-1 overall their last nine games. Sweden just playing too well for this Ukraine team to handle. I look for an easy Sweden win.

Belgium is the top rated team in the World and they proved it in the group stages with a perfect 3-0 record and also improved to 8-0-1 in their last nine overall competition matches. Portugal qualified behind France and Germany. This is a tough game here today. While Belgium is the best right now, they get a tough draw in a good Portugal team. Portugal was only 1-1-1 in their group stage. They are also 4-3-2 in their last nine overall games. Still, they have Cristiano Ronolado. Even if Portugal gets past Belgium here today, they still have France, Italy and Spain they will likely have to face. I'm taking Belgium here today as they have had the better overall form.

Italy is one of the favorites to win this year's Euro's after going through the group stage unbeaten. In fact the Italian team has now won 11 games in a row and an undefeated streak of 30 games. They will face an Austria team making it's first ever knockout stage appearance. Austria was 2-1 in the group play and they are 4-4-1 overall their last nine matches. Odds really stack against Austria here against this Italian powerhouse team. Line is a bit stiff, but Italy is the play here.

Wales and Denmark open the Knockout 16 play here on Saturday from Amstermam. Wales was second in group A play behind Italy. Denmark finished second to Belguim in Group B, despite losing their first two games. Wales lost to Italy in their final group match, 0-1. Denmark lost their opening game to Finland 0-1 and then to the top team in world, Belgium 1-2 before beating Russia 4-1 and advancing. Denmark became the first team in European Championship history to reach the knockout stage after having lost their first two group games. Denmark holds a 3-0 record in their last three competitions vs Wales. I'm taking the Denmark in this one.

Fine matchup here in the Final Group F meeting as France takes on Portugal. Reigning European Champion Portugal takes on 2016 runner up France here today. Portugal are not in the top two of the Group after a loss to Germany 2-4. Meanwhile, France is the top team in the group despite a 1-1 draw with Hungary. Portugal is 1-1 in their two Euro matches and 4-2-2 in their last eight matches overall. France is 1-0-1 in their two Euro games and 6-0-2 overall their last eight games. I'm taking France here today as they have been the better team of late. Portugal has the goal scoring power of Ronaldo, yet they will need some help if they lose here today. Play France.

Euro 2020 continues here on Tuesday in group D action. Both Scotland and Croatia have one point apiece thus far. Croatia had a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic while Scotland had a scoreless draw against England. Croatia needs win here today against Scotland and a England win over the Czech Republic if they hope to advance. Scotland still looking to score a goal in the Euro 2020. They have a loss and Draw thus far. Croatis has under-performed, but with their collective backs against the wall I look for them to come out on top here today. Play Croatia.

Match of past champions here in the 2020 Euros as 2018 World Cup Champ France takes on 2014 World Cup Champions Germany. Germany comes into this game with a 3-1-2 record in all competitions and France is 5-0-1 their last six in all competitions. France one of the best defensive teams in the World and that should be on display here today. Yes, this German team is formidable, but they are not the force they once were. This game looks to be low scoring and I believe the first goal could be the winning goal. Take UNDER.

Euro 2020 Campaign here on Saturday has Belguim taking on Russia. Belgium the favorite to win it all as they garnered all 30 points of 30 possible in the qualifications. This is Begium's first appearance at the Euros since 2000 and they expect to go all the way this year. Russia has been no slouch either, going 3-2-1 over their last six games in all matches. The last time these two teams met on the pitch resulted in a 3-3 tie during the 2017 friendlies. Belgium should take this game, the only question is the score. I'm taking the OVER and if we get one goal out of Russia we should get the win. Play OVER.

This tune-up game for the European Championships in mid-June finds both Denmark and Germany set to work on parts of their game that will improve them moving forward. Denmark comes into this game in fine form, winning three World Cup Qualifiers in a row and scoring 14 goals in process. They beat Austria 4-0 and Moldova, 8-0. Germany is 3-2-1 over their last six games in all competitions. Denmark playing fine football but Germany needs a win here more to raise their credentials as they get ready for the European Championships. Play Germany

Chelsea has looked forward to welcoming Arsenal back to the Stamford Bridge after losing to the Gunners early in the Premier League. A huge win over Manchester City all but assure them an all important 4th place finish. Arsenal still has an outside shot at 4th place after a win over West Brom, 3-1. Chelsea is now 4-1-1 in their last six Premier league matches while Arsenal is 3-2-1. These teams know each other very well, meeting over 200 times in their storied rivalry. I expect Chelsea to avenge that earlier loss this season. Play Chelsea.

Semi-final action here tonight in the Champions League has Chelsea hosting Real Madrid. Both teams coming off respective wins, Chelsea over Fulham and Real Madrid over Osasuna. Chelsea is 3-1-2 in its last six Champion League matches and all competitions. Meanwhile, Madrid is 4-0-2 over their last six Champion League matches. Two good defensive teams here but edge goes to Chelsea as the Madrid side a bit depleted. Offense edge to Chelsea too. Your play is on Chelsea today.

The lone game on the England Premier League here today has Leicester City taking on Southampton. Leicester City beat Southampton in the FA Cup Semi-finals just under two weeks ago, 1-0. Leicester City is now 4-2 over their last six in Premier League while Southampton is 2-4. Leicester City has done well on the road, only Manchester City has more points on the road this season. This looks to be another shutout win by City today. Take Leicester City.

First leg of the Champions League Semi-finals showdown here today. Chelsea survived to advance with a 2-1 win over Porto while Chelsea with a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the quarterfinals. Real Madrid is 4-1-1 in their Champion's League form while Chelsea is also 4-1-1. This looks to be another low scoring affair and I won't be surprised by a goalless stalemate here today. Lots of defense on display here today. Play UNDER.

Chelsea is back in the top four of the Premier league after a scoreless game against Brighton & Hove last Tuesday. West Ham United is now 5th in the table. Chelsea is 3-1-2 in their recent Premier League form and 3-2-1 in all competitions. West Ham is 3-2-1 over their last six Premier League matches. West Ham is facing a lot of injuries and possible suspensions as they enter play here today. I'll take Chelsea here today.

Arsenal and Everton meet here on Friday in Premier League Action. Arsenal are sitting in 9th place in the league, three points behind Everton. Everton has a four-game unbeaten streak heading into today's game. Everton has a semifinal date in the Europa League next week with Villareal. Arsenal is coming off a 1-1 draw with Fulham. Arsenal is just 2-1-3 in their last six Premier league games while Everton is 1-3-2 their last six. Everton has done well on the road though with nine wins in their 15 away Premier League games. I like the visitor in this one too. Play Everton.

Leicester City had a successful FA Cup appearance and now hopes that success will come over to the English Premier League. Leicester City won its first FA Cup in 52 years and now turn back to Premier League where they hold a 2-point lead for fifth place over Chelsea. Leicester City has not done real well in recent Premier league action with a 2-3-1 record compared to that of West Brom who is 3-2-1. Leicester City have dropped their last two Premier League games and that pressure is on here today. I like the FA Cup Champions who have some momentum to build on. Play Leicester City.

The second of the FA Cup semifinals here tonight at Wembley stadium. Leicester City is in the top four of the Premier league and sitting very nicely there. Southampton has nothing other than this FA Cup for the rest of the season. Leicester City is 4-0 in their last four FA Cup games and 3-2-1 in overall competitions. Southampton is also 4-0 in their last four FA Cup matches and 3-3 in their last six overall. Leicester City a small dog here on the money line and I like that since they are the better team of late. They have lost two straight to Southampton in FA cup action and I see that stopping here. Play Leicester City.

FA Cup semi finals here today from Wembley Stadium has Manchester City taking on Chelsea. Chelsea lost in last year's FA Cup final to Arsenal as they look to get there again this year. The mountain is tall as they play the best team in England and one of the best in the world in Manchester City. Both teams have looked very good in recent form going 4-0 in FA Cup with Chelsea 4-2 overall and Manchester City 5-1 overall in their last six matches. These teams are both playing very well so picking a side is tough here. For me, I'm looking for a hard fought match with maybe even a clean sheet on one side or the other. Play the UNDER.

Manchester City can move into the semi-finals with a win today over Dortmund. Manchester City has been in fine form, going 5-1 last six over all competitions and 5-0-1 in Champions League play. Dortmund meanwhils is just 2-2-2 over their last six overall and 3-1-2 their last six Champions league play. This should be a good game and a close one, but City is likely the team to beat in this Champions league and I will stick with them here and a small money line play. Play Manchester City.

The Arsenal gunners looking to snap a four game streak in which they haven't won a game, will make the trip to play Sheffield United here today. They will have a great chance today playing a United team that is the lowest scoring team in the Premier league. United has has just 17 goals in 30 matches. Sheffield is 1-5 over their last six matches while Arsenal is 2-3-2. Neither team in great form here today, but this is the spot that Arsenal needs to get back in the win column. Play Arsenal.

Manchester City best team this league by far in the Premier league as they have that all but wrapped-up. Now they have their eyes set on their first-ever Champions League title. They have not lost in 16 games and are coming off a easy win over Borussia Monchengladbach, 4-0. Conversely, Dortmund has struggled, with just one win in their last four and that was against a poor Hertha Berlin squad. For me this is an easy one, lay the 1 1/2 goals with a much better Manchester team and enjoy your win.

Both these clubs looking for back-to-back wins as they play this World Cup Qualifier on Sunday. Romania pulled out a dramatic win over North Macedonia, 3-2. Germany scored early to put their game away against Iceland, 3-0. Romania is now 4-2-1 over their last seven games. Germany is 5-1-1 over their last seven games. Romania has now scored 11 goals in their last three home games. I expect they will score here on Sunday and I know Germany will. I'm taking the OVER.

Hungary makes the trip here today to San Marino for this World Cup Qualifier. Hungary looking for their first victory in group play is the heavy favorite over the host. San Marino is at the bottom of the FIFA World Rankings in 210th place. They lost to England last time out, 0-5, though they went under the 7.5 point total. Hungary is coming off a draw with Poland, 3-3 last Thursday. Hungary was hoping for a win, leading twice in the game, the last with just 12 minutes to play. Hungary has faced San Marino four times, winning all four by a combined 19-0 margin. The total comes in around 4 in this game and that's very low for a team like San Marino that gives up lots of goals. We likely need Hungary to get this game over by themselves, but I think they can do it. Play OVER.

These teams meet for the first time since 2017 when Chile won in a World Cup Qualifier, 1-0. Chile one of the leading teams with the quality of their players. However, they didn't look like it much with 1 win a draw and a pair of loss. Chile shouldn't have any issues finding the back of the net here today against a much weaker Bolivian squad. Bolivia is 1-4-1 over their last six games, scoring 9 goals in that span. Chile is 2-2-2 in their last six games with 9 goals over that span. Chile has the talent to get two or more goals here today. If we can get one goal out of Bolivia, this game should get the over. That's my play here today in this matchup, OVER!

International Friendly match here on Thursday has Jamaica taking on the USA. These squads going in a bit different direction as Jamaica is rebuilding while the USA seems to be at their peak right now. The USA team has scored 22 goals over their last five games and look to be primed here today. Jamaica has been slightly less successful with just 12 goals over their last five games. One thing about Intl Friendly games, the VAR is usually off for these games so a goal scored usually stands with no VAR to review. I'm going to take the OVER here with a USA team that should get us some decent goals. Play OVER.

Ireland comes into today's qualifier winning just one of the last 11 games across all competitions. Serbia is the Irish main rivals in this group. Serbia isn't exactly thrilling anyone this year either, having won just two times in their last 11 games. Serbia has been involved in back-to-back goalless draws vs Coasta Rica and Dominican Republic. This games looks to be another one where the scoreboard won't get much use. Play UNDER.

Round of 16 action here in the UEFA Champions League. The Italian team, Lazio, is coming off a 1-4 home loss in their first leg. Bayern looks to have this Champions League wrapped-up, going 3-0 in their matches in a very dominatnt way. They have beaten Kohn 5-1, Borussio Dortmund 4-2 and Werder Bremen, 3-1. Lazio has lost its last two games to Bologna, 2-0 and Juventus 1-3. The team is in 7th place. Bayern looks to use Lazio as just another of its fodder here en route to their Champions League title. Bayner should easily score three or more goals here today. IF we can get one out of Lazio, this game should go over. Play OVER.

Round of 16 action here in the UEFA Champions League. The Italian team, Lazio, is coming off a 1-4 home loss in their first leg. Bayern looks to have this Champions League wrapped-up, going 3-0 in their matches in a very dominatnt way. They have beaten Kohn 5-1, Borussio Dortmund 4-2 and Werder Bremen, 3-1. Lazio has lost its last two games to Bologna, 2-0 and Juventus 1-3. The team is in 7th place. Bayern looks to use Lazio as just another of its fodder here en route to their Champions League title. Take Bayern Munich on the Goal Line -1 1/2 goals.

Atalanta from the Italian Series A league is a fast paced team that lends itself to overs. Real Madrid is also a good scoring team. Madrid, the Spanish Champions, enter this game off a win over Elche in La Liga, 2-1. Atalanta has been off since last Friday so they have had some time to rest and prepare for this matchup. They won that game last Friday over Spezia, 3-1. Atalanta has won its last five away games in the Champion's league. They visit Madrid here today for the first time ever, only have played Real Madrid just once in their history. Should be a great matchup here today. I won't pick a side, but I'll be on the OVER.

Barcelona looking to rebound from their 1-4 defeat in the first leg of this EUFA Champions league. PSG, the French Champion, lost last time on their home pitch, a 0-2 defeat to their rivals, Monaco. PSG has not lost back-to-back home games since 2009. The had won six league games prior to that setback to Monaco. Barcelona comes into this contest with four consecutive wins across all competitions. While this will be an excellent match, can't see PSG losing again at home. Play Paris St German.

EUFA Champions League action here on Tuesday has Sevilla taking on Borussia Dortmund. Sevilla enters today's play in 4th place in the Spain's La Liga and have lost four of their last five games. They take on the German team of Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund held a 2-0 lead over one of the world's premier teams in Bayern Munich but couldn't hold on for the win. Hard for me to be on the Spain side here the way they have played and now playing in Germany. Dortmund has been the better of the two teams and I expect them to move on to the quarterfinals. Play Borussia Dortmund.

Crotone looks like they could be easily be facing relegation as they are at the bottom of the Italy Series A Standings. Atalanta has been in fine form, going 4-1-1 in Series A and 4-1-1 in all competitions. Last time these teams met was a Atalanta blowout win, 5-1. No hope here today for Crotone. In fact I'm not sure they can even score a goal in this one. The total is 3.0 and I know Atalanta can get that over all by themselves if they have the motivation. I'm going to take a chance that the hosts won't be looking past today's fodder and will want to keep their good form going. Play the OVER.

 Manchester City can extend its winning streak to 21 games when they host Wolverhampton here on Tuesday. Manchester City is the top team in the English Premier League. Woverhampton has played better in February after a rocky December and January. This game looks to be no trouble for the best team in soccer right now. For me, I won't lay the big prices with Manchester City. However, I am going to play the total here today. City should get at least 3 goals in this one and that alone would get us the over. But I expect something from Wolverhampton also. I'm playing over in this matchup and won't be surprised if they go over in the first half. Play OVER.

UEFA Champion League action here today has Juventus taking on FC Porto. Porto, from the Portuguese league, has drawn their last four matches. Today they have to take on one of the giants in the Italian Series A division in Juventus. The Italian team has lost its last two games, including last weekend's setback to Napoli, 0-1. Don't let those two losses dissuade you though, they are the only two losses over their last 13 games in all competitions. Neither team has been in good form, but Juventus has been excellent in the Champion's league. This one looks to be lower scoring as I see Juventus getting the win. Play Juventus.

Italian Series A action here today as Bologna hosts Benevento. Both sides are fairly equal with both have 23 points in Series A action this year. Bologna is coming off a home win over Parma, 3-0. Bologna has had the better form of late with a 2-3 record their last five compared to Benevento's 0-3-2 record. Both clubs are in need of crucial points here today so I expect a good game with lots of scoring opportunities. I'm looking for at least four games in this game. Therefore, take the OVER.

FA Cup action here today has Barnsley hosting Chelsea. Barnsley is coming off a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest last Saturday in the EFL Championship. Chelsea is coming off over Sheffield United, 2-1, in the English Premier League. These teams last met last year in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup with Chelsea pounding Barnsley, 6-0. Barnsley has played well in the EFL, but have struggled of late. Chelsea has been in fine form and I expect Chelsea to get at least two goals here if not more. I'm taking the OVER.

These two teams resume their bitter rivalry here today at Turin. Juventus coming off a pretty easy win over SPAL, 4-0. Juventus has won four of their last five matches. Inter Milan has played eight straight away games where both sides have scored at least a goal. Juventus does boast the world's arguably best player in Cristiano Ronaldo who has 25 goals for the club this season. On the other side is Romelu Lukaku who has also scored 25 goals. Juventus hosting this game here today and I expect both teams to get on the scoreboard in this one. I'm going to take the OVER and enjoy the game. Play OVER.

Fulham in desperate need of a win here on Saturday as they host West Ham to Craven Cottage. Fulham has gone 11 games without a win compared to seven wins in the last eight games for West Ham. Fulham is coming off a loss to Leicester City, 0-2 and time is running out for Fulham to stay above relegation. Fulham has won a league low two games this campaign, though they have drawn on a regular basis. West Ham coming off a win over Aston Villa, 3-1. West Ham now 5th in the Premier League standings. They have their sights set on a European Spot as they trail 4th place Liverpool by just two points for 4th and that spot. Fulham may not be winning but they have proven difficult to beat. Coupled with West Ham's troubles on the road and this looks to be a close contest. For me though, I'm playing the UNDER.

 Both these clubs looking to bounce back after defeats in their last games. The Southampton Saints beaten by Arsenal, 1-3. Aston losing their last game to Burnley, 2-3. Southampton also fighting a long injury list that will come into play here on Saturday. Both these teams are evenly matched and difficult to pick a winner. I like this game in a 1-1 draw and therefore taking the UNDER.

Aston Villa plays just its second game after a long layoff. Aston is coming off a win in their first game back. Now they get to polay a Newcastle United team that has struggled to score goals. Aston took both games from Newcastle last season. Newcastle could face delegation if this drought continues and that means HC Steve Bruce might be in trouble soon. Newcastle has lost four straight games since mid-Decmeber. In addition they have just one goal over their last 650 minutes of action. Don't expect many goals in this game, but I'll be backing the home team here today. Take Aston Villa.

USA finally hit the turf for a real game last week at Wales. It had been a long time since the squad had been in a actual game and the rust was appearant, at least on the offensive side as they ended in a 0-0 draw with Wales. The last time these teams met was on June 26, 201 with the USA taking the game at home, 1-0. The last four games for Panama have resulted in either 1-0 contests, 0-0 against Guatamal or a 2-0 win over Guatamala. The USA had some chances to score against Wales, but couldn't finish them off, likely a result of such a long layoff. I expect the USA to get at least one goal today, but not really anything from Panama. Take the USA as they finally get on the scoreboard. USA -1, -1.16          

Marquee matchup here in the Champions League for Wednesday as Barcelona takes on Juventus. Looks like Juventus will be once again without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who is awaiting further testing after a positive Covid test. Both teams won their opening games of the Champions League. Barcelona will be without some key gogs here on defense today including Coutinho, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gerard Pique. Even without their superstar, Juventus has more talent up and down the lineup here. I'm going to take the Italian team in this one. Play Juventus.

EFL Championship play here on Wednesday as Nottingham takes on Luton Town. Luton won their last game, a 1-0 victory at Sheffield. Nottingham came away with a draw in their last contest 1-1 with Derby County. Luton will be without James Collins, forced to sitout with Covid positive test result. Nottingham is facing the real prospect of relegation as they sit just one-point above that line at present. These teams are fairly even, but for me I'm giving the edge here to the hosts. At +2.30 on the money line, the host is worth a play here today. Play Luton Town.

Premier League Champion Chelsea makes the road trip to Russia here today to take on Krasnodar in the Champions League play. Krasnodar finished third in their Russian Premier league last season. This year the host is just in 8th place as they off to a slow start. Krasnodar is coming off a 1-1 draw and now undefeated in their three Champions League games. Chelsea coming off a 0-0 draw against Manchester United. Five of their last seven games have resulted in draws. Their alignment against United was great at keeping Manchester off the board, but also blunted their own attack. Chelsea the big favorite here, but they have not played up to standards of late. I'm looking for a low scoring contest here on Wednesday. PLAY UNDER.

This was going to be a tough, close game anyways as Juventus and Dynamo Kiev meet here today in Kiev for the UEFA Champion's Leuge. But now it gets even tougher for this Juventus team. Juventus begins thier quest for a Champions League trophy without arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has had to self isolate back in Itay after testing positive for Covid. This is bad news for Juventus as Kiev will give them all they can handle. This has changed the perspective on this contest for the total. What normally might be high scoring, looks to be low scoring now. Play UNDER

This was going to be a tough, close game anyways as Juventus and Dynamo Kiev meet here today in Kiev for the UEFA Champion's Leuge. But now it gets even tougher for this Juventus team. Juventus begins thier quest for a Champions League trophy without arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has had to self isolate back in Itay after testing positive for Covid. This is bad news for Juventus as Kiev will give them all they can handle. I like the spread on this game taking the half goal with Kiev and won't be surprised with a outright win by the hosts. Play Dynamo Kiev

UEFA Champion's League final here today and it's a good one with powerhouse Bayern Munich taking on Paris Saint Germain. For me, I've been a huge backer of this German squad all year and have played them at every occasion. PSG is very good and while I expect a closer match then most of the time for Bayern, I still won't deviate from playing a team that has made me money all season. In addition, you don't get Bayern at even money or a slight dog very often, so you better jump on it. I'm sticking with Bayern Munich here on Sunday.

One of the two finals here in the UEFA Europa Champion's League. This should be a great matchup as La Liga's Seville is no stranger to winning this Champion's League. They have done so all five times they have reached the finals with the last in 2016. But what I love here is the UNDER. These are both great defensive clubs. Sevilla has allowed just one goal in their last six matches. Not to be outdone. Inter Milan has conceded just one goal over their last seven. This is an easy pick for me, I'm taking UNDER 2 1/2 goals.

Semi-Final action here in the UEFA Champion's League as Paris Saint Germain takes on RB Leipzig. Leipzig beat Atletic Madrid late to secure their spot here in the Semis. PSG also got by Italian Series A powerhouse Atalanta to get here. The winner here will have the difficult task in the finals of meeting up with Bayern Munich. PSG showed in the 2nd half of their game against the Italians that they were the better team. And if we look who will be the better team to face Bayern, that will be Leipzig which didn't loser to Munich in their two matches that both ended in draws (0-0 and 1-1). This should be a great matchup, but for me, the edge goes to Germans. They played the better team and won in the quarterfinals and I believe they can give Bayern Munich a run for its money. Take RB Leipzig +1/2 goal (+120).

Semi Final action here on Sunday in the UEFA Europa League as Manchester United and Sevilla matchup. Sevilla has won five straight EUROPA matches as they face arguably their best opponent thus far in United. Sevilla is unbeaten in their last 19 games dating back to February. Manchester United has lost just once in their last 24 matches. Manchester has had the more difficult road to this point with tough matches compared to those of Sevilla. I expect a close, tough match here on Sunday. However, I feel Sevilla has more left in the tank at this point compared to Manchester United. Definitely a possible draw outcome here, but I like the 2-1 value I get with Sevilla on the money line. I'll take Sevilla in this one.

Winner of this match between Lyon and Manchester City will advance to the Semifinals of the Champion's League. Manchester City is coming off a win over La Liga Champion Real Madrid. Lyon upended Italian Series A champion, Juventus. The winner of this game has the unenviable task of taking on Bayern Munich next week. City finished second in the Premier league and exited at the semi-final stage in the FA Cup. City has now won six of their last seven overall matches. Most impressive is that they have allowed just four goals during those six games. Both these teams coming off impressive wins. Still, City has much more pedigree coming into this one then the French side does. Lyon finished 7th in Ligue 1 and had lost four consecutive matches from the end of the break to the start. I'm impressed most with the City defense. I'm taking this one to go UNDER.

Hard to find a better team these days then Bayern Munich. Munich has won every game since the restart and have won their last 18 overall matches. This looks to be the marquee matchup of the quarterfinals in the Champion's League. Barcelona finished five points back of La Liga Champion Real Madrid. However, they have not looked as sharp this year as in past seasons. Munich has also been a scoring machine, with 31 goals in their eight games. I'm really a bit shocked at the low price here on the best team. I'm not passing on this gift Take Bayern Munich.

The Winner of this match advances to the semi-finals of the Europa Championship. This is the second appearance every for Leipzig in the UEFA Champions league and here they are facing ATletico Madrid for their chance at the Semis. Madrid has an impressive resume coming in here, having beaten Liverpool 1-0 and 3-2 to advance to this spot. Liverpool was one of the favorites and they beat them. Leipzig's only loss in their last six games came to Dortmund, 0-2. These two teams are both in good form and very equal across the board. The only thing that separates them in my opinion is experience and that goes to Madrid. Madrid has been to the quarterfinals five times in the last seven seasons, while this is fairly new ground for Leipzig. Take Atelico Madrid.

This should be a wild game as the highest scoring team from the Italy Series A and French league's matchup here on Wednesday. Atalanta broke scoring records in Series A play with 96 goals. Paris Saint German (PSG) were Ligue 1 champions in a shortened season. The French champs have won their last five games. First ever meeting between these clubs today. PSG will be without some key players due to injuries and suspensions. I look for plenty of goals in this one. It will be close, but I give the nod to the French in this one. Play Paris St Germain

This should be a wild game as the highest scoring team from the Italy Series A and French league's matchup here on Wednesday. Atalanta broke scoring records in Series A play with 96 goals. Paris Saint German (PSG) were Ligue 1 champions in a shortened season. The French champs have won their last five games. First ever meeting between these clubs today. PSG will be without some key players due to injuries and suspensions. I look for plenty of goals in this one. Take the OVER

Europa League Quarter-finals has Sevilla vs Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 7th in the English Premier league, their second season back at the top tier. They are coming off a win over Olympiakos, 1-0 to advance to today's contest. This is a defense first team and not very flashy in their style of play. Sevilla looked very good in their win over a very good Roma team, 2-0. This game looks to be a tough defensive battle today so I'll go UNDER.

UEFA Europa League action here on Monday has Bayern Leverkusen vs Inter Milan. Inter Milan comes into this game having won their round of 16 game over Getafe, 2-0. Milan finished second in the Series A league, just one point behind Champion Juventus. Milan extended their win streak to four and unbeaten streak to nine. Bayern plays in their first European quarterfinals since 2002. Bayern finished fifth in the Bundesliga league. Even though this game is being played on German soil, no fans pretty much negates that advantage. I'm taking Inter Milan here today.

Champions League action here on Friday has Manchester City hosting Real Madrid. Look for Madrid to put the pressure on City here as they need at least two scores to hope to advance. That will mean taking more chances which also will translate into counter attacks by City. Manchester City has also looked pretty flat against the better teams this year. For me, I like this game over as Madrid has to push the pace. Play OVER.

Last game for both of these teams as Series A comes to an end here on Sunday. Genoa still has something to play for as they hope to secure a spot in Series A and not rely on a loss by Lecce. Hellas Verona coming off a shutout win over SPAL 3-0. They are now 4 wins, 5 loss and 8 draws in their last 17 Series A matches. Genoa coming off a 0-5 drubbing at the hands of Sassuolo. Relegation is a possibility for Genoa so why put that into the hands of another game. Easier said then done I'm affraid. Genoa has been in terrible form and while they are in a must win, Verona is not and I don't like to put a bad team in a must win. Take Hellas Verona.

Juventus has locked-up another Series A title. Now they hope to continue their dominance at home where they have won 16 games this year and two draws with no losses. Juve has arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he's behind Ciro Immobile in goals 31-35. My issue with Juve here is that they are in cruise control since winning the title. They have won just twice in their last seven games. They are coming off a loss to Cagliari, 0-2. Still, this team hasn't lost on home soil in 39 straight Series A matches. Roma is stuck in 5th place and that means no Champion's league spot since they trail 4th place Lazio by 11 points with just one game to play. Roma has played well, winning six of their last seven with a draw. Nothing on the line here for either team, but Juve would like to keep that home winning streak. I'll take the home team here on Saturday. Play Juventus

Juventus has locked-up another Series A title. Now they hope to continue their dominance at home where they have won 16 games this year and two draws with no losses. Juve has arguably the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he's behind Ciro Immobile in goals 31-35. My issue with Juve here is that they are in cruise control since winning the title. They have won just twice in their last seven games. They are coming off a loss to Cagliari, 0-2. Still, this team hasn't lost on home soil in 39 straight Series A matches. Roma is stuck in 5th place and that means no Champion's league spot since they trail 4th place Lazio by 11 points with just one game to play. Roma has played well, winning six of their last seven with a draw. Nothing on the line here for either team, but Juve would like to keep that home winning streak. Play  OVER.

The English Championship Semi-Finals continue here as Cardiff and Fulham meet again. Fulham won the first leg of this playoff semi with a 2-0 shutout over Cardiff. Cardiff has done well on the road, winning four of the last five. Fulham has done well at home too, third best in the Championship. Fulham has taken the last two meetings at home over Cardiff. Tough spot here for the visitor having to rebound after a home loss to the same team. I don't expect much other income than we saw recently and that's a Fulham shutout again. Take Fulham - 1/2 goal.

Torino coming off a 1-1 draw to the worst team in Series A, SPAL. Roma coming off a win over Fiorentina, 2-1 and now sit fifth in the table. They are battling with Napoli and Milan for that fifth spot in the table. Roma has been in fine form with 5 wins and 1 draw in their last six games.  Torino has been very dependent on star player Andrea Belotti to get them goals. Roma shuts down Belotti and they win this one easily. Roma has won 15 of the 24 matches with Torino. Take Roma -1 goal.

AC Milan still fighting for a spot in the Europa League so don't expect any letdown today as they play at Sampdoria. Milan are fighting with Napoli and AS Roma for that fifth place in the Series A table. Sampdoria not having a good season as it sits 15th in the table. They have also lost their last two matches while Milan is undefeated in their last five. Take Milan -1 goal here on Wednesday.

20th place SPAL travels to play at 9th place Hellas Verona here on Wednesday. SPAL has won just three of their last 18 away games. Verona got pummeled last time out, losing 1-5 to Lazio. SPAL will be missing a lot of players here with Bonifazi suspended and five others missing due to injury. Neither team is very good, but SPAL has only 20 points out of a possible 108 this year. I'll take the home team in this one.

Inter Milan hosting its last game of the summer here on home turf. They face a Napoli team that is coming off a 2-0 win over Sassulo. However, Napoli got quite lucky as four Sassulo goals were overturned via VAR due to offsides. Milan beat Genoa over the weekend 3-0 and have secured a Champion's league return. Napoli has struggled on the road, collecting just four points in their last four Series A road games. Milan sits in second place in the table, just one point ahead of third place Atalanta (who is also in action today). Milan is also undefeated in their last six Series A contests. There should be plenty of goals in this game, but I'm backing the home club here. Play Inter Milan - 1/2 goals.

Inter Milan hosting its last game of the summer here on home turf. They face a Napoli team that is coming off a 2-0 win over Sassulo. However, Napoli got quite lucky as four Sassulo goals were overturned via VAR due to offsides. Milan beat Genoa over the weekend 3-0 and have secured a Champion's league return. Napoli has struggled on the road, collecting just four points in their last four Series A road games. Milan sits in second place in the table, just one point ahead of third place Atalanta (who is also in action today). Milan is also undefeated in their last six Series A contests. There should be plenty of goals in this game, but I'm backing the home club here. Play  the OVER.

Semifinals of the England Championship League here on Monday has Fulham playing at Cardiff. Both teams looking to get back into the Premier league and this is the starting point. A win today pushes one team a step closer to the Premier league. Both teams in good form with Fullham not having lost in their last seven matches. Cardiff has been decent too with a 4-2-0 record their last six matches. These teams have been scoring well too, especially when they meet. These teams are both healthy and both evenly matched. Too close to call a winner here, but I look for both clubs to score and get over this total. Play OVER.

Italy Series A action here on Sunday has Sampdoria at Juventus. Juventus looks to rebound after a tough loss to Udinese, 1-2. The season is winding down for Juventus as they look for another Series A title. Juventus boasts the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo. Juventus has not been all that good of late, going 1-4 in their last five games. Sampdoria is clear of relegation and good thing as they haven't fared well vs the top teams in the table. Still Juventus needs to improve on their recent form here today. Play Juventus -1 1/2 goals.

 Roma has seen good scoring in their games, evidenced by going over 2.5 goals in each of their last six Series A matches. They have also scored at least two goals in those matches. They will need to score and often here against a Fiorentina squad that are undefeated in their last six Series A matches. Roma can take solid hold of sixth place in the table with a win here on Sunday. Fiorentina has nothing to really play for as they are stuck at the bottom. If the visitor had anything to play for I'd likely be on the over here. However, with little on the line, I'm taking Roma -1 goal.