The 2014-15 English Premier League season kicks off Saturday, a perfect way to warm up – and hopefully build your bankroll – for the American football season that’s upon us.
Throughout the EPL season, The Linemakers on Sporting News will offer a helping handicapping hand for your soccer betting endeavors. We’re lucky enough to have a partner in Goal.com, which boasts a savvy group of prognosticators who know the league inside and out, and we’ll feature at least one of their betting previews each week, typically tied to NBC’s nationally-televised game.
We’ll also provide regularly updated futures odds from Las Vegas. On the eve of the season, Sporting News’ Ben Valentine writes Chelsea, the favorite at the LVH SuperBook, is priced at 7-to-4 odds to win this season’s title, unchanged from the numbers posted immediately after this summer’s World Cup.
Second-choice Manchester City has actually seen its odds slightly lengthen from a month ago, from 2-to-1 to 5-to-2, and the Citizens’ biggest rivals, the Red Devils of Manchester United, had their number moved from 5-to-1 to 4-to-1.
Arsenal, after beating City 3-0 last Sunday for the Community Shield (which matches up the winners of the previous season’s league and FA Cup), saw its odds shortened to 11-to-2 from 6-to-1.
Speaking of Arsenal, the Gunners’ home match against Crystal Palace on Saturday gets national television treatment in the U.S., with NBC’s coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The LVH lists Arsenal as the heavy -425 home favorites, with underdog Crystal Palace offered at a fat 12-to-1 and the draw priced at 5-to-1.
If laying -425 isn’t your cup of tea yet you still want to back Arsenal here, the LVH offers the Gunners at -1.5 goals for -125, while the Eagles can be had at +1.5 goals for -105. The posted total at the LVH is 2.5 goals (OVER -135, UNDER +115).
Sports books outside of Las Vegas are offering +160 odds on Arsenal scoring the first goal of the match inside the first 24 minutes. Goal.com handicapper William Duncan writes while the Gunners can be expected to get off to a fast start, the better value “may lie in backing Arsenal to win both halves – as they did against Manchester City at Wembley last Sunday – at a supremely generous 15-to-8 (+187.50), and that is the recommended play for bettors this weekend.”
