Matchday 8 bets

Before being sent off on another international break, the Premier League sends fans off with another weekend of high-level competitive football. Matchday eight's main event between Manchester City and Arsenal takes place on Sunday as last season's champion and runner-up face off for a spot at the top of the table. At the other end of the spectrum, Bournemouth and Sheffield look to get their first win. Other matches of interest are Newcastle vs. West Ham. Newcastle looks to continue building on three straight wins in the Premier League and an impressive 4-1 win in the Champions League vs. Mbappe's PSG.

Luton town vs. Tottenham

Tottenham -1.5 (+120)

Tottenham is coming into this match in excellent form, as they are currently at the top of the standings and have yet to taste defeat. I am picking Tottenham to cover the spread here. Luton Town is coming into this one off a short week as they had their rescheduled match versus Burnley on Tuesday. One stat that may sway readers the other way is Luton Town has not lost by more than one goal in their last five matches. Despite this stat, I am still siding with the Spurs. In games versus teams in the relegation zone like Luton Town, the Spurs have covered the -1.5 spread. 

Everton vs. bournemouth

Pick: Over 2.5 Goals (-120)

I am not picking a side in a match between two teams in the relegation zone with a combined total of one win. I am going to take the over. According to Fctables.com, both teams have gone over the total in four of their seven matches. Everton has not had a clean sheet all season, so it might be safe to say Bournemouth gets at least a goal here. Everton has shown significant improvement in the scoring department, scoring six goals in their last three games after starting the season, not having scored a goal in their first three games. Bournemouth has been and will continue to be bad on the defensive end. They are one of the lowest-rated teams, according to Whoscored.com, and have the second-worst goal differential in the league at -13. 

Brighton vs. liverpool

Pick: Over 1.5 Goals First Half (-110)

Brighton will host Liverpool as they look to regroup after being thrashed by Aston Villa 6-1. If you have been following my blog, you might be able to guess where I am going with my pick for this match-up. Yes, another week and another bet on the over for goals in a Brighton match. After last week versus Villa, the over 3.5 goals trend continues its perfect run. I am expecting goals and expecting them early. I am picking the over 1.5 goals in the first half. Last week, we saw Brighton concede three first-half goals. As I mentioned in last week's pick, Liverpool tends to concede first-half goals. After last week's match against Tottenham, it is now six out of seven matches that they concede a goal in the first half. Either the over for the first half or the full game (3.5 goals), I see no shortage of goals in this one.

Arsenal vs Manchester city

Pick: Manchester City Moneyline (+145)

It is now three weeks in a row that fans get a marquee matchup between two top three teams in the Standings. Fans get a showdown between last year's champion and runner-up.  Arsenal will host Manchester City at the Emirates as they look to stay undefeated in their 2023 campaign. My pick here is City on the moneyline (+145). The opportunity to get City plus money on the moneyline only happens a handful of times per year, and in my opinion, this is a great chance to cash in on it. Manchester City has had the Gunners number for years now. In Premier League matches, one would have to go back to 2017 for the last time City failed to get three points versus Arsenal, which was a draw. One would have to go back much further to find the last time the Gunners beat City. Despite being in shambles for most of that span, when Arsenal was at the top of the standings last season, they fell to City in both games with scores of 1-3 and 1-4. Until Arsenal proves they can beat Manchester City, I will continue to side with City, especially if they are getting plus money.