Boxing Day Soccer

89-74-8 on Soccer since World Cup up 12.63 units

Wolverhampton Wanderers +0 at -135 for 3 units. Fulham don’t have a clean sheet at home this season. Wolverhampton have been scoring for fun. Raul Jimenez has taken Chicharito’s role of top Mexican goalscorer in the Premier League for Wolverhampton. Wolves have scored 14 goals after halftime this season, so even if they get down, they can get it back, which I like. Midfielder Frank Anguissa is still out for Fulham. Fulham coach Claudio Ranieri has never won a Boxing Day match (0-4-2). Wolves have 25 points after 18 games, which is more than they had in the whole 2011-12 season. Fading the bottom feeders in this one.

Crystal Palace at -155 for 2 units. Kouyate and Hennessey should be back for Palace. Townsend scored the goal of his career last time out. His words, not mine. That goal is a certified banger though. Unreal strike. Cardiff are not so good on the road. Palace have won two in a row at Selhurst Park and have kept clean sheets in both. Cardiff have lost 7 of 8 away league matches this season. Zaha will frustrate the Cardiff defense. Value here.

Manchester United/Huddersfield over 2.5 at -145 for 2 units. No Mourinho = goals. Right?

Inter Milan +0.5 at -191 for 7 units. Inter Milan/Napoli under 2.5 goals for 2 units.

Home dog. Inter have won 6 straight at home in the league. Napoli and Inter have only given up 14 goals each on the season, tied for second behind Juve. Past two meetings between these two ended goalless. The Nerazzurri can pull within 5 points of Napoli with a win. Perisic will most likely slot in for the absent Nainggolan, who has been suspended. Nainggolan wants to return to Roma the rumor is. Icardi and Perisic can do enough here for Inter. Mazzoleni is the ref and Napoli fans feel he always calls more fouls for the other team… Just like this spot for Inter at home. IF Inter starts Borja Valero, I would not bet this as heavy… so wait for lineups… Valero does not have the pace or defensive ability to compete with Napoli’s midfield… 

Christmas Day NBA

61-53-2 on NBA in 2018 up 9.28 units

20-21-2 on NBA this season down 14.83 units

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Now place some bets, grab a beer (or egg nog or whiskey drink, or red wine, or kahlua and coffee), and find a room without in-laws….

Bucks/Knicks over 223.5 for 1 unit. Public is on the under. Giannis – Mario Hezonja rematch. Giannis and the Bucks pour it on in this one. The over/under keeps going down, but I like this spot.

Warriors -9 at -105 for 3 units. Lakers don’t have the perimeter defense or 3-point shooters to keep up with Golden State. The Grizzlies shot over 50% from deep on them last time out. Lakers play at one of the fastest paces in the league.. not a good recipe against the Warriors. Kuzma, Ball, and Ingram shoot about 30% from deep this season. Ball sucked from deep against the Grizzlies. Steph and KD are hot. I see a 119-105 type game here.

Bucks/Thunder/Celtics/Warriors Parlay risking 1.5 units to win 5.32 units. Bucks and Warriors will win, which leaves the Celtics and Thunder. Celtics beat the 76ers 4-1 in the playoffs last season and beat them on opening night this season. Joel Embiid said it best, “they always kick our ass.” Horford and Morris are back in the lineup. Kyrie has been streaky lately. Taking Boston at home. Houston lost on Christmas Day last year to the Thunder. The Thunder are better now and the Rockets are worse. Paul George is averaging 35/11 on 47% shooting from deep over the past week. Harden is hot too, averaging 39/9 over the past week. The Thunder’s ability to defend, score from the bench, and rebound win them this game.