Soccer Betting Tips & Discussion

Daniel Cooper40 said:Since Russia is hosting the Euros, every single benchwarmer is going to be desperate to prove themselves just to snag a spot on the roster.

They aren't—the French are the hosts 🤷

Russia is hosting the 2018 World Cup.

Poland vs. Czechia at 1.95—that’s the play.

It’s honestly so obvious—we’re looking at these overrated national teams that boast massive attacking lineups but have absolutely nothing when it comes to defense. Look, this was just a friendly match; there’s zero reason to sit back, play defensive, or get overly physical. It’s supposed to be about testing the offense! Just look at the recent track records: the last four games for the Americans were 4:2, 2:1, 2:2, and a total blowout 8:1. Meanwhile, the last four for the Germans went 4:1, 2:3, 0:2, 1:2, and 2:1. The numbers don't lie—these teams are all gas and no brakes.

Slovakia vs Iceland at 1.95 odds—I'm calling it now.

It’s the exact same pattern—those last two Slovakia matches ended 3:2, and just a few days ago they were sitting at a 4:1 win in Slovakia, just like today. Iceland looks to have a bit more bite in their defense this year, but then again, they just played Poland a couple of days ago and it ended 4:2.

Austria vs. Switzerland at 1.85—it’s gotta be them.

It’s the same old story with friendlies—total unpredictability. Looking at the recent stats, Austria's last three outings were 1:4, 2:3, and 3:0. They're playing at home this time, so I’m practically counting on them to find the back of the net—it feels like a lock. On the other hand, you've got the Swiss, who had a wild 3:2 result against Slovakia in their last friendly. Their attack looks pretty decent with guys like Shaqiri, Kasami, Stocker, Inler, and Seferovic leading the charge.

Arsenal FC - Dinamo Chicago +2 (1.65) (SS, HL)

Arsenal is missing a few key guys, but then again, so is Dinamo Chicago. Arsène Wenger really needs this win if he wants any shot at making it to the next round. On top of that, he’ll need Olympiacos to slip up in Munich and for Arsenal to pull off a two-goal win in Greece. It's a long shot, but not impossible.

Daniel Cooper40 said:Arsenal vs Dinamo Chicago +2 (1.65) (SS, HL)

Arsenal is missing a few guys, but honestly, Dinamo is shorthanded too. Wenger absolutely needs this win if he wants any chance at moving into the next round. On top of that, they’ll need Olympiacos to slip up in Munich AND for Arsenal to pull off a two-goal victory in Greece. It's a tall order—but hey, nothing's impossible.

If they manage to secure a goal advantage today (and they will, because Bayern will basically hand it to them), then all they need is a one-goal margin if it ends 3:2 or something similar. They completely dominated the first leg, and by then, Ramsey, Walcott, and Oxlade-Chamberlain should be back in the lineup.

Olivier Giroud (idg+u)-Arsenal-Dinamo Chicago f2+ @2.20 /Arsenal(h0:3)-Dinamo Chicago 1 @4.50, Arsenal(h0:4)-Dinamo Chicago 1 @ 9.00

I wouldn't pass up an extra 0.6 in odds if I were you. Giroud is definitely playing the full 90 because they don't have anyone else upfront. He missed two massive sitters in the first game, and he’s definitely looking to make up for it—especially since his mistakes cost the team a red card. He’s in great form, though; scored in 8 of his last 10 matches.
Arsenal is actually stronger than they were in the first match, bringing back Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Giroud 😁 and Flamini (Arteta played the worst game of his life in the first leg and ended up being a man down for Arsenal). Despite being away, Arsenal had more shots on target, more corners, and 55% possession in the first game. Meanwhile, Dinamo is weakened without their two best players from the first leg, Pivarić and Adem. Plus, Eduardo has proven he's a total liability lately, which probably shook the confidence of his center-backs too. The most important thing? Arsenal went into the first game underestimating them, but this time, they're dead set on this. Expect a blowout.

FC Barcelona vs AS Roma +2 1.90

Roma has absences, they play terribly on the road, and their defense is about as solid as Swiss cheese. Barcelona, on the other hand, looks lethal after what we saw over the weekend; everyone is locked in. In the first match, which ended 1:1 in Italy, the shots on target were 1-12. Today, I’m expecting at least another 12-1 barrage (maybe even over 20), but this time with at least 3 goals, if not more. Even though a draw is enough for them to take first place, I doubt anyone is thinking that way—you've got the odds, the win bonuses, the bragging rights for fans and players... it's all on the table.

Bayer Leverkusen 2 at 1.80 SS

Looking at Group E in the Champions League, it’s honestly the only group where three teams are actually neck-and-neck fighting for a spot in the next round. Most bettors are currently piling onto the heavy favorites—everyone's betting on FC Barcelona because they basically only need a single point to move on, or Arsenal, who have been struggling lately and are dealing with a massive injury crisis. Now, even though I should mention upfront that the "pharmaceuticals" (Bayer) will be missing a few key starters—I think Bender might be out—they still feel like the bigger favorites here and really ought to walk away with all three points. If you look back at their first match, Bayer pulled off a 4-1 win at home, which was actually their only victory in the Champions League so far this season. Since Roma is heading to face FC Barcelona this round, and let's be real, they probably won't grab even a draw, Bayer ends up facing them in the final match. With those three points, they'd hit 8 total. On the flip side, Leverkusen has to play FC Barcelona in the final game, and expecting a guaranteed three points there is a huge stretch. That puts them in a position where they practically have to secure the win right now, maybe settling for a hard-fought draw against a Barcelona side that isn't necessarily playing for a win.

On the road, Bayer has shown some decent form, picking up 5 wins against 6 losses. But if you look closely, those losses were consecutive against clubs like FC Barcelona, Roma, Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and VfL Wolfsburg—teams that are objectively just better than them. Personally, I think the bookies have offered a pretty solid price here to take this one as a single bet.

Manchester United vs. PSV Eindhoven
Betting on Memphis Depay to score at @3.10

Here’s how the landscape looks right now. In Group B, VfL Wolfsburg is sitting pretty at the top with 9 points after their 0-2 loss to CSKA Moscow. Following them are Manchester United with 7 points and PSV with 6, though they still have to face each other. My gut tells me Manchester United pulls this one out to keep their Champions League dreams alive, while PSV cruises straight into the Europa League.
Now, why am I picking Memphis? Look, anyone can find the back of the net on a given day. But Memphis? He spent the last four years living and breathing at PSV. He knows the rhythm of the squad, he knows where the cracks are, and he knows exactly how to exploit them. Plus, he already showed his hand by scoring in the first match when PSV took it 2-1.
So, here’s the play: Manchester United wins, Memphis finds the net (but doesn't celebrate against his old club), and we collect the winnings. Good luck to us all. 🙂

7:00 PM Nikola Kalinić won't score @ 1.40

Word on the street is Kalinić holds some kind of record for getting fouled most in the Europa League—I actually saw a photo on Facebook showing his legs absolutely covered in bruises from all the hits he takes. Honestly, there’s no guarantee Kalinić plays the full 90 minutes today; he’ll probably just come on around the 70th minute, or if he starts, he might get subbed off by the 46th or 60th. They’re playing away against Sassuolo, and I’m smelling a slip-up from Fiorentina—definitely expecting an under here. So, in my opinion, at most one goal for Fiorentina, and it almost certainly won't be coming from Kalinić.

8:00 PM Islam Slimani (idg+u)-Sporting CP-Benfica f2+scores @ 2.05

Sporting is being led by Jesus, the guy who coached Benfica for six years right up until last season when they took the title. Anyway, Sporting is currently sitting in first. Slimani is their top scorer, but he didn't start in the last Europa League match because he had just played a brutal 120-minute cup game against Benfica—a game where they actually knocked Benfica out thanks to his goal in the 114th minute. The manager rested him despite how important the match was, so he only came on in the 71st minute for about 20 minutes of play. Today, he’s starting from the kickoff, and I’m expecting 2-3 goals from Sporting, which means one should definitely be his.

9:00 PM SSC Napoli (-2+)-Inter Milan under @ 3.20

The odds on Napoli are sitting at 1.80. Look, Inter is clearly the weaker side here, but they’re sitting in first place and are managed by Roberto Mancini. They aren't going to risk a draw and lose their grip on the top of the table. I’m betting Mancini will set up a super defensive lineup, making this a really gritty, tough match. We could easily see a 0-0, or maybe just a 1-0 for one side. Inter is actually dead last in the league for goal average, averaging only 1.77 per game.

Wednesday, 11/02
French Ligue 1

19:00 Guingamp - Stade de Reims 1
Stade de Reims played at home this past weekend and ended up with a 2:2 draw against Stade Rennais.
Before that, they were on a five-game losing streak.
They conceded at least two goals in every single one of those matches; their current form is essentially in freefall.
The home side isn't exactly playing brilliantly, but I suppose they are in slightly better shape than the visitors.
Given the decent odds and the fact that the away team is currently falling apart, it might be worth a shot.

USA @2.00

Dinamo Chicago vs Hajduk Split: 1 and Henriquez scores at 2.80 SS

The odds on this feel weirdly low, almost like they’re playing a bottom-tier side like Osijek or Inker, but hey, take what you can get. There isn't much deep thinking required here. Dinamo Chicago is clearly the better side, and honestly, they've got Hajduk Split's number lately. A win today puts them right back at the top of the table. On the flip side, Hajduk is showing up to Chicago with nearly their full squad, though word is they might be feeling the fatigue—as if playing twice a week is actually exhausting... >, a Dinamo win should be a lock, even with a handicap. Since Henriquez is easily Dinamo's best striker—not just right now, but for a good long stretch—and he's the designated penalty taker, he’s always my first shout for a goal scorer, regardless of whether he starts every single match. We really need to avoid making the same mistake we did with Duje Čop...

Dinamo vs Bayern h 1:0 2 HL 1.95
The gap in sheer quality here is just massive... Dinamo struggles enough as it is in their own domestic league, so how on earth could they possibly hold their own against the Germans? Those guys take even their friendly matches incredibly seriously and just seem to endure whatever pressure comes their way...

Kyle Morris7 said:Dinamo vs Bayern home 1:0 2 HL 1.95
The quality gap is massive. Dinamo struggles even in their own domestic league, so there's no way they can compete with the Germans, who take even their friendly matches seriously and just grind through them.

on SS it's @2

redjackal said:on the SS app, it's @2

But over on bet365, you can get it at 1.90 ☕

Dinamo Chicago vs Bayern Munich f+2 2,00

It seems pretty straightforward—the Germans approach every single match with serious intent, even when they're essentially running out a second string. Meanwhile, Dinamo Chicago just isn't finding their rhythm lately; they're struggling to find any real momentum. Both sides are going to be hungry for a win here, even if it doesn't change much for them in terms of the standings.

Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Barcelona both teams to score YES 1,60

Barca almost always manages to find the back of the net, and with a bit of a mixed lineup this time around, you can bet someone will be looking to make a name for themselves. Leverkusen absolutely has to secure a home win if they want a shot at progressing, especially considering their recent form—they've been both scoring and conceding quite a bit over their last five matches (though I haven't watched every minute of those).

Olympiacos vs Arsenal FC both teams to score YES 1,65

To my mind, this is a matchup where Olympiacos is actually a slight favorite, despite what the odds might suggest. Arsenal really needs to play on the front foot because they're hunting for a victory—whether that's via a handicap or a high-scoring thriller like 3:2 or 4:3. I see a real opportunity for both sides to get on the scoresheet. The only way this goes south for bettors is if the Greeks jump out to a 2:0 lead or if we see an early red card.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Maccabi TA 1 1,15

Dynamo Kyiv is quite simply the best team in Ukraine right now; they've been playing exceptionally well. On the other hand, Maccabi might have one of the weaker rosters in the Champions League this season, alongside Malmö FF, who at least managed to pick up some points. Kyiv desperately needs this win to ensure they advance from the group, especially since Chelsea FC and Porto are fighting it out for that second spot. (I can't recall the exact tiebreaker rules if three clubs end up tied on points—I know head-to-head matters if two are level, but if it's a three-way split at 5 points each, they likely look at goal difference). Currently, it looks like Dinamo Chicago is at 5:4, Chelsea FC is sitting at 3:3 and could stay there with a draw, while Porto is at 4:5 with the worst goal difference. Because of that, I suspect a draw might even be enough for Chelsea FC, whereas a win guarantees passage for Dynamo Kyiv.

Good luck to everyone!

Edit: SS sportsbook

wanderingfox86 said:I'm not entirely sure how they handle a draw if three teams end up tied on points—I know it goes to head-to-head if there's just two of them, though. It'd probably be some kind of mini-table situation where everyone sits on 5 points. Like, Dinamo is at 5:4, Chelsea is sitting at 3:3 right now (still stuck on zero since they haven't settled anything), and Porto is at 4:5 with the worst goal difference. So, my gut tells me a draw is enough for Chelsea, while Dinamo pretty much cruises through regardless with a win.

Yeah, if they all finish with 11 points, it becomes a three-way tiebreaker triangle.
In that scenario, the Ukrainians take first, Chelsea grabs second, and Porto ends up dropping down to the Europa League.

Personally, I’d say the value on Porto is sitting at about 4.00—though, if I’m being honest, I wouldn't dare touch that unless I was running some kind of specific system 😢

OlympPir(rgzb2,5)-Arsenal 2+ Over @ 3.20 (watch those lineups carefully)

I don't see Arsenal walking away with a 0-1 or 1-2 win here. We need to be looking at a 3-2, a 4-3, or some kind of handicap play. Honestly—if it’s sitting at 1-1 or maybe 0-1 around the 70th minute—the keeper is probably going to start playing like a midfielder, stepping up to the halfway line and throwing an extra attacker into the mix. In other words: total all-out attack. It’s going to be a gritty match, but I think Arsenal can pull it off. Regardless, if they're trailing 0-1, they'll push so hard that they'll either concede on a counter or throw everyone forward to level it—so betting on just 2 goals at 2.20 is a total waste of time.

The massive red flag for Arsenal is this injury list: Sanchez, Walcott, Cazorla, Arteta, Koscielny, Coquelin—not to mention Welbeck, Rosicky, and Wilshere are out long-term. If Sanchez, Walcott, and Cazorla are actually sidelined, I'm telling you, Arsenal's chances drop through the floor.

Fri 8:45 PM Roma - BATE Borisov both teams to score YES 1.95 (SS)

FC Barcelona has 13 points, while Roma and Bayer Leverkusen are sitting on 5, and BATE Borisov has 4. Neither side can afford to play for a draw here, so I’m anticipating an open, attacking game. Looking at the stats, Roma has pumped in 33 goals over their last 15 matches but conceded 27, which is just massive. They actually managed to find the net against everyone except Inter Milan away and Atalanta at home; the only time they kept a clean sheet was in that derby against SS Lazio. BATE has been slightly tighter defensively—conceding 18 in their last 15—but that’s still over a goal per game, and they’ve netted 27 themselves. Their only shutout was against Barcelona. In their first meeting over in Belarus, it was a wild 3:2 affair for the home side. I expect something similar tonight. I toyed with the idea of going Over 2.5 goals, but the BTTS odds look pretty decent to me.

Good luck 😉

Dinamo Chicago - Bayern Munich (handicap 1:0) - 2.00 (HL)

Look, I'll say it right now: Bayern is showing up without Robben, Neuer, Bernat, or Costa. Ribery is back, but Pep said he won't be playing the full match for sure. Still, they've got Lewandowski and Muller. Bayern is easily a top 3 team globally, and anyone getting a shot on the pitch is going to be hungry to prove themselves. Plus, they just lost in the league to Borussia Mönchengladbach, so they definitely don't want to follow that up with another bad result. Dinamo's midfield looks completely lost without Arijan Ademi; their game against Hajduk Split really showed how much they miss a player of his caliber. Sigal is back in the lineup, but let's be real—he's clearly not in peak form yet this season. He's nowhere near 100%.

AS Roma - BATE Borisov 1 (1.40) (HL)

Both teams are fighting to move on, though a win might be enough for Roma to coast through. Credit to BATE, though; they’ve played this group stage better than anyone expected, but I doubt they can pull off anything bigger here. Roma really needs to take this one and secure their spot in the next round of the LP.

20:00 RSC Anderlecht - Oostende X2 2,57 Marathonbet

That 1.50 on Anderlecht looks like a total trap to me. Honestly, seeing 6.8 for a straight away win and 2.57 for the double chance feels like the bookies are just throwing out numbers that don't make sense.
Look, I get it. Historically, Oostende has basically been Anderlecht's personal ATM. Anderlecht’s home record is sitting at 6:3:0, and you could argue Oostende has lost their way lately since they dropped two of their last three against bottom-feeders like KV Mechelen and St. Truiden.
But you can't ignore the context here. Just three weeks ago, Oostende was sitting at the top of the table—they're actually third right now, while Anderlecht is stuck in fourth. Plus, they smoked Anderlecht 3-1 back in the summer. Even on the road this season, they've only tasted defeat twice in nine matches, and both were narrow losses to KV Mechelen and Club Brugge. All things considered, that double chance value is too juicy to pass up.

Wednesday, 12/23/2015.

Iran, 1. league

12:15 Naft Tehran - Esteghlal 1 @1,35
Naft Tehran didn't perform particularly well during the first half of the season; they are currently sitting near the bottom of the table. I suppose a win here is essential for them to climb back toward the top and stay in contention for AFC Champions League spots.
The visitors are dead last. Their goal difference is abysmal at 1:16, and they have managed only one point from their last six matches. There shouldn't be much doubt about the outcome here, though I guess anyone knows the ball is round.

Italy, Serie B

20:30 Spezia - Como 1 @1,65
Como is at the bottom of the standings and in catastrophic form. It’s hard to remember the last time they actually secured a victory.
Spezia entered this season with high ambitions.
They are currently performing below expectations, but perhaps a win here will move them into the playoff zone. They seem to be in decent form, maintaining an unbeaten streak.

PSK @2,23
Bet365 @2,15