Soccer Betting - Manchester City hopes to avoid relegation zone with a win at Fulham

In soccer betting, it only takes a few disappointing results for a clubs league standing to transform drastically and for the sports betting marketplace to shift accordingly, especially considering a tight league as the English Premiership.

Man City, perched perilously in the Premiership table with 17 points, a mere two points above clubs currently in the drop zone, must win at Craven Cottage Stadium on Saturday or they will be left in the relegation zone come Monday when all the club fixtures have played out.

It certainly won’t be easy for City to clinch the victory on the away as Fulham are enjoying a great run of results lately and have been overall excellent at home so far this term, winning five of their seven matches at Craven Cottage Stadium and conceding only five goals. In contrast, City has taken only three points in seven away games this season and that came as recently as August at Sunderland.

In a manner to attract attention, the soccer betting line is conspicuous by tight odds as the bookies tip both clubs at +165 on the money line; but surely, Fulham, more prominent in rank (tenth in the league) and form, should have been the clear-cut favourite. So what is the deal with these soccer odds?

Soccer Betting Line:

Fulham FC pk -110 +165 2½ O Ev U -120 Draw +225

Manchester City pk -110 +165 2½ O Ev U -120 Draw +225

Match Time 07:45 AM Eastern Time Saturday December 6, 2008

Soccer Betting Analysis:

Fulham FC +165: Fulham hauled 11 points in their last six matches in Premier League. At the Cottage, they picked up 13 points in their last six matches; most recently, beating in succession Wigan Athletic, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspurs. Obduracy on the road has seen them hold top of the table Liverpool and fifth-ranked Aston Villa to scoreless draws as well.

Manchester City +165: City is coming off a loss to Manchester United in their last Premiership fixture and a mid-week scoreless draw against Paris Saint-Germain FC in UEFA Cup action. With both matches at the City of Manchester Stadium, they lost valuable ground on both fronts – domestic and international. In their last six, City only took four points, having gone 1-1-4. On the road they are 1-2-3, their only victory coming way back in August.

Soccer Betting Verdict: Fulham started the season slowly but they did not panic, even when they were hovering in the bottom half of the table. Considering they received new players this season, their slow start was to be expected. Coach Roy Hodgson stayed the course, insisting on the same strategy and game. Now they finally seemed to have clicked on the pitch and they are producing great results, which have seen them move in to the top ten. They will be eager to continue their good run and sports bettors should be most optimistic about their chances.

City is a quality side but they lack consistency, which is why they linger close to the relegation zone. Their recent form has suffered and sports bettors’ confidence in them is low. But as Robinho, Wright-Phillips and Richards are coming off the injury list there is a good chance the betting trend will swing in the favour the visitors as a result. The return of key players could be the catalyst City needs to turnaround the season. They will also be desperate for the three points in order to avoid the relegation zone so they have no choice but to go for the win.

Soccer Free Picks: Fulham +165 | Over 2.5 goals Even

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room