English Premier League Betting: Birmingham vs. Sunderland

Birmingham are struggling to adjust to their new digs in England’s top-flight league. After nine cycles, they are 16th in the table on seven points and in danger of being dragged into the relegation fight. If they are not already there with three successive defeats, and counting.

Sunderland, on the other hand, are flying high after shocking Liverpool 1:0 at the Stadium of Light at the weekend, dealing the Merseyside outfit their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions – something that has not happened to the red shirts since 1987. On the back of the victory over Liverpool, Sunderland leapfrogged to seventh spot in the table.

Soccer Betting Line:

Birmingham  pk  Ev   +175   2½  O +115   U -135   Draw   +220    
Sunderland  pk  -120   +155    2½  O +115   U -135   Draw   +220    

Venue: St Andrews Ground

Match Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday October 24, 2009

Soccer Betting Verdict: Sunderland played a good match against Liverpool on the weekend and looked to be the better side throughout the match. Though they won and many agreed they should have won, they very nearly didn’t win. Most attacks on the Liverpool goal either were misfired or were thwarted by keeper Reina. Had it not been for a contentious goal (which if you ask anybody it shouldn’t even have been allowed as Bent’s shot bounced off a red beach ball that somehow found its way in to the goal box) the match might have ended in a draw. That would have been a shame but at least it wouldn’t have been controversial, which is what their win over Liverpool is currently held to be.

Nonetheless, Sunderland took all three points and now they will look to underscore their victory over Liverpool with win over Birmingham at St. Andrews Ground.

The task is not looking like it will require much effort. Birmingham have failed to create any sort of momentum in England’s top-flight league. They are currently on a three match-losing streak and they lost their last two matches at St. Andrews Ground.

Yet, they have a redeeming trait: they are not capitulating to their opposition. They are actually playing better than their results would suggest and their losses have been narrow ones. True, they might not be expected to win this match but they might be able to take something away from this match. Wouldn’t that be something after Sunderland’s “big” win over Liverpool? The draw is looking rather good to me at +220.

Soccer Free Picks: Draw +220 | Under 2.5 -135