Greetings gents,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o> </o>
AS Roma at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace>TORINO</st1lace> – In my defense of playing the under in the last two Roma games, I can only offer the following excuses: It was Lazio that produced the over all by themselves, in a game that saw Roma’s defense/midfield in complete and unexpected disarray. Last week, with 8 minutes to go, completely dominating <st1:City><st1lace>Palermo</st1lace></st1:City> with a 2-nil margin, and killing the clock, Mancini and Totti pulled out their daggers to add insult to injury. This midweek game may be a little different. I’ve got to believe that Roma’s starting line-up will be somewhat diluted. It’s obvious that they must keep pace with Inter, yet having to play again on the 23<SUP>rd</SUP> is a cause for concern for Spalletti. Don’t let <st1lace>Torino</st1lace>’s mediocre record fool you; they are a lot worse than their record indicates. It makes you wonder if they expect to fight for a Eufa spot by accumulating cheap 1 point ties, playing in constant <st1:date Month="4" Day="4" Year="2002">4-4-2</st1:date> philosophy. My variables with siding with Roma, are as follows:<o></o>
- <st1lace>Torino</st1lace> have managed to score only 12 goals in Serie A. Can they brake out of their defensive schemes and push for a win? If they try that, they will exposed defensively.<o></o>
- Roma’s defense is the best in <st1:country-region><st1lace>Italy</st1lace></st1:country-region>, period. Despite the absence of Panucci today, they should be rock solid in what I project will be a <st1:date Month="4" Day="3" Year="2003">4-3-3</st1:date> formation. I may be wrong, but can’t see <st1lace>Torino</st1lace>’s offense generating any kind of goal scoring chances. Then again, one must be wary of those cheap penalty kicks.<o></o>
The play: As Roma -0.5 -114 (4 units)<o></o>
As Roma under 2 and 2.5 -105 (5.5 units)<o></o>
As with many, I do not like to couple a favourite with the under, but in this case I have no choice, in what I see (hopefully) a 1-0 win for Roma. If not, I’ll take the split gladly.<o></o>
<o> </o>
<st1:City><st1lace>Catania</st1lace></st1:City> at AC <st1:City><st1lace>MILAN</st1lace></st1:City> – My respect for <st1:City><st1lace>Catania</st1lace></st1:City> has grown in the last 2 months, having lost only one match in the last 9 games. Sooner or later they will solve their defensive kinks, especially on the road, where they have given up 20 goals. It would not surprise me if they surpass <st1:City><st1lace>Palermo</st1lace></st1:City> by the end of the season. <st1:City><st1lace>Milan</st1lace></st1:City> is showing signs that they are beginning to stir offensively, this - truly - is a must victory that must be produced by the home side, as they will have their hands full with Udinese, at <st1:City><st1lace>Udine next week</st1lace></st1:City>…<o></o>
The play: AC Milan -1 and 1.5 -122 (4 units)<o></o>
AC Milan over 2.5 goals -117 (6 units)<o></o>
My suspicions were correct. Both side and total has climbed steadily through the week, especially the over, which on Monday morning was at even money…<o></o>
<o> </o>
Inter <st1:City><st1lace>Milan</st1lace></st1:City> at LAZIO – Can Lazio produce the upset? I doubt it. Can they produce the draw? They have a decent chance. In accordance to my feel for this game:<o></o>
The play: <st1:Street><st1:address>Lazio PK</st1:address></st1:Street> and +0.5 +111 (3.5 units)<o></o>
<o> </o>
<st1:City><st1lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> at <st1:City><st1lace>MESSINA</st1lace></st1:City> – I believe <st1:City><st1lace>Messina</st1lace></st1:City> is playing as bad as a football team can possibly can. <st1:City><st1lace>Parma,</st1lace></st1:City> in minor ascension mode with improved play, could very well pull out the road victory. Not for the faint of hearts (or wallets), the play is as follows:<o></o>
<st1:City><st1lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> at PK and +0.5 -116 (3 units)<o></o>
<st1:City><st1lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> over 2 and 2.5 -102 (4.5 units)<o></o>
<o> </o>
Fiorentina at <st1:City><st1lace>CAGLIARI</st1lace></st1:City> – Fiorentina on the throttle. <st1:City><st1lace>Cagliari</st1lace></st1:City> is beginning to show signs of wear and tear. At a PK, this would have been highly enticing. Having to spot -0.5, the play is as follow:<o></o>
Fiorentina PK and -0.5 +107 (4 units)<o></o>
<o> </o>
MA says: Careful, as midweek Serie A can be brutally unpredictable. Only reason for me to take a stab at this card is the simple fact that Serie A will break for the holidays following Saturday’s matches, and will reconvene on the 14<SUP>th</SUP> of January. Nonetheless, for those considering 1 or two plays, consider the AC Milan “OVER”, and the AS ROMA “UNDER”.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Cheers and good luck,<o></o>
<o> </o>
MA<o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
> </o>AS Roma at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1lace>TORINO</st1lace> – In my defense of playing the under in the last two Roma games, I can only offer the following excuses: It was Lazio that produced the over all by themselves, in a game that saw Roma’s defense/midfield in complete and unexpected disarray. Last week, with 8 minutes to go, completely dominating <st1:City><st1lace>Palermo</st1lace></st1:City> with a 2-nil margin, and killing the clock, Mancini and Totti pulled out their daggers to add insult to injury. This midweek game may be a little different. I’ve got to believe that Roma’s starting line-up will be somewhat diluted. It’s obvious that they must keep pace with Inter, yet having to play again on the 23<SUP>rd</SUP> is a cause for concern for Spalletti. Don’t let <st1lace>Torino</st1lace>’s mediocre record fool you; they are a lot worse than their record indicates. It makes you wonder if they expect to fight for a Eufa spot by accumulating cheap 1 point ties, playing in constant <st1:date Month="4" Day="4" Year="2002">4-4-2</st1:date> philosophy. My variables with siding with Roma, are as follows:<o></o>- <st1
lace>Torino</st1lace> have managed to score only 12 goals in Serie A. Can they brake out of their defensive schemes and push for a win? If they try that, they will exposed defensively.<o></o>- Roma’s defense is the best in <st1:country-region><st1
lace>Italy</st1lace></st1:country-region>, period. Despite the absence of Panucci today, they should be rock solid in what I project will be a <st1:date Month="4" Day="3" Year="2003">4-3-3</st1:date> formation. I may be wrong, but can’t see <st1lace>Torino</st1lace>’s offense generating any kind of goal scoring chances. Then again, one must be wary of those cheap penalty kicks.<o></o>The play: As Roma -0.5 -114 (4 units)<o
></o>As Roma under 2 and 2.5 -105 (5.5 units)<o
></o>As with many, I do not like to couple a favourite with the under, but in this case I have no choice, in what I see (hopefully) a 1-0 win for Roma. If not, I’ll take the split gladly.<o
></o><o
> </o><st1:City><st1
lace>Catania</st1lace></st1:City> at AC <st1:City><st1lace>MILAN</st1lace></st1:City> – My respect for <st1:City><st1lace>Catania</st1lace></st1:City> has grown in the last 2 months, having lost only one match in the last 9 games. Sooner or later they will solve their defensive kinks, especially on the road, where they have given up 20 goals. It would not surprise me if they surpass <st1:City><st1lace>Palermo</st1lace></st1:City> by the end of the season. <st1:City><st1lace>Milan</st1lace></st1:City> is showing signs that they are beginning to stir offensively, this - truly - is a must victory that must be produced by the home side, as they will have their hands full with Udinese, at <st1:City><st1lace>Udine next week</st1lace></st1:City>…<o></o>The play: AC Milan -1 and 1.5 -122 (4 units)<o
></o>AC Milan over 2.5 goals -117 (6 units)<o
></o>My suspicions were correct. Both side and total has climbed steadily through the week, especially the over, which on Monday morning was at even money…<o
></o><o
> </o>Inter <st1:City><st1
lace>Milan</st1lace></st1:City> at LAZIO – Can Lazio produce the upset? I doubt it. Can they produce the draw? They have a decent chance. In accordance to my feel for this game:<o></o>The play: <st1:Street><st1:address>Lazio PK</st1:address></st1:Street> and +0.5 +111 (3.5 units)<o
></o><o
> </o><st1:City><st1
lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> at <st1:City><st1lace>MESSINA</st1lace></st1:City> – I believe <st1:City><st1lace>Messina</st1lace></st1:City> is playing as bad as a football team can possibly can. <st1:City><st1lace>Parma,</st1lace></st1:City> in minor ascension mode with improved play, could very well pull out the road victory. Not for the faint of hearts (or wallets), the play is as follows:<o></o><st1:City><st1
lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> at PK and +0.5 -116 (3 units)<o></o><st1:City><st1
lace>Parma</st1lace></st1:City> over 2 and 2.5 -102 (4.5 units)<o></o><o
> </o>Fiorentina at <st1:City><st1
lace>CAGLIARI</st1lace></st1:City> – Fiorentina on the throttle. <st1:City><st1lace>Cagliari</st1lace></st1:City> is beginning to show signs of wear and tear. At a PK, this would have been highly enticing. Having to spot -0.5, the play is as follow:<o></o>Fiorentina PK and -0.5 +107 (4 units)<o
></o><o
> </o>MA says: Careful, as midweek Serie A can be brutally unpredictable. Only reason for me to take a stab at this card is the simple fact that Serie A will break for the holidays following Saturday’s matches, and will reconvene on the 14<SUP>th</SUP> of January. Nonetheless, for those considering 1 or two plays, consider the AC Milan “OVER”, and the AS ROMA “UNDER”.<o
></o><o
> </o>Cheers and good luck,<o
></o><o
> </o>MA<o
></o>
