Serie B - YTD: 50W-51L-28T (+17.04 units)
Genoa at SPEZIA - Genoa in the driver seat with 52 points, and sole occupants of
second place. This may be a rare opportunity to increase that lead, as the other big
four all have tough matches. Bologna will clash with Napoli (each with 50 points),
Rimini in good form, but must travel to Verona who is charging to avoid relegation,
and Piacenza will have their hands full with Mantova's defense. Genoa's schedule will toughen in the upcoming weeks, facing Bologna at home next week, and a trip to
Juventus the following week. Failure to produce the three points here could have dire
comsequencese, as both Bologna and Juventus match-up well against Genoa, especially at the midfield position. For a team that relishes offensive flow, they seem
to have tightened things up defensively. In last 8 games, held opponent scoreless 6
times. I don't have much to say about Spezia, except that for every good game they
play, they look like total crap for four. Having lost the last 2 games, they are dangerously close to relegation. Up to now, have yet to lose three in a rwo. Their
schedule will soften in the upcoming weeks, providing ample opportunity to climb
back in the standings. Don't see it happening against Genoa, whose speed superiority
at midfield and front three, will be the determining factor that will propel Spezia to
a third straight loss. Barring the red card scenario, I see this one as a 3-1 Genoa
The play:
Genoa pk and -0.5 +107 (10 units)
Lecce at CROTONE - Lecce has now won their last three games by identical 1-0
scores, looking surprisingly confident on defense. I am fully aware of their horrendous
road form, with just 2 wins and 2 draws in fourteen games, but recent play of 4 wins
in 5 games indicates that they are capable of at least a draw here. Crotone is nothing
close in skill level to last week's opponent, Piacenza, who Lecce held in check for 90+
minutes. Defense is absolutely horrendous, and although they play a variable 4-4-2, they are constantly getting burned on counter-attack options because of a serious lack of speed. In the last 9 games, they have allowed 19 goals. Lecce could very well
win their fourth in a row here.
The play:
Lecce pk and +0.5 -120 (7.5 units)
Lecce over 2 and 2.5 +104 (4.5 units)
Rimini at HELLAS VERONA - Pulling the rabbit out of the hat might prove a little difficult for Verona this week. In their recent surge to avoid relegation, they have
managed to win 4 and draw 4 in the last 8 weeks. Yes, it's impressive; but more
impressive is the current defensive form of Rimini's, having allowed just one goal
in the last 8 games. If that doesn't work, plenty of offensive arsenals at their disposal.
Usually likes to control tempo and flow of game (you can easily compare them to
Fiorentina in Serie A). Verona will have to open up their game to establish a lead, this
is where they could be exposed by one of the best counter-attack teams in the B league. Playing a pressing 4-4-1-1, they remind me a lot of Serie A's Roma. The price
is too tempting, as the visitor is in good form and could easily produce a convincing win.
The play:
Rimini pk -105 (6.5 units)
Rimini over 2 and 2.5 +108 (4 units)
Frosinone at BARI - Very rare in Serie B for a team to play three straight road games, but that's what Bari just wen through. Result: a draw at Treviso, a victory
at Spezia, and a monumental effort against a Napoli side that welcoming back
fan admission. Feel that momentum could carry forward, as Frosinone remains
a very disappointing road team ( only 2W-4D in 15 games), and in general are very inconsistent, especially at defense, where they have allowed 12 goals in the last 6 games. Two point seperate these two: Frosinone with 37, and Bari with 35, near
the relegation sector. A win will go long way here for the home team.
The play:
BARI -0.5 +105 (7 units)
Arezzo at BARI - Not interested in either side. Do like the similar attributes of
playing style. Both play open 4-3-3, which is usually a recipe for a decent over.
Brescia is a very predatorial home team, who never holds anything back. These
two will trade at least one goal each.
The play:
BARI over 2 and 2.5 -103 (5.5 units)
Good luck,
MA
Genoa at SPEZIA - Genoa in the driver seat with 52 points, and sole occupants of
second place. This may be a rare opportunity to increase that lead, as the other big
four all have tough matches. Bologna will clash with Napoli (each with 50 points),
Rimini in good form, but must travel to Verona who is charging to avoid relegation,
and Piacenza will have their hands full with Mantova's defense. Genoa's schedule will toughen in the upcoming weeks, facing Bologna at home next week, and a trip to
Juventus the following week. Failure to produce the three points here could have dire
comsequencese, as both Bologna and Juventus match-up well against Genoa, especially at the midfield position. For a team that relishes offensive flow, they seem
to have tightened things up defensively. In last 8 games, held opponent scoreless 6
times. I don't have much to say about Spezia, except that for every good game they
play, they look like total crap for four. Having lost the last 2 games, they are dangerously close to relegation. Up to now, have yet to lose three in a rwo. Their
schedule will soften in the upcoming weeks, providing ample opportunity to climb
back in the standings. Don't see it happening against Genoa, whose speed superiority
at midfield and front three, will be the determining factor that will propel Spezia to
a third straight loss. Barring the red card scenario, I see this one as a 3-1 Genoa
The play:
Genoa pk and -0.5 +107 (10 units)
Lecce at CROTONE - Lecce has now won their last three games by identical 1-0
scores, looking surprisingly confident on defense. I am fully aware of their horrendous
road form, with just 2 wins and 2 draws in fourteen games, but recent play of 4 wins
in 5 games indicates that they are capable of at least a draw here. Crotone is nothing
close in skill level to last week's opponent, Piacenza, who Lecce held in check for 90+
minutes. Defense is absolutely horrendous, and although they play a variable 4-4-2, they are constantly getting burned on counter-attack options because of a serious lack of speed. In the last 9 games, they have allowed 19 goals. Lecce could very well
win their fourth in a row here.
The play:
Lecce pk and +0.5 -120 (7.5 units)
Lecce over 2 and 2.5 +104 (4.5 units)
Rimini at HELLAS VERONA - Pulling the rabbit out of the hat might prove a little difficult for Verona this week. In their recent surge to avoid relegation, they have
managed to win 4 and draw 4 in the last 8 weeks. Yes, it's impressive; but more
impressive is the current defensive form of Rimini's, having allowed just one goal
in the last 8 games. If that doesn't work, plenty of offensive arsenals at their disposal.
Usually likes to control tempo and flow of game (you can easily compare them to
Fiorentina in Serie A). Verona will have to open up their game to establish a lead, this
is where they could be exposed by one of the best counter-attack teams in the B league. Playing a pressing 4-4-1-1, they remind me a lot of Serie A's Roma. The price
is too tempting, as the visitor is in good form and could easily produce a convincing win.
The play:
Rimini pk -105 (6.5 units)
Rimini over 2 and 2.5 +108 (4 units)
Frosinone at BARI - Very rare in Serie B for a team to play three straight road games, but that's what Bari just wen through. Result: a draw at Treviso, a victory
at Spezia, and a monumental effort against a Napoli side that welcoming back
fan admission. Feel that momentum could carry forward, as Frosinone remains
a very disappointing road team ( only 2W-4D in 15 games), and in general are very inconsistent, especially at defense, where they have allowed 12 goals in the last 6 games. Two point seperate these two: Frosinone with 37, and Bari with 35, near
the relegation sector. A win will go long way here for the home team.
The play:
BARI -0.5 +105 (7 units)
Arezzo at BARI - Not interested in either side. Do like the similar attributes of
playing style. Both play open 4-3-3, which is usually a recipe for a decent over.
Brescia is a very predatorial home team, who never holds anything back. These
two will trade at least one goal each.
The play:
BARI over 2 and 2.5 -103 (5.5 units)
Good luck,
MA
