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Jeff Ma- Browns, Saints
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Gianni the Greek
5% NO ML
4*Chiefs Over
4*BrownsComment
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Martin Green
Liverpool vs. Manchester United picks (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET)
Liverpool to win (-103)
Both teams to score (-150)
One of the fiercest rivalries in English soccer will resume when Premier League champion Liverpool hosts Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool was the dominant force during the 1970s and 1980s, but Sir Alex Ferguson vowed to "knock them off their perch" after arriving at Man United. His mission proved to be remarkably successful, as the Red Devils won 13 Premier League titles between 1993 and 2013, the year Ferguson retired.
Liverpool endured a lengthy title drought during that time, but it finally came to an end when the Reds won the league last season. "We're back on our perch," Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore declared.
Man United has struggled since Ferguson's retirement. However, it currently is enjoying its best season since the Scot rode off into the sunset. Man United beat Burnley 1-0 on Tuesday, a result that put it three points ahead of Liverpool atop of the Premier League standings. Therefore, we should be in for an intriguing clash between the two heavyweights on Sunday.
Injuries Mount for Liverpool
Liverpool got off to a flying start this season, posting nine wins, four draws and just one defeat in its opening 14 games. However, injury problems have taken their toll on Jurgen Klopp's squad. Key central defenders Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out for the long term, while many more players have sidelined for lengthy spells.
Liverpool's form has fizzled out in recent weeks. It could only manage a 1-1 draw with struggling West Brom on Dec. 27, then drew 0-0 with Newcastle three days later. The Reds had a great chance to get back to their winning ways on Jan. 4 but ended up losing 1-0 to Southampton.
Man United has capitalized on Liverpool's struggles by putting together a superb run. It has won five of its last six games, and allowing it to overtake the Reds for first in the league.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are now unbeaten in 11 league matches, with nine wins and draws against Manchester City and Leicester. Bruno Fernandes has led the charge, but Paul Pogba is on fire right now, and Man United always looks dangerous on the break.
Attacking Trio Could Prove Crucial
This represents a stern test for Liverpool, which is aiming for the league title. It beat Man United 2-0 at Anfield a year ago, and that was a symbolic victory. It made the squad believe in its ability to win the crown, and it ended up finishing 18 points in front of Man City and 33 points ahead of third-place Man United.
Klopp will be desperate to capture a second consecutive title, but he must find a balanced starting squad. He opted to play central midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson at the heart of the defense against Southampton, and it did not work. Liverpool appeared light at midfield without the duo, and it still looked liable to concede.
Joel Matip is doubtful for the game against Man United, but he would give the club a huge boost if he could return. Klopp may decide to put the inexperienced Rhys Williams in alongside Fabinho on defense if he remains absent, and Henderson could return to midfield in order to anchor the team.
Diojo Jota is out, but Thiago Alcantara is back to dictate the pace of play at midfield, and an attacking triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino should cause all sorts of problems for Man United. If they all play to their full potential, they can lead this depleted Liverpool team to a vital victory.Comment
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Tony Finn
5- browns chiefs over 55.5 -110
4- New Orleans-3 -115Comment
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Rob Veno:
5% play- saints bucs over 52 -110Comment
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R.J. White
SUPER STAT GEEK
YESTERDAY 5:50 PM
CLEVELAND @ KANSAS CITY | 01/17 | 3:05 PM EST
CLEVELAND +10
The Chiefs are virtually everyone's pick for the best team in football, but they haven't really lived up to that status in the second half, failing to win by seven points or more in every game since Week 8, a string almost fully consisting of ATS losses. Their defense is vulnerable to good rushing offenses, and with Baker Mayfield only throwing one pick since Week 7, the Browns should be able to hang around in a high-scoring game. And when they take it to the red zone, where they're third in success rate, they should come away with TDs against the worst red-zone defense in the league. This line feels three points too high.
+1670 78-55-5 IN LAST 138 NFL PICKS
+687 19-11-4 IN LAST 34 CLE ATS PICKS
+190 3-1-1 IN LAST 5 KC ATS PICKSComment
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Norm Hitzges' Picks of the Pole
Double Play: Chiefs -9.5
Single Play: Saints -3Comment
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Clay Travis
browns +10
over 57 browns/Chiefs
bucs +3
over 52 Bucs/SaintsComment
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WUnderdog
NFL
TampaBay/NewOrleans 52 OverComment
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Marc Lawrence Scorching Hot NFL Playoff Kill Play! - Sunday
Tampa Bay BuccaneersComment
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OTL
Buccaneers +3.5
Buccaneers/Saints Over 52
Chiefs -10
Chiefs/Browns Over 55Comment
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Keiv O'Neil
2 Saints -3
1.5 Iowa/Northwestern Over 77 1st half
1.5 Iowa/Northwestern Over 156Comment
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Big Al
Kansas City smash
Buccaneers elite
Clippers in nba perfect 10 playComment
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Stephen Oh
UTAH @ DENVER | 01/17 | 8:00 PM EST
UTAH +1
ANALYSIS: This is the first matchup of the season between these two teams since their airtight seven-game playoff series in the NBA bubble, won by Denver. Utah is hot, having beaten Milwaukee, Detroit and Cleveland on the road and Atlanta at home on Friday and will be motivated to get some revenge for last year's playoff defeat. My model says Utah covers more than two-thirds of the time, so you're getting strong value with the Jazz at this number.
+857 13-4 IN LAST 17 DEN ATS PICKS
+470 8-3 IN LAST 11 UTA ATS PICKS
YESTERDAY 9:36 PM
NEW YORK @ BOSTON | 01/17 | 1:00 PM EST
NEW YORK +7.5
ANALYSIS: Kemba Walker has been upgraded to questionable, and his possible availability has made this line higher than it should be. My model says the Knicks cover more than 60 percent of the time and keeps this a three-point game, so you're getting strong value at this number. I'm on New York.
+180 4-2 IN LAST 6 NY ATS PICKS
YESTERDAY 9:26 PMComment
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Bill Marzano
VETERAN HANDICAPPER
10:00 AM
CLEVELAND @ KANSAS CITY | 01/17 | 3:05 PM EST
CLEVELAND +10
This is a very intriguing matchup with a lot of different storylines and should be much closer than the line suggests. The Chiefs are tough at home, while the Brown have struggled and are in unfamiliar territory. However, they will challenge this Kansas City defense, considering how QB Baker Mayfield is playing and the weapons he has around him. Cleveland can rush the ball and will need to try to keep Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes off the field as much as possible. The Browns haven't lost by more than 10 points since Week 6, and I think they actually have a shot to win this game.
Emory Hunt
THE CZAR OF THE PLAYBOOK
YESTERDAY 3:30 PM
CLEVELAND @ KANSAS CITY | 01/17 | 3:05 PM EST
CLEVELAND +10
A good run game and an opportunistic defense can win you games in the NFL. While the Browns may not get the win, that formula they have with Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and defensive end Myles Garrett should be enough to help them keep this a one-possession game.
+90 3-2 IN LAST 5 NFL ATS PICKS
+488 21-15-1 IN LAST 37 KC ATS PICKS
+380 6-2 IN LAST 8 CLE ATS PICKSComment
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