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Football

18th Jan 2019

Odds Against: The Weekly JOE Group Bet – Matchday 2

Last week's bet might not have come in, but we're feeling more confident that the JOE Group Bet will do better this time around

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Well, that didn’t go exactly to plan last week

We in the JOE Group Bet made our predictions for last weekend’s games but unfortunately they did not come to pass; not even close.

But that was last week and guess what? Yes, that’s right, this is a new one, so we’re going to look forward, not backwards and move onto what we hope is a better experience.

As with last week’s bet, we are using Sky Bet’s new Group Bet feature, in which we will utilise four of our football brains – Si, Matt, Reuben and Wayne – in the JOE Sky Bet Group Bet league.

N.B. Odds are correct at the time of publication.

The Fan Boy – Wayne: Over 2.5 goals in Manchester United vs Brighton – 8/13

Yes, I am a Manchester United fan and yes, I want them to win. But I am also a sensible man. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over at the Red Devils they have six wins out of six, scoring 17 goals in the process. Brighton have a decent defence – particularly their centre-backs – but United playing at home, with the positivity they’ve got at the moment, I think they will have too much for the Seagulls.

Captain Obvious – Si: Manchester City to beat Huddersfield Town – 1/7

I am Captain Obvious this week for a reason and I can’t help but feel that Manchester City will quite easily defeat the manager-less bottom team in the Premier League without much concern. If nothing else, it should ensure we get one pick right at least.

Dark Horse – Reuben: Borussia Dortmund to beat RB Leipzig – 17/10

Dortmund are top of the Bundesliga table, have just one league defeat all season and are 11 points ahead of their hosts Leipzig – meaning that I believe these are very good odds at 17/10. Leipzig are the only team with a better defensive record than Dortmund this season in Germany, but Favre’s side have score 15 more goals and, after a nice winter break rest, they will be keen to make a strong start to the second half of their season.

The Stat Man – Matt: BTTS in Arsenal vs Chelsea – 1/2

Arsenal have conceded one more goal than 18th place Newcastle this season. Chelsea have the fifth most goals in the league this season. Between December 2013 and September 2016, these two sides played eight consecutive games in which one of them kept a clean sheet, but in the eight games since just two games have seen a clean sheet. Given the recent turmoil at Arsenal and looking back on the early season 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, I really think this one is likely to follow suit.

Think we know nothing and want to pit your wits against the Football JOE group? Click here to add our selections to your betslip. You can then add your own selection(s), remove our selections (why would you do that?!), and choose your own stake.