EPL Picks

It's a busy Friday night for us as we try to get ready for our Ohio Wesleyan v Wash U football broadcast, so we've got a brief rundown of the EPL picks this week. Plus, I'm a little bitter that I'm not going to be able to ever enjoy the beach again after that little episode last week at Sunderland (above). Expect an article dissecting Liverpool's woes soon after they lose their 5th in a row on Sunday. Oh, and Y2 is moving further ahead in the picks. Not cool!

Last Week's Results:

Mr. Yoder II: 7-1-2 23 pts

Mr. Yoder I: 6-2-2 20 pts

Dr. Yoder: 4-4-2 14 pts

Total After Week 5:

Mr. Yoder II: 53-22-11 170 pts

Mr. Yoder I: 50-25-11 161 pts

Dr. Yoder: 46-29-11 149 pts

Aston Villa (5-2-1) @ Wolves (2-5-2)

Both teams are coming off good results, Villa beating Chelsea, Wolves drawing Everton. The edge to Villa, although it's good to see signs of life from last year's champions of the Championship.

Y1: Villa Y2: Villa Doc: Villa

Sunderland (5-3-1) @ Birmingham (2-5-1)

You can say that Sunderland were very lucky last week, but truth be told they outplayed the Reds the entire way. Expect the Northeastern train to keep rolling in the Midlands.

Y1: Sunderland Y2: Sunderland Doc: Birmingham

Wigan Athletic (3-5-1) @ Burnley (4-5-0)

Wigan were able to earn a point against 10 man city, while Burnley lost to their rivals Blackburn. It'll be a tough ask for Wigan to win at a place where teams like United and Everton have fallen this season.

Y1: Burnley Y2: Burnley Doc: Wigan

Portsmouth (1-8-0) @ Hull City (2-6-1)

Can Pompey get their 2nd win of the season? Only if the team that played at Fulham shows up for Hull. They never looked likely to score at the Cottage, this one could go 0-0, but every time Phil Brown needs a win it seems that he survives.

Y1: Hull Y2: Portsmouth Doc: Portsmouth

Stoke City (3-3-3) @ Tottenham (6-2-1)

Plucky Stoke sit perfectly split from their opening 9 games, but it should go to 3-4-3 with a tough trip to the Lane against Spurs. Tottenham have been rolling along nicely since some tough losses to the top teams. They'll be fighting with City and VIlla to break the Top 4 all season.

Y1: Spurs Y2: Spurs Doc: Spurs

Blackburn (3-4-1) @ Chelsea (7-2-0)

Blackburn won their derby game against Burnley, but now they face an angry Chelsea side coming off of a loss in the league and a solid win vs Athletico in the UEFA CL. Blackburn will be singing the Blues on Saturday.

Y1: Chelsea Y2: Chelsea Doc: Chelsea

Everton (3-3-2) @ Bolton (2-4-2)

This game won't be for the feint of heart. Both these teams keep their nose to the grindstone and it will be a tough affair, but Everton's class will win out in the end.

Y1: Everton Y2: Everton Doc: Everton

Manchester United (7-1-1) @ Liverpool (5-4-0)

Jeepers. Everything that has gone wrong for Liverpool has this season. Injuries, beach balls, bad luck, late goals, CL losses, everything. Man Utd hasn't necessarily been impressive as they sit at the top of the table with 22 points. This is the definition of a must win for Liverpool, but with the 8/9 combo of Gerrard and Torres not at full fitness, United has a much more talented and deeper team. I can't pick against them just yet, but, as much as it pains me to say this, Liverpool are in crisis.

Y1: Liverpool Y2: Man U Doc: Man U

Fulham (3-4-1) @ Manchester City (5-1-2)

Man City will bounce back in a big way after their draw against Wigan, their talent-laded squad should be able to deal with Fulham, who had 3 points taken away from them in the Europa League against Roma. Does anyone think Fulham has the depth to handle a European and League schedule?

Y1: Man City Y2: Man City Doc: Man City

Arsenal (6-2-0) @ West Ham Utd. (1-5-2)

A London derby with teams going in opposite directions. Arsenal's stock is on the way back up, despite that 1-1 draw at defending Dutch champs AZ Alkmaar. West Ham are going down, down, down. Zola's men might need a miracle to keep them up if this sorry form persists.

Y1: Arsenal Y2: Arsenal Doc: Arsenal

Tomorrow we'll Protect the Shield for the NFL as they return to EPL land with the Pats and the Bucs, sorry London, at least we sent one legitimate NFL team though!