A tale of a Champions League spot and a relegation could be told on Sunday at the Ethiad, where Manchester City (21-7-7, 70 Points) takes on Queens Park Rangers (7-6-22, 27 Points) in a crucial tilt on Sunday.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Not surprisingly, this is a brutal uphill battle for QPR. The Rangers are two-goal underdogs in this one, though they are at least -125 for their efforts at +2. Still, they need all three points in this one to have a shot at survival, and at +1150, they are as good as already relegated.
The total sits at 3.5 (over -110) in one of the highest totals you'll ever see in the Premier League.
KEY INJURIES
Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure both missed last week's match for the Citizens against Tottenham. Samir Nasri was pulled out of that fixture early on. On top of that, Manuel Pellegrini, who still could legitimately be managing for his job, won't have Stevan Jovetic or Vincent Kompany.
Health has all of a sudden become a big concern for the 'Gers after a relatively healthy season. Steven Caulker broke his hand last week and is very likely out for the rest of the season, while Michael Doughty, Alejandro Faurlin, Eduardo Vargsa and Mauro Zarate are all out as well.
Nedum Onuoha has been banned from this match after getting a red card last week against Liverpool, while Rio Ferdinand has been dealing with a minor injury which could end his season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's not over til it's over. We've got three games left. We need to play for all the games. Not just for 85 minutes and who knows from there." – QPR chairman Tony Fernandes at a rally for his team prior to the match at Manchester City
RECENT FORM
Fernandes might believe there is still hope for survival, but the realist certainly knows better. The Rangers were beaten at Liverpool last week, and they now have just two points from their last four matches. They have failed at every major interval this season, and they are now paying the price in the form of the drop to Championship barring a huge change of fortune.
Manchester City salvaged its season with these three wins in a row. Barring a collapse, a spot in the Champions League should be assured, and the worst finish should be in third place.
TALKING TOTALS
Last week's 2-1 loss at Anfield marked QPR's first over in three matches. Prior to that, the team didn't score against either West Ham or Chelsea, and both fixtures easily stayed under the total.
We have really seen the Sky Blues pour it on of late. The team has scored 12 goals in its last six fixtures since getting blasted by Barcelona in the Champions League. The end result has been a 4-2 record for over backers, though this is obviously going to take a huge effort to get it past the 3.5 total.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It was only a few seasons ago that QPR came to Manchester City as a massive underdog and led 3-2 in the 90th minute. City needed the victory to win the Premier League title, and anything less wouldn't have been good enough. The Rangers did ultimately fall short that day, losing 4-3 in the most epic finish the EPL has ever seen.
This though, isn't that year. The Rangers are going to be relegated on Sunday without any shadow of doubt at the expense of the Citizens, who in the process, will emphatically stake their claim to a Champions League spot. Expect a heck of an offensive flurry for City, as QPR, a team which has allowed 38 goals in 17 road fixtures this year, will fall flat.
Manchester City 4, QPR 0
The BPL lines for this contest were first released by BookMaker Sportsbook with Manchester City lined as a -450 moneyline favorite and a total of 3.5 (over -110). Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, spreads and totals. Live betting is open during every step of this match!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. ET at Ethiad Stadium. The match will be televised live on NBC Sports Live Extra.
