Before you get ready for your full day of Super Bowl coverage on Sunday, don't miss out on a moment of the action on the pitch at the Etihad, where Manchester City is going to look to avoid stepping on a potential banana peel at home against relegation-stricken Swansea City, a team that has already snared three points on the road against a comparable Liverpool side this year.
Don't miss the BPL action from Etihad Stadium at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 5, 2016. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester City -406
Swansea City +1118
Draw +555
Over/Under 3.5
Odds Analysis
Manchester City's offense has the potentially to be truly elite. Swansea City's defense has conceded 52 goals, more than anyone else in England. Thus, it shouldn't be all that surprising that Manchester City actually has a team total of 2.5 on Sunday, higher than the totals in several other full matches. The Citizens are technically -1.5 with -154 vig, but the fact of the matter is that they're basically -2 on the Asian Handicap. This -406 price is about as big as it gets in the Premier League, though this should all be taken with some caution, knowing that there have been several upsets and near misses for the minnows against the big boys in recent weeks.
Key Injuries
This Swansea City side isn't deep as it is, and not having the combination of Jefferson Montero, Oliver McBurnie and Leon Britton is certainly hurting. Still, for this deep into the season, this isn't a particularly long injury list for a Premier League team, though it's proof that even a few minor injuries can turn into disasters for the clubs that just flat out don't have the budgets of the big boy sides.
Manchester City's only absentee at this point is Ilkay Gundogan, and he's been out of the fold for a while now after suffering a bad knee injury in December.
Recent Form
Swansea City has unpredictably – and perhaps unbelievably – pulled its way out of the relegation zone. The Swans have rallied of late, taking nine points out of a possible 12 in their last four Premier League matches, including going on the road and stunning Liverpool as we saw a couple weeks ago. The 2-1 win over Southampton was the one that finally got the Swans out of the red, and if they can pull off this escape and survive into next year, that would be one heck of an accomplishment.
Manchester City too, was true this week, blasting West Ham 4-0 to pick up three points on a day that most of the other teams at the top struggled to get much of anything. The team has been great at times, yet maddening at others, yet one thing is for sure. The Hammers have to be thrilled to be done with the Citizens. These two teams have met twice since January 6 with both matches coming at Olympic Stadium. Man City won them 5-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Things are starting to come together again for Manchester City. Raheem Sterling is in great form, and Gabriel is right there with him. The fact that this team is in tip top form these last couple matches without great play from Sergio Aguero is astounding and important, to say the least. Could the Sky Blues be in for one more push towards the top of the table? It's possible.
As far as Swansea City is concerned, it's been a nice run these last couple weeks, but this is the end of it, and that might mean it's time to go back into the relegation zone. The Swans are just far too overmatched here to put up a fight, and just as they succumbed at home twice in three days in the EFL Cup and the Premier League at home in September, they'll do so again here in February.
BPL Odds: Manchester City 3, Swansea City 1
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