Riverside Stadium hasn't hosted a showcase English Premier League match in quite some time. But Middlesbrough is back in the top flight, and it has a shot to shine on Sunday in what could be a big battle down towards the bottom of the table against Watford.
Don't miss the EPL action from Riverside Stadium at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 16, 2016. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Middlesbrough +118
Watford +265
Draw +224
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
Boro is a comfortable favorite here at home at +118, but that margin isn't exactly convincing. Then again, teams just coming up from the second division generally don't have any games, home or away in which they're heavy favorites. Watford isn't exactly the crème de la crème in the EPL either having just come up two years ago, but if you ask Boro supporters, they'll tell you this is a match they have cautious optimism about.
The total is very low by the standards of the higher scoring Premier League that we've seen this season. The number to beat is the standard 2.5, but that vig of -140 on the under tells the tale of a game where goals could be at a premium.
Key Injuries
The good news is that Middlesbrough hasn't had to undertake all that much on the injury front. Grant Leadbitter still hasn't played this year thanks to a hernia, while James Husband is only just getting back in match fitness after recovering from an offseason injury. Aside from that though, this team is ready and raring to go.
The same can't be said about Watford. Two question marks for the Hornets are Miguel Britos and Isaac Success. Both men didn't partake in international play during the break, and both are questionable for this first match back in the EPL. We already know that Craig Cathcart, Stefano Okaka and Daryl Janmaat are out of the fold for at least the next couple weeks as well.
Recent Form
Watford has it tough right now with all of its injuries, and it's showing on the pitch. The team had to really grind out a 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth just before the international break, and that came on the heels of a bad 2-0 loss at Burnley. The Hornets have been reasonable both at home and away, but there are just some maddening results in both directions that make for an inconsistent, middle-table resume.
Boro has just one win in its return to the EPL through seven matches, but its head is above the drop zone by a few points for the time being. The club only has one point in its last four matches, that coming at West Ham on October 1, and better results are going to have to come from these upcoming fixtures to stay out of the red.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Middlesbrough is having that same typical problem most new Premier League teams have. It just flat out can't score goals. Sure, the team has scored once in its last four matches, but it has just one match this year with two goals scored, and eventually, you've got to be able to put a couple home to win some matches. The margin for error is just too thin to not do so.
Can Watford take advantage of that this weekend? Probably not with all of the injuries. The under is the right play for sure, but we're going to allot for both teams hitting home. Of all of the EPL matches in Match Day 8, this one feels like the most likely draw. Don't be surprised if we see either a scoreless affair or a match that ends level at one strike apiece.
EPL Odds: Middlesbrough 1, Watford 1
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