There's nothing quite like the Boxing Day fixtures in the Premier League, and though technically speaking, the duel between Southampton and Tottenham isn't on Boxing Day, it's the last of the fixtures in the top flight of the holiday swing as the clubs get ready for the new calendar year.
Don't miss the BPL action from St. Mary's Stadium at 2:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Southampton +185
Tottenham +166
Draw +218
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
A tight match this is expected to be, indeed. The Spurs are just 2-4-2 away from home this term, and that has to scare the wits out of their bettors indeed. The Saints are stuck in the middle of the table where they're very likely destined to stay for the rest of this season, but at least they've been good at home this year, snaring at least a result from seven out of eight matches.
Southampton is the slight dog in this match though, likely thanks to the name recognition that comes with Tottenham. The Spurs are set at +166, a margin that makes them the favorites, albeit ones with very little conviction.
The total is incredibly low at just 2.5 with -140 vig on the under, more or less insinuating that two goals from either side will ultimately be enough to claim three points, likely with ease.
Key Injuries
The injuries are starting to mount for Soton. The team is playing without Charlie Austin, Jake Hesketh, Alex McCarthy, Jeremy Pied and Matt Targett, and all of these men are long-term absentees. The biggest question is whether Jordy Clasie is going to be able to give it a go or not. He's considered to be 50/50 thanks to a groin injury he picked up just before the holidays, and those extra couple days after Boxing Day without a match might just be good enough to get him back in the Starting XI.
Tottenham's only injury concern is to Erik Lamela, a man who has been fighting through a hip injury for basically a month and a half at this point. What was once considered to be a relatively minor injury looks like it's going to keep him out until at least the new year.
Recent Form
The Spurs have been playing relatively well of late. In their last three matches, they've taken out Bournemouth and Middlesbrough while drawing on the road at Stoke City, all very suitable results.
Tottenham dismissed Hull City and Burnley in a span of four days just before the holiday, but there's a big difference between this team's home form, where it has won five straight matches across all competitions, and its away form, where it has been beaten in three straight and hasn't won since September.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The real key here for Southampton is going to be dominating at the back. Virgil van Dijk is definitely going to be a popular name to watch on the transfer market in January, as he's a man who could be on the move in the fine form he's been in, and at just 25 years old, he's going to fetch a fantastic price.
But are there goals to be had for the Saints? That's what we flat out don't see happening. Hugo Lloris has been very good since returning from injury earlier in the fall, and the weapons here for Tottenham might end up being just good enough to get the goal to make the difference in this game. We suspect this is going to be a fantastic tactical match, and one strike, whether it comes from a Dele Alli, a Harry Kane or a Son Heung-Min, could make all the difference.
BPL Odds: Tottenham 1, Southampton 0
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