The first match for Tottenham at Wembley Stadium didn't end up going according to plan, as the Spurs were beaten by Monaco in their group stage Champions League showing. There's no time to be down though, because Sunderland is coming to White Hart Lane on Sunday for yet another Premier League match, and this one really is imperative for a team that is going to need every point it can get to get back in the UCL next season.
Don't miss the BPL action from White Hart Lane at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tottenham -300
Sunderland +870
Draw +435
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
The Spurs have to be the big favorites at this match, even playing in their shell of a stadium at White Hart Lane. They're definitely the better side for sure over a Sunderland team that looks ripe for relegation, and the line in this one at -300 shows just that. The Black Cats have just one win in their last 20 road matches in BPL play, and this doesn't figure to be the day that the huge +870 price comes in.
The total is set at 3, though the vig of -139 suggests that it's more likely there are two goals or fewer than four goals or more in this one.
Key Injuries
The only real injury Tottenham has to deal with over the course of this week is that of Danny Rose. Rose has a hamstring injury that cost him the match against Monaco on Wednesday, and he's not likely to play on Sunday either.
Sunderland still has a lot of big problems to deal with on the injury front. Lee Cattermole is the man who really has to get back into the lineup. The Black Cats' captain has out with a minor knee problem. Add in the injuries to Billy Jones, Erik Larsson and Vito Mannone, and there's no reason to think that Sunderland is going to be better any time soon.
Recent Form
Tottenham was beaten by Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, but if you take the form in the Premier League only, the Spurs are in pretty good shape. Tottenham took care of Stoke City 4-0 at the Britannia last weekend in the most emphatic performance of the season.
Thus far this season, the Spurs have yet to be beaten. They're only 2-2-0. There's nothing wrong with eight points through four matches, but better will be expected over the course of the season.
Sunderland has yet to win a match this year outside of a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury in the Capital One Cup. A 3-0 loss to Everton at home in the team's last match was a disastrous defeat, especially with the poor marking against Romelu Lukaku.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Sunderland is really in a heck of a lot of trouble. The team is going to get some points this year at some point, but this doesn't feel like the fixture in which that’s going to happen.
Sure, Tottenham struggled in really every facet of the match against Monaco, but this is a much different challenge. Sunderland hasn't been nearly as good on the ball this year as the tactical team like Monaco, and the difference should end up being seen right away in this one.
Harry Kane and Victor Wanyama only have a goal apiece this year, but at some point, they're really going to get going. This is a great situation for them to take advantage of a unit that has had all sorts of trouble marking, especially on counterattacks.
Just as we saw Everton wait and wait and wait and ultimately take advantage of its chances to score three times, this could be the exact same script that Tottenham follows on Sunday.
BPL Odds: Tottenham 2, Sunderland 0
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