The race for the fourth place in the Barclays Premiership has been one of the most exciting parts of the last few seasons so the most intruiging match this weekend is between two sides who are both ahead of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side at the moment, Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers.
Spurs have been in fourth place for quite a while now, but seem determined to try and give that honour to someone else as quickly as possible. To that extent, they have won just two league games so far in 2006. Blackburn have won five matches in that time, beating both Man United and Arsenal.
Here are Bodawg's Premiership picks (Odds supplied by Bodog Sportsbook):
CHELSEA -275 vs West Brom
You have to go back 23 years for an Albion win over Chelsea. Bryan Robson's side lost 4-0 at The Bridge earlier in the season and the odds on them winning this are slim.
EVERTON +220 vs West Ham
West Ham hasn't lost in their last eight games, while Everton suffered their first league defeat of 2006 last weekend at Newcastle. The Toffees have won three out of the last four at Upton Park, but the Claret and Blues are stronger now than they've been for years and have a pretty good home record this season.
DRAW +220 on Middlesbrough vs Birmingham
Five wins out of the last six in all competitions for Boro. Have they finally turned a corner? Last week's 2-0 win over West Brom was a big result and they need the same again against The Blues, who scraped a win over Sunderland and need points quickly.
ASTON VILLA -150 vs Portsmouth
Pompey haven't won at Villa Park in 25 years and that run doesn't look likely to come to an end this weekend. They haven't won in their last seven games and morale must be low. Villa, so good on the road (no defeats in eight), are a little shaky at home.
DRAW +225 on Newcastle vs Bolton
As if by magic Newcastle are moving up the league again thanks, in no small part, to Glenn Roeder. He's done what every manager needed to do - and that was sort out the leaky defence. The Magpies have let in one goal in the past five games.
ARSENAL +120 vs Fulham
Fulham are great at home and Arsenal are terrible away (in the league), so Chris Coleman should be a happy man on Saturday night. But a quick look at the history of the games between these two shows a different story - Arsenal haven't lost to The Cottagers since 1962.
DRAW +240 on Liverpool vs Charlton
Darren Bent and Luke Young consigned Liverpool to a surprising league defeat at the Valley last month, but the Reds haven't lost since and are now level on points with Manchester United. Benitez's side are imperious at home, too, where they've only lost once in the Premiership all season.
MANCHESTER CITY -233 vs Sunderland
City are sitting reasonably pretty in mid-table. But a win over Sunderland and three points against Pompey in the game after could see them challenging for a European spot at the tail-end of the season. The Black Cats will put up a fight but City have the quality.
BLACKBURN +275 vs Tottenham
Blackburn could nick the fourth Champions League spot off Spurs if they're not careful. Mark Hughes' side are just three points behind the north London club and on a roll. Martin Jol's side are pretty useful at home, though, losing just once this season.
MANCHESTER UNITED -150 vs Wigan
Wigan have lost 4-0 to United twice this season - once in the Premiership and last weekend in the Carling Cup final. This is their big chance to show that they're made of sterner stuff. Maybe worth putting a little bet on Wayne Rooney to score - he's netted four in two games against the Latics.
Spurs have been in fourth place for quite a while now, but seem determined to try and give that honour to someone else as quickly as possible. To that extent, they have won just two league games so far in 2006. Blackburn have won five matches in that time, beating both Man United and Arsenal.
Here are Bodawg's Premiership picks (Odds supplied by Bodog Sportsbook):
CHELSEA -275 vs West Brom
You have to go back 23 years for an Albion win over Chelsea. Bryan Robson's side lost 4-0 at The Bridge earlier in the season and the odds on them winning this are slim.
EVERTON +220 vs West Ham
West Ham hasn't lost in their last eight games, while Everton suffered their first league defeat of 2006 last weekend at Newcastle. The Toffees have won three out of the last four at Upton Park, but the Claret and Blues are stronger now than they've been for years and have a pretty good home record this season.
DRAW +220 on Middlesbrough vs Birmingham
Five wins out of the last six in all competitions for Boro. Have they finally turned a corner? Last week's 2-0 win over West Brom was a big result and they need the same again against The Blues, who scraped a win over Sunderland and need points quickly.
ASTON VILLA -150 vs Portsmouth
Pompey haven't won at Villa Park in 25 years and that run doesn't look likely to come to an end this weekend. They haven't won in their last seven games and morale must be low. Villa, so good on the road (no defeats in eight), are a little shaky at home.
DRAW +225 on Newcastle vs Bolton
As if by magic Newcastle are moving up the league again thanks, in no small part, to Glenn Roeder. He's done what every manager needed to do - and that was sort out the leaky defence. The Magpies have let in one goal in the past five games.
ARSENAL +120 vs Fulham
Fulham are great at home and Arsenal are terrible away (in the league), so Chris Coleman should be a happy man on Saturday night. But a quick look at the history of the games between these two shows a different story - Arsenal haven't lost to The Cottagers since 1962.
DRAW +240 on Liverpool vs Charlton
Darren Bent and Luke Young consigned Liverpool to a surprising league defeat at the Valley last month, but the Reds haven't lost since and are now level on points with Manchester United. Benitez's side are imperious at home, too, where they've only lost once in the Premiership all season.
MANCHESTER CITY -233 vs Sunderland
City are sitting reasonably pretty in mid-table. But a win over Sunderland and three points against Pompey in the game after could see them challenging for a European spot at the tail-end of the season. The Black Cats will put up a fight but City have the quality.
BLACKBURN +275 vs Tottenham
Blackburn could nick the fourth Champions League spot off Spurs if they're not careful. Mark Hughes' side are just three points behind the north London club and on a roll. Martin Jol's side are pretty useful at home, though, losing just once this season.
MANCHESTER UNITED -150 vs Wigan
Wigan have lost 4-0 to United twice this season - once in the Premiership and last weekend in the Carling Cup final. This is their big chance to show that they're made of sterner stuff. Maybe worth putting a little bet on Wayne Rooney to score - he's netted four in two games against the Latics.
