Manchester United -1.5 Over Sunderland -113 Weather permitting in England, the match will be played Sunday at 7 AM Vegas time and really catches Sunderland in the worst of all spots. As a person who has my largest soccer bet of the year on Sunderland over 46.5 points (currently at 27 points through 18 of 38 fixtures), this is a horrible spot on the schedule. The Black Cats have been in great form over the last 6 weeks of the season, with wins over Chelsea 3-0, and an unbeaten run vs. the top 10 sides of last years premiership teams. They are currently sitting in 6th place in the premiership and striking distance to European football with a strong 2nd half to the season.
However, this has come at a cost, with a particularly harsh run of injuries to their back line, losing key figures like Titus Bramble, John Mensah, Anton Ferdinand (may be eligible to play despite hamstring injury), and Michael Turner. They will also be without feisty defensive stalwart and team captain Lee Cattermole who received his 5th yellow card last week and will not be on the side. Sunderland has been particularly impressive in terms of clean sheets with Cattermole working that holding midfielder role and his absence will help the likes of Nani, Berbatov, and Rooney pressure a back line which will be asked a lot of questions.
The other key, but extremely important loss for Sunderland, is emerging star and Manchester United Loanee Danny Welbeck. Welbeck has been in splendid form the last five games, opening his account at Chelsea with a late goal, and then finding the net twice in a key draw with Everton, along with the game winner last week at home vs. 5th place Bolton. Welbeck has been party of a dynamic combination of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan. The stipulation of the loan agreement with United is Welbeck can't play against his parent club.
Net-net, While Sunderland has high hopes for the rest of the year, the combination of defensive injuries, United's strikers who are very much in form, and the loss of Sunderlands most recent explosive goal scorer, look for a United 2-0 win at Old Trafford...
