Premier League Betting: Bolton vs. Everton

Everton have been slow to find form this season and just as they started to turn things around in Premier League, they get pummelled 5:0 by Benefica in Europa League action. Everton will be looking to put that miserable effort behind them with a successful showing against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.

The Wanderers are hovering just above the drop zone and they are in all sorts of trouble. They need to win this game if they are to elude the danger zone this week, but with all the difficulties they are having holding their weight in Premier League surely they cannot keep avoiding the inevitable for much longer.

Soccer Betting Line:

Bolton pk -125 +155 2½ O +110 U -130 Draw +225
Everton pk +105 +175 2½ O +110 U -130 Draw +225

Venue: Reebok Stadium
Match Time: 07:30 a.m. Eastern Time Sunday October 25, 2009

Soccer Betting Analysis: Bolton are one of several outside candidates for the relegation fight this season and as this is the third consecutive year they are at the wrong end of the stick in Premier League action things are looking grim. It doesn’t help their cause either that they are underachieving at the Reebok Stadium. Most of their points have been largely due to measured success on their travels. Bolton are 15th in the table on 8 points with a game in hand. They have gone 0-2-2 at home and 2-0-2 on the road.

Everton have clawed their way up the table to 11th spot with a game in hand. They have hauled 11 points in eight matches. At home, they are 2-2-1 and on the road, they are 1-0-2.

The complete capitulation to Benefica in mid-week Europa League action really hurt Everton. We are yet to see whether they can bounce back from such a humiliating loss. Last season, Everton finished in the top seven, earning its place in UEFA Europa League as a result. This season they are at the wrong end of the table. There is no doubt that Everton have the quality to be a top ten club they just have to start playing that way. Everton will be looking for three points in this match full stop.

Soccer Betting Verdict: Bolton need to face some home truths: their home record is no source of comfort with only two points in four matches. However, truth be told, they have faced some tough opponents at home in Sunderland, Liverpool, Stoke City and Tottenham. Everton are the first club outside of the top ten to visit the Reebok stadium. Does that mean Bolton has a shot in this match? I think it does and this notion is further evinced by the soccer betting line, which is rather close, listing Bolton at +155 to Everton at +175. The possibility of a draw in this match cannot be ignored. Keep in mind, Everton are having a lot of problems with injuries and they are a shadow of what they were last season.

Soccer Free Picks: Draw +225 | Under 2.5 goals -130