Fixture 18 – Italian Serie A – Jan 5/6

As the Winter Break comes to a close, the Italian pitch once again becomes active as the Serie A campaign resumes on January 5 and 6 to kick off the 2016 portion of the campaign.

With two fixtures left to play until we reach the official half-way point of the season, we will arrive at that point this upcoming weekend, as Italian Serie A will be playing two rounds of action in six days with each club having met once, with a return leg for each to come.

The Genoa Derby starts off the calendar year, as Genoa and Sampdoria meet at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Tuesday. Scoring has been at a premium in the derby recently, as neither club has scored more than one goal in four of the last five meetings between the two clubs on their familiar territory.

Finding a particular match to highlight among the nine matches on Wednesday might be a difficult task, as we see a lopsided schedule from a table perspective. Table leaders Inter Milan will face Empoli, and that is a matchup of 1 vs 8, so apparently we could call that the match of the weekend, if we needed to find one.

Luckily we don’t so let’s get to the lines offered at Diamond Sports Book, which we strongly recommend you use if you need an A+ Sportsbook on the Sports Book Review site. BetDSI is one of only seven sites on planet earth that have the A+ ranking by the way!

With that said … #BecauseFutbol … We take it to the pitch.
First the Lines, and then the predictions.

Tuesday ~ January 5, 2016 – Serie A

Time Handicap Line / 1×2 3-Way line / Total Goals

6:30 ET
Genoa -0.5 +135 / +131 / Over 2.5 +115
Sampdoria +0.5 -155 / +252 / Under 2.5 -135
Draw +230

Wednesday ~ January 6, 2016 – Serie A

06.30
Udinese Pk -155 / +127 / Over 2.5 +120
Atalanta Pk +135 / +257 / Under 2.5 -140
Draw +234

09.00
Sassuolo -1 -103 / -181 / Over 2.5 -108
Frosinone +1 -103 / +617 / Under 2.5 -101
Draw +324

09.00
AC Milan -1 -108 / -186 / Over 2.5 +104
Bologna +1 +101 / +641 / Under 2.5 -124
Draw +326

09.00
Juventus -2 +108 / -475 / Over 3 +116
Hellas Verona +2 -115 / +1700 / Under 3 -135
Draw +620

09.00
Lazio -1 -155 / -242 / Over 2.5 -102
Carpi +1 +135 / +877 / Under 2.5 -106
Draw +376

09.00
Chievo Pk +155 / +263 / Over 2.5 +125
AS Roma Pk -180 / +121 / Under 2.5 -145
Draw +241

09.00
Palermo +0.5 +102 / +354 / Over 2.5 +100
Fiorentina -0.5 -109 / -109 / Under 2.5 -109
Draw +259

12.00
Empoli Pk +140 / +258 / Over 2.5 +125
Inter Milan Pk -165 / +131 / Under 2.5 -145
Draw +225

2.45
Napoli -1 and -1.5 -106 / -242 / Over 2.5 -130
Torino +1 and +1.5 +100 / +821 / Under 2.5 +110
Draw +391
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5 Plays come your way from the Rainmaker in this mid-week round of fixtures, and we will again be at it when the weekend arrives for another round of action on the Italian pitch.

The first play does indeed come from the lone Tuesday fixture in Genoa, as Genoa sit four points behind Sampdoria in the table which is currently only two points ahead of the final relegation position held by Frosinone.

The First Half Over 1 comes in at a whopping +115, which is essentially a gift in my opinion. We will see no worse than a 1 – 1 score headed to the half, but unless we have to salvage for a 1 – 0 push on our action, that is still worth the action.

Play 1: Genoa V Sampdoria ~ First Half Over 1 @ +115

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Palermo welcomes Fiorentina to Stadio Renzo Barbera, and boy did these two have some fun with one another last year.

Both meetings in the 2014/15 campaign provided many a highlight for us fans. Fiorentina took the front leg fixture at Artemio Franchi by a 4 – 3 score, while also picking up their fourth consecutive win over Palermo in the second meeting here in Palermo, 3 – 2.

Hopefully you can all figure out that the two scored 12 goals in the two meetings, and let’s mention that Fiorentina currently leads all of Serie A with 33 goals through 17 rounds.

Hello Total!

The Over 2.5 comes in at +105 at some sites or even money at Diamond, so make the play and appreciate another handful of goals to aid our tickets on their way to the window.

2nd Play: Palermo V Fiorentina Over 2.5 @ +100

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Bologna visits the San Siro on Wednesday, and oh how I wish I could be there for this contest. The crowd should be in a good mood, and the goals should be hitting the back of the net early and often.

Bologna should be able to give Milan a match, but a 2 – 1 score here at the worst is something that most bettors out here should be able to take advantage of.

In fact, I see the Over 2 and 2.5 handicap coming in at -120 at certain sites our European readers should be able to make use of, and it is never a bad thing to give yourself a mini safety net when it comes to handicaps.

If we do get stuck on two goals with the Over 2 and 2.5 at -120, that would not be the worst thing if you put a simple $100 on the action. I have no idea what anyone’s bankroll is, but the standard use of flat stakes betting at 1 unit usually denotes $100 in the betting world.

I believe we will see that third goal however, so hopefully it won’t be an issue, but I will still recommend the handicap total.

Play 3: AC Milan V Bologna ~ Over 2 and 2.5 HC at -120

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Lazio hosts Carpi at Stadio Olimpico, and one thing we know about Lazio is when they are home, they are simply a different club. For anyone who has followed me over at Diamond for the last two years, you know all you need to know about when Lazio leaves Rome.

Today, we don’t have that concern, and I going back to another First Half play on this one.

The -0.5 handicap on Lazio at home to take a lead going to the locker room is -105, and I am all over that.

Lazio we know comes off the win over Inter to end the break, so to get Carpi at home to start the 2016 portion of the campaign better be seen as a gift.

Let’s hope we celebrate it with them.

4th Play: Lazio V Carpi ~ Lazio -0.5 First Half HC @ -105

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Inter Milan as I mentioned, ended 2015 with the 2 – 1 loss at home to Lazio, which to be honest came as a shock to many people I would imagine.

Now Inter has to tackle a tough Empoli club at Stadio Carlo Castellani, which will not be as simple as it sounds, although the line setters are calling for an easy Inter victory.

I am not so sure I agree with that, but I do see goals being scored here in the end.

Only twice over their last 18 home fixtures has Empoli been held to a clean sheet, and Inter needs to go out and get points if they plan on battling for a Scudetto this year.

This match could 2 – 2 to be honest, so I am tossing in this Over 2 and 2.5 Handicap line at -105, because to me there is value behind the safety net. Inter we know started the year with a tremendous defensive game plan, and it worked to a tee to start the year.

Those days have dwindled lately, and we are seeing much more open play in Inter Milan matches over the last few weeks of 2015.

If 1 – 1 is the best they can do? It won’t completely take our money on the 2 and 2.5, and we need to take advantage of these lines when they become available. I have zero issue with even money type action on handicaps.

Play 5: Empoli V Inter Milan ~ Over 2 and 2.5 HC @ -105

In Bocca Al Lupo! May The Bets Be With You!