It is about that time to get the Rainmaker posting about Italian Football, and this is what I consider my strength when it comes to handicapping the beautiful game.
I have been following Italian Serie A since the early 1980’s, and as many of my friends and followers know, when it comes to Italy, you will not find anyone who can do what I do.
Record this year?
58 Predictions ~ +19.06 Units (1 Unit Flat Stakes) – 29.4% ROI
33 Wins – 1 Half Win – 6 Push – 4 Half Loss – 16 Losses
All Documented on a very well known website that I can gladly prove to anyone.
There are 11 matches that see all 22 clubs in action on Sunday December 27, but the story of the holiday came on Christmas Eve in the match with Cagliari and Salernitana.
Tempers were already starting to run high, as Cagliari carried a 1 – 0 lead in to the late stages of the match. Salernitana had four players receive yellow cards between the 76th and 83rd minutes, and then the shit hit the fan.
As Cagliari took a late 2 – 0 lead in the 84th minute off the boot of Juventus loanee Andrés Tello, his celebration at the corner flag apparently was the final straw for Salernitana, as a full-out brawl ensued.
Four minutes of fighting saw the ejection of two players from each side, including the goal scorer Tello for Cagliari.
To see the events unravel, here is the video link to the goal and the melee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVqPTCa9LEY
So let’s get back to football, because these are the last matches of the 2015 portion of the campaign which will resume on January 16, 2016.
I have seven plays to offer everyone this weekend, which include four totals and three handicaps.
The four totals feature two plays on straight 2’s, one 2 and 2.5, and one 2.5.
Latina plays host to Pescara at Domenico Francioni, and that is where I offer the Over 2 and 2.5 handicap at -105. I expect the two goals to come that will at least get half our action back, but the third goal should find the net for us as the match approaches the final whistle.
Virtus Lanciano host Livorno at Guido Biondi, and despite the -120 offer from the line setters, we see a straight 2 on the total that I expect to come in Over that number. The two clubs have combined to allow 56 goals through the first 20 rounds, and I see no reason why they won’t continue to allow goals in the back of the net this weekend.
The other straight 2 on a total comes at Renato Curi, as Perugia welcomes Vicenza to town. I have not a single issue offering this total to go Over the 2 at -120.
The lone 2.5 I see staying Under is with Cagliari and Pro Vercelli, as we see a -105 on that action where I do not expect much scoring to take place.
Among the three side plays I am suggesting is the match in Brescia who play host to Ternana. At +110 on the 3-Way action (1×2), I see Brescia taking all three points as they remain in the top five of the table as we enter the holiday break.
Cesena and Avellino square off at Dino Manuzzi, and Avellino is certainly playing the more consistent football as we enter the final weekend of 2015.
Even though Avellino has gone 0 for 3 in their previous attempts to get a result at Manuzzi, and yes the home club has taken 6 of the 7 meetings since 2005, it won’t stop me from offering the Pk and +.5 handicap on the away side.
Basically the +0.25 handicap line comes in at +105, and that is fine by me to make a play on Aveliino of some sort.
The seventh and final play of the round comes at Alberto Braglia, where Modena hosts Novara. The 0/Pk Draw no Bet action on Novara comes in at -115, and I expect Novara to come out of there with some type of result, be it a draw or a win. At -115, that is fair enough for me to suggest that play on Novara away from home.
In Summary…
Latina Vs Pescara ~ Over 2.25 @ -105
Lanciano Vs Livorno ~ Over 2 @ -120
Perugia Vs Vicenza ~ Over 2 @ -120
Cagliari Vs Pro Vercelli ~ Under 2.5 @ -105
Brescia Vs Ternana ~ Brescia 3-Way 1×2 @ +110
Cesena Vs Avellino ~ Avellino +0.25 @ +105
Modena Vs Novara ~ Novara 0/Pk DNB @ -115
For all of you who know how I ended all of my Italian Football podcasts over the last 6 years …
In Bocca Al Lupo!
Happy Holidays and we will see you in 2016 for more Serie A and Serie B action.
