Newcastle vs Tottenham Preview | Premier League Odds, Picks
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images. Pictured: Callum Wilson of Newcastle United.
Newcastle vs Tottenham Odds
Newcastle Odds | -121 |
Tottenham Odds | +320 |
| Draw | +265 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-120 / -110) |
| Both Teams to Score (Yes/No) | (-125 / +105) |
| Odds via Caesars. Get the latest soccer odds here. | |
Tottenham will travel to north England to take on Newcastle United at St. James Park in a match that will likely make or break either side's top-four aspirations.
The Magpies currently maintain the final Champions League spot with 56 points after 30 matches. However, they are coming off one of their worst performances of the season, getting embarrassed by Aston Villa at Villa Park in their last outing.
Tottenham are coming off an equally disappointing loss, falling 3-2 to Bournemouth at home due to conceding a 95-minute goal. The result held Tottenham to 53 points with 31 games played in their campaign.
Here is our breakdown of the Newcastle vs Tottenham odds and my pick for the Premier League match on Sunday.
Newcastle Are No Longer The Same Defense
If you can look past Newcastle's performance last week, then they have been in one of the better runs of form in the Premier League as of late. They were on a five-game winning streak prior to facing Unai Emery's side and scored 13 goals in the process.
However, for as good as manager Eddie Howe's side has been offensively, their defense has been below their normal standards since late January.
The Magpies had one of Europe's best defenses in the first half of the EPL season. In their first 20 league matches, they allowed just 11 goals and had 11 shutouts. But post-match day 20, Newcastle have conceded 13 goals and have just two shutouts.
That said, both shutouts have come at St. James Park, where they have just one loss this campaign.
Tottenham Need Another "Miracle"
Former manager Antonio Conte called Tottenham's final-four finish last season a miracle. The end of this season may require another one if they are to return again.
Last season's final push into the top four came due to their defensive discipline in Conte's 3-4-3 shape that would turn into a 5-4-1 when they were without the ball. However, despite being a part of Conte's coaching tree, interim manager Cristian Stellini's first three games with the team indicate a much different defensive approach.
Spurs have one win, one draw and one loss under Stellini, and they have conceded five goals and have scored five goals. He wants his players to play a more aggressive pressing style on defense, but their habits of dropping deep from their time with Conte are yet to be broken. The Italian claims these individual mistakes were why they gave up a goal late to Bournemouth.
Perhaps the biggest positive since his in interim appointment has been the revival of Heung-min Son. The 30-year old has scored in his last two games. Prior to that, he had scored in only four games this season. Son will certainly need to be in top form if Spurs are to have a chance at returning to the UCL.
Newcastle vs Tottenham Pick
Wherever these sides finish at the end of the season, Sunday's result will have something to do with it — positive or negative.
Newcastle have a strong home form and assuming the Villa game was a slight blip, they have gotten strong production from their attacking players as of late.
However, their defense is not the same as it was during the first half of the season, and the new aggressive Tottenham led by Harry Kane and Son are a threat to score every time they step on the pitch.
Rather than backing a side, take the "yes" for both teams to score, as each club should accumulate a couple of quality chances each.
Pick: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-125 via Caesars)
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