GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER): MIKE'S EARLY PREMIER LEAGUE TOTAL

To say that Tottenham are vulnerable defensively would be an understatement up seven goals to Bayern Munich in their Champions League matchup midweek. 

They have allowed nine goals in seven Premier League games on the season, and while the home team Brighton usually comes out with a cautious gameplan, it must smell blood and be looking to put on a show in front of the home town crowd at Amex Stadium here. 

Brighton are banged up though, and for all of Tottenham's issues, scoring goals is not one of them. They have world class attackers like Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen who all can create goals out of nothing.

I think we'll see a 2-1 or 3-1 win for the visitors, with the score going over the total.

10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER): MIKE'S TOP RATED PREMIER LEAGUE TOTAL

Manchester United have not scored more than one goal in any contest since opening their season with a 4-0 rout of Chelsea. They'll be without World Cup-winning star midfielder Paul Pogba for this one, leaving the Red Devils short of creativity from the midfield. As for West Ham, they're coming off a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa and have scored just six goals in five Premier League games on the season. They've also looked good on the defensive end though, having kept three successive clean sheets in league and cup play.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER): MIKE'S TOP RATED PREMIER LEAGUE TOTAL 

Manchester United have gone three games without a win since opening the season with a 4-0 romp of Chelsea, and they've scored just three goals in those three games.

Here the players will return back from the international break, which obviously is not much of a break at all for a team stacked with national team players. Not only does the games take their toll, but also the traveling ... We can and Man U will have to do without six injured players, including star midfielder Paul Pogba. 

As for visiting Leicester, they've had a positive start to the season entering Saturday in third place in the EPL table. They've allowed just three goals in four games, and will most likely be happy to sit back and let a toothless Man U team bang their heads against the blue wall. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Manchester United played a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend and followed that up with a narrow 1-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League midweek.

Southampton have scored only 10 goals in 13 Premier League games on the season and have found the net just one time through their last three at home. They've been solid defensively at home all season though allowing just eight goals in six games, and I think we'll see two cautious teams play out a low-scoring game here.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER) TOTAL

Crystal Palace are winless through their last seven games and have scored a grand total of four goals during that stretch. They've allowed more than two goals in only of those games though and here they'll face a Manchester United team which definitely is capable of playing lock down defense despite 21 goals conceded on the season. 

My prediction is that Man United will sit back and control the game after taking the lead (which I assume they will), and that we'll see this game go under the total.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER TOTAL)

Manchester United have kept just one Premier League clean sheet this season, but I think manager Jose Mourinho will make sure his team comes out with a defensive approach for this road game at Bournemouth. 

The Cherries on the other hand aim to keep four consecutive clean sheets for the first time in the top flight with a shutout here, so you better believe the home team will make it difficult for the Red Devils to score. 

We can also note that United take on Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus in Turin on Wednesday.  

10* play on UNDER. 

PREMIER LEAGUE MORNING MASSACRE (10* TOTAL TOP PLAY)

Crystal Palace are desperate for points after a poor start to the season. I think they'll be happy to leave Goodison Park with a point and we're likely to see the visitors enter this contest with a very cautious approach. We can also note that they've scored just two goals through their last five games and six of their last eight games have seen two goals or fewer. Everton are inconsistent and I think they'll struggle to create chances against Palace.

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Both Tottenham and Watford enter this contest with a perfect 3-0-0 record, Tottenham with a 8-2 goal differential and Watford with a 7-2 goal differential. I'm confident we'll see plenty of goals here. Tottenham have phenomenal attacking talent but note that they're likely to be without Hugo Lloris due to a thigh injury which should make Watford more confident going on the attack turning this into a wide open contest. 

10* Soccer Game of the Week: OVER. 

SATURDAY WORLD CUP TOTAL *TOP PLAY*

Reigning world champions Germany are in a "must-win" situation after 1-0 loss to Mexico. We have seen several of the top nations struggle to break down weaker opposition here in the World Cup, and here Germany will face a Sweden side happy to sit deep and try to soak up the pressure in hopes of a 0-0 draw as they already have three points in the bag since beating South Korea. Sweden offer very little going forward though, and their goal against South Korea was their first in 402 minutes of international football. They defend very well though, and only one of Sweden's last 10 games has had more than two goals. 

10* play on UNDER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLS)

The LA Galaxy are coming off back-to-back 1-0 triumphs, and I think they'll be involved in another low-scoring contest when hosting FC Dallas Wednesday night. 

"We’ve gutted out the last two games," LA Galaxy manager Sigi Schmid said after the most recent victory. "But, the main thing is that we’ve played to zero, and as we said at halftime we said look just keep it a zero, we’ll find a goal. This is a team that will somehow find a goal. And, we found a goal. So, what I’m happy with is that I think defensively over the last two games, we’ve bent a little bit, but we’ve been stronger."

Dallas have allowed just 11 goals in 11 games on the season for the best defensive record in the Western Conference and we can note that Galaxy will be without suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for this matchup. 

10* MLS Game of the Week: Under

TOP RATED PREMIER LEAGUE *MIDWEEK MADNESS* TOTAL

Chelsea are coming off five consecutive wins, and they've allowed a total of just three goals during that stretch with three straight clean sheets. Huddersfield have scored just 11 goals in their 18 games on the road this season and are desperate for points to avoid relegation. Each of Huddersfield's last eight games have seen a maximum of two goals. 

10* play on Huddersfield @ Chelsea to go UNDER 3 goals. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Liverpool are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. They've won three in a row and seven of their last nine, outscoring opponents by a total of 23-2 in the triumphs. Liverpool have lost just twice in their last 11 away Premier League games (W8, D1) and over is 13-3 in their 16 road games in the league this season. Six of Everton's last eight games have seen three goals or more. 

10* Soccer Game of the Week play on LIV @ EVE to go OVER the total. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Newcastle have the worst home record in the top flight and they've not won at home in the league since October. They have scored just 11 goals while conceding 15 in 13 games in front of the home fans, and I expect another low-scoring contest when they host Man United on Sunday.

The visitors are still trying to figure out how to get the best out of recently signed Alexis Sanchez, and we can note that Sanchez has played four Premier League games against Newcastle without scoring.

Manchester United have allowed a league-best 18 goals this season and kept clean sheets in five of their last six Premier League games. I expect them to sit back and try and kill the game rather than keep going forward if they were to take the lead. 

My selection is a 10* play on Man U @ Newcastle to go UNDER the total. 

TOP RATED 10* EPL PUNISHER TOTTENHAM @ LIVERPOOL

Tottenham won the last encounter with Liverpool 4-1, and I think goals will come fast and easy for both teams when they clash at Anfield Road on Sunday. Note that Spurs Harry Kane has scored 18 goals in his last 13 Premier League away games.

Both teams are battling for Champions League/Europa League spots, and Liverpool in particular have a propensity of being involved in high-scoring affairs when taking on top opponents. Just look at the following results:  

Liverpool – Manchester City: 4-3
Arsenal – Liverpool: 3-3
Tottenham – Liverpool: 4-1
Liverpool – Manchester United: 0-0
Liverpool – Chelsea: 1-1
Manchester City – Liverpool: 5-0
Liverpool – Arsenal: 4-0

Expect fireworks. 

My selection is a 10* play on OVER. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

Manchester United are likely to hand Alexis Sanchez his home debut when they host Huddersfield on Saturday, but I still think goals will come at a premium for both sides. United will try to bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Tottenham which ended an eight-game unbeaten league run. It also ended a sequence of four successive league clean sheets. Huddersfield have lost their last four league games and scored in just three of their 12 away league fixtures. I expect a 1-0, 2-0 win for the home side, and I think we're getting an excellent number on the total. 

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Manchester United have had an exceptional start to 2018 with five straight victories no goals conceded. I think their stellar defensive play continues here when they visit Tottenham on Wednesday. Spurs are coming off back-to-back 1-1 draws and they've conceded just nine goals in 12 home games in the Premier League this season. Man U won the first meeting of the season 1-0, and goals are likely to be scarce this time around as well. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under.