EPL 1 & 2 Sept

Saturday's games

Today's games are dominated by some big handicap favourites with Manchester United and Liverpool both on offer as 1 3/4 goal favourites. I am not going to offer a selection on these games but my general rule is that early in the season it is hard for a side to be genuinely that superior to any other side in the EPL and that if you are forced to have a bet then you will get much better value on the underdog.

Only one bet stands out for me today and that is to take Wigan with a 3/4 goal start at St James Park. Newcastle don't quite seem to have settled yet and will not start with Owen and the bookies still seem to be carried away with the hype around Sam Allardyce. The handicap line could also be a reflection of Wigan's 1-0 loss in the Carling Cup to Hull in midweek but Chris Hutchings made eight changes for that game and today's side will be entirely different. Wigan are a good side and travel well and with a 3/4 goal start at worth a one point bet at 1.92.

[Wigan lost 1-0]

Sunday's games

None of today's games represent much value and I am happy not to have a bet.