Top 5 Bets for the week: January 14-17

Our writers have compiled their top bets for Tuesday to Friday, with big games in France and Portugal on the list.

Tranmere v Watford – Over 2.5 Goals – 1.60

Having played out a 3-3 draw at Vicarage Road ten days ago, these teams must meet again for a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Watford followed that result with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth, meaning that their last four matches have all seen Over 2.5 Goals. Likewise, three of Tranmere’s last five games have featured at least three goals. Over 2.5 Goals has also occurred in four out of five FA Cup matches for both sides. Will we witness more goals on Tuesday?

Tottenham v Middlesbrough – Both Teams to Score – 2.00

Another FA Cup replay, this time in London after these sides drew 1-1 last weekend. The visitors, managed by former Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate, have found the net in each of their last nine games across all competitions. That run includes wins at West Brom and Preston, two teams near the top of the Championship. Tottenham, meanwhile, have only managed one clean sheet in 13 games since Jose Mourinho’s arrival two months ago. They might struggle to keep out the visitors.

Fiorentina v Atalanta – Both Teams to Score – 1.55

Both teams have scored in four of Fiorentina’s last five games in all competitions, while they have also scored and conceded in the four of their past five Coppa Italia matches. On Wednesday they host Atalanta in the cup. The visitors have scored in each of their last nine games and are the highest-scoring side in Serie A. They met Fiorentina last year in the Coppa Italia, where they played out a 3-3 draw before winning 2-1 in the second leg. Expect goals galore here.

AS Monaco v PSG – Over 3.5 Goals – 1.65

Just three days after meeting at the Parc de Princes, Ligue 1 leaders PSG face AS Monaco once again. The reigning champions were 3-2 up at half time in that match, only to let their lead slip and draw 3-3 at full time. This was the latest in a series of high-scoring clashes between these sides, the last five of which have all featured Over 3.5 Goals. Monaco and PSG are also the two highest-scoring teams in the division. The hosts average 2.67 goals per home game, while Thomas Tuchel’s side score at a rate of 2.11 goals per away game. Which team has the firepower to win this one? The answer: both.

Porto v Braga – Porto Win – 1.55

Porto are second in the Primeira Liga, having won 13 of their 16 games so far this season. They have also won 32 of their last 34 league games on home turf, including each of the last 12. They have not lost any of their past nine games against Braga, winning six of those. The visitors are 17 points behind the hosts and have lost their last five away games against Portugal’s Big Three (Benfica, Porto and Sporting). It’s not a reassuring record.