Struggling EPL sides Aston Villa and Newcastle meet in a high-stakes relegation battle on Wednesday morning (Australian time) in a match which has punters baffled.
The clash between 16th-placed Newcastle and 17th-placed Villa is the clear stand-out of the four EPL matches being played on Tuesday night (local time) and the stakes could hardly be higher, with the loser to take a step closer to the dreaded prospect of relegation to England's second tier Championship.
It seems unthinkable that either Villa or Newcastle - two of the best supported clubs in England - could be relegated.
However, Villa currently find themselves just a point above the relegation zone, having gone winless in their past six EPL matches, while the Geordies are only one point better off after an even worse run of just two wins from their past 18 matches in all competitions.
Reading at $1.48 and QPR at $1.56 remain the clear favourites to go down in Betfair's relegation markets but Villa are now favourites to fill the other relegation position at $1.98, ahead of Wigan at $2.38, Southampton at $3.50 and Newcastle at $4.70.
As for Tuesday night's huge clash at Villa Park, betting is virtually even with the home side priced at $2.82 at Betfair, with Newcastle slight favourites at $2.74, and the draw looking the best value at $3.50.
However, at sportsbet.com.au it's Villa who are the $2.50 favourites, ahead of Newcastle at $2.80 with the draw paying $3.30.
At Betfair there has been good support for all three main betting options with Newcastle attracting 48 percent of money, Villa 36 percent and the draw 16 percent.
But the humiliation of both teams hasn't been confined to the EPL with both already crashing out of the FA Cup to lower division sides while Villa were also recently beaten over two legs by fourth-tier Bradford in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Put simply, both sides appear to have forgotten how to win and with two of their past three matches also having ended in draws, backing the draw looks the way to go again in this one a result that would do neither team any favours in their battle against the drop.
The other three games on Wednesday morning look more straightforward with reigning champions Manchester City short but virtual certainties at $1.51 to win away against bottom-placed QPR, paying $8, at Betfair while the draw is priced at $4.60.
QPR are four points adrift at the bottom of the table while City are in second spot, five points short of leaders Manchester United (who don't play until the following day) with QPR coming off a humiliating home loss to League Two club MK Dons in the FA Cup.
And in the other two games we fancy the home sides with Stoke priced at $2.06 with Betfair at home to Wigan at $4.10, while improving Sunderland look good value at home paying $2.52 against Swansea, who may well have a downer after the thrill of reaching their first major cup final in the League Cup last week, at odds of $3.15.
*Note prices subject to change
Bet of the day: Stoke and Man City are both short but should win comfortably.
Value bet of the day: Back Sunderland to beat Swansea and go for the draw in the Villa-Newcastle game.
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