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Wolverhampton will try to stay in the running for a spot in European competition when it visits Newcastle on Friday for an English Premier League matchup. Wolves (15-4-12) is in the eighth spot in the Premier League table, two points out of sixth and five behind fourth-place Tottenham with seven games left. The top four earn Champions League berths, the next two get Europa League spots and seventh place earns a Conference League bid. Newcastle (7-10-13) is in 15th place and has lost three consecutive games, but it has been tough to beat at St. James' Park. It has played four straight games on the road and comes off a dismal 5-1 loss to Spurs last Sunday, so it will be glad to be home. Wolverhampton has won three of its last four, including a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa last Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Newcastle as the +130 favorite (risk $100 to win $130) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Newcastle vs. Wolverhampton odds, with Wolves the +250 underdog. A draw is priced at +200 and the over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before making any Wolves vs. Newcastle picks or English Premier League predictions, you need to see what red-hot SportsLine soccer insider Brandt Sutton has to say.

Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for nearly five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.

Sutton has also been on a roll with his best bets, going 11-3 in his last 14 soccer picks, returning over $600 for $100 bettors during that span.

Now, Sutton has broken down the Newcastle vs. Wolverhampton matchup from every angle and just locked in his Premier League picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Wolverhampton vs. Newcastle:

  • Newcastle vs. Wolves spread: Newcastle -0.5 (+130)
  • Newcastle vs. Wolves over-under: 2.5 goals 
  • Newcastle vs. Wolves money line: Newcastle +130, Wolves +250, Draw +200
  • NEW: FW Allan Saint-Maximin is eighth in carries into the penalty area (42) 
  • WLV: MF Joao Moutinho is tied for fourth in the league in tackles won (48)

Why you should back Newcastle

The Magpies are the favorite because they have been tough to beat on their home turf this season. They have scored 20 of their 33 goals and taken at least a point from 10 of their 14 games (4-6-4) at St. James' Park. They will be looking for strong backing from the crowd after a 5-1 loss to Tottenham last weekend. One of Newcastle's other losses in the the three-game slide was to league power Chelsea, so it isn't hanging its head too much. It had gone unbeaten in nine straight league games (6-3-0) before a 1-0 loss to the Blues triggered the slide.

The team went on a lavish spending spree in the January transfer window, adding veteran goal scorer Chris Wood and 24-year-old Bruno Guimaraes, among others. Wood scored three goals with Burnley and has one since coming over, and he has 137 in his club career. He and Allan Saint-Maximin (five goals) can do some damage, and Newcastle has 25 more shots than Wolves this season. It also has allowed six fewer shots on target and had a 3-2 edge in that department in the last meeting. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has four clean sheets this season.  

Why you should back Wolves

Wolverhampton's signature this season has been its defense, as it has allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the Premier League. Its 27 conceded is half as many as Newcastle has allowed, with the Magpies' 54 the fourth-most in the EPL. The defense is anchored by center back Conor Coady, and midfielder Joao Moutinho plays a critical role in front of the defenders. If the Magpies can break through the line of defense, they have to face goalkeeper Jose Sa, who ranks third in the EPL in saves (102) and has the best save percentage in the league (82.8).

Both teams have scored 33 goals, but Wanderers have scored at least twice in five of their past eight league games. Hwang Hee-Chan has five goals this season, and two of those came in a 2-1 win in the last meeting with Newcastle in October. The previous four matchups ended 1-1. Hwang and Raul Jimenez (six goals, three assists) could cause big problems for the Magpies back line, and Ruben Neves (four goals) has a powerful shot from long range. Newcastle's goalkeepers have combined for the second-lowest save percentage in the league (61.7).  

How to make EPL and Newcastle vs. Wolves picks

Sutton has analyzed the Newcastle vs. Wolverhampton match from all sides, and he is taking the over on the goal total. He also provides another confident best bet that returns plus-money and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his expert EPL picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Wolverhampton vs. Newcastle in Friday's Premier League matchup? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for the Newcastle vs. Wolverhampton match, all from the soccer expert on a 11-3 run on his soccer picks, and find out.