Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are set for their second Premier League encounter this season this Saturday. Nottingham Forest, known as the Tricky Trees, are currently holding steady in the league standings, boosted by three consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa in their previous match on December 14th. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are close to breaking into the top four, being just four points behind, and have won three out of their last five games.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET at Villa Park in Birmingham. Bookmakers have Aston Villa as the favorites with odds at +105, while Nottingham Forest are considered underdogs at +260. The odds for a draw are +265, and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5.
Soccer expert Brandt Sutton suggests considering these picks for the game:
Aston Villa to win (+100)
Despite Nottingham Forest`s recent form, they have struggled in away games, losing three of their last four and conceding 11 goals in those matches. This could be a disadvantage against Aston Villa, who boast an impressive unbeaten streak of 14 home league games at Villa Park. Sutton anticipates an exciting match but believes Aston Villa will secure a home victory.
Over 2.5 goals (-117)
Adding to Forest`s defensive woes on the road, Aston Villa has shown strong offensive performances at home, scoring two or more goals in five of their last seven home games. This includes notable matches like a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and a 2-1 win against Chelsea. Sutton also points out that over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of Aston Villa`s last five league matches.
