Italia Round 31 of the Serie A campaign kicks off this weekend with a full slate of fixtures. Three matches are set for April 8, and seven more fixtures will complete the round on Sunday, April 9.
Only eight fixtures remain in the 2016-17 Serie A campaign, leaving 24 possible points available to each club.
Juventus is clinging to a six-point lead over AS Roma in the Lega Calcio table. The top two positions in the final standings will earn direct entry to Champions League group stage. Napoli currently sits in third place, which could possible land them in Champions League qualification rounds.
Serie A also offers two direct entries to Europa League group stage for the fourth and fifth place clubs. Entering this weekend, Lazio and Atalanta are trying to hold off both Inter and AC Milan for those positions.
In addition, Roma, Lazio, Juventus and Napoli all competed in the Coppa Italia semifinals this week. Lazio and Juventus saw their way through to the finals, which will take place on June 2 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
As you should know by now, I am also heavily invested in Serie B and Lega Pro at this point of the year. Basically, anything that happens in Italy is for me to know and for you to take advantage of.
So with that said, it is time to get in to some matches. I will keep to my routine, and list the matches with the 3-Way Lines, Spreads and Totals. Are you ready for this people? Can you handle the excitement? Well let’s get to it then!
Italia Round 31 – 10 Matches
Saturday, April 8 – 3 Matches
Empoli vs Pescara
3-Way 1×2 Lines:
Empoli -125
Pescara +335
Draw +290
Handicap/Spread:
Empoli -0.5 -125
Pescara +0.5 +105
Total 3:
Over +105
Under -125
Atalanta vs Sassuolo
Atalanta -205
Sassuolo +585
Draw +350
Atalanta -1 -125
Sassuolo +1 +105
Total 3:
Over +100
Under -120
Juventus vs Chievo Verona
Juventus -400
Chievo +1450
Draw +475
Juventus -1.5 -130
Chievo +1.5 +110
Total 2.5:
Over -140
Under +120
Sunday, April 9 – 7 Matches
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina
Sampdoria +195
Fiorentina +145
Draw +245
Sampdoria 0/Pk +110
Fiorentina 0/Pk -130
Total 2.5:
Over -140
Under +120
AC Milan vs Palermo
Milan -355
Palermo +1000
Draw +475
Milan -1.5 -115
Palermo +1.5 -105
Total 3:
Over -120
Under +100
Bologna vs AS Roma
Bologna +665
Roma -225
Draw +370
Bologna +1 +120
Roma -1 -140
Total 3:
Over +100
Under -120
Cagliari vs Torino
Cagliari +205
Torino +125
Draw +275
Cagliari +0.5 -145
Torino -0.5 +125
Total 3:
Over -110
Under -110
Crotone vs Inter Milan
Crotone +900
Inter -300
Draw +425
Crotone +1.5 -115
Inter -1.5 -105
Total 3:
Over -110
Under -110
Udinese vs Genoa
Udinese -125
Genoa +365
Draw +280
Udinese -0.5 -125
Genoa +0.5 +105
Total 2.5:
Over -120
Under +100
Lazio vs Napoli
Lazio +175
Napoli +150
Draw +260
Lazio 0/Pk +100
Napoli 0/Pk -120
Total 3:
Over +100
Under -120
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I certainly see a few favorable lines to utilize this weekend around Serie A Italia Round 31. How about some of these totals on the board? Out of the 10 matches this weekend, seven offer totals listed at a straight 3. I guess the line setters are expecting more of what we have already seen this campaign; goals being scored!
The Serie A Grand Salami prop got smashed again last weekend, and I know that because I played it. It was listed at 19 for the 7 Sunday affairs last round, and once again it flew over the number. I am a big fan of the Grand Salami in all sports. Baseball, hockey, or Serie A Grand Salami props are among my favorite action plays. When you are as consumed with totals as I am, it is natural to make a play on the salami. I miss being Captain Salami, which was a nickname for me back in the day at a former site I posted at.
The first match of the weekend comes at Stadio Castellani, and, oh boy, talk about two struggling clubs. If we consider Pescara to be a complete disaster, then what the hell do we think of Empoli? Empoli is in the midst of a nasty run of defeats, and have fallen all the way back to the 17 position in the Serie A table. Of course, the last three positions in the table at the end of the campaign get sent down to Serie B. It is now a four-club race for the three relegation spots, and Empoli is now in this conversation.
17. Empoli 22 Pts
18. Crotone 17
19. Palermo 15
20. Pescara 13
I feel as if we are looking at a 1 – 1 type of match taking place here. I just watched Pescara draw with Milan last weekend, and until Empoli shows me they care… I fade them!
Suggested Play:
Empoli vs Pescara
Pescara +0.5 Handicap @ +105
Match 2 of the Saturday slate arrives in the form of Atalanta vs Sassuolo. I think I have already discussed what Atalanta is doing this year that they haven’t done in about five years. That would be the ability to score, and how about the five goals against Genoa last weekend for Atalanta?
I think the line setters are somewhat handcuffed here, because a straight 3 on this total is just not enough.
Now we see +100 and an even money line on that 3, and there is now way I am leaving that off of my board. I could analyze the hell out of the ‘how and why’ we will see goals at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on Saturday. I waste no more words…
Suggested Play:
Atalanta vs Sassuolo
Total Goals Over 3 @ +100
I will progress to Sunday, because I will not likely touch the Juve match with Chievo.
Udinese is hosting Genoa at Stadio Friuli, and why wouldn’t we be expecting goals here too? I am trying to figure out why the line setters would list the Under 3 at -120, because I can’t imagine who would pay the $20 in juice to take it. I get that we need that fourth goal to make the bet matter, but I am also never afraid to push a bet like this either. If a 2 – 1 result is the best these two can do, then it won’t hurt us a damn bit!
Suggested play:
Udinese vs Genoa
Total Goals Over 3 @ +100
Cagliari is hosting Torino this weekend at Stadio Sant’Elia, and it is time to navigate towards the total again.
I caught both Cagliari’s and Torino’s matches last weekend, and each result left me loving this matchup. Cagliari dismissed Palermo handily by a 3 – 1 score, and Torino was involved in another melee themselves. When was the last time we have seen less than four goals in a Torino outing? I can’t remember, and I don’t feel like looking for the answer, but I know it has been a while. Home or away, it doesn’t matter where Torino is, because we have been seeing goals regardless.
Again I will not waste more of your precious time…
Suggested Play:
Cagliari vs Torino
Total Goals Over 3 @ -110
When that Serie A Grand Salami comes out at Pinnacle, i advise once again to grab that total. I obviously can taste some goal scoring this weekend around Italia round 31, so be sure to utilize that offer as well. I see it is not up yet, so I can not officially give you the number or the line.
Remember that there are full rounds of Serie B and Lega Pro this weekend. I will have multiple offers on the board for those leagues as well, because … I can!
In Bocca Al Lupo! Ciao and enjoy Italia Round 31.
Don’t forget that when it is time to get your action in, Diamond has you covered from head to toe. There are only 5 A+ sports books on planet Earth and DSI is one of them, so you can trust that your action is safe and secure.
