The Premier League is back.
We are getting under way slightly earlier than usual due to this year's winter World Cup, but the best league in the world will be welcomed back with open arms.
Last season was a thrilling one, with the title going down to the last game of the season, a fierce battle for fourth between north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, and the relegation scrap also being decided in gameweek 38.
Let's hope for more of the same shall we?
Anyway, that's enough spiel from me, as I'm here to select my best outright bets for the upcoming campaign.
It makes sense to start right at the top, with Manchester City looking to win their fifth title in six seasons, and Liverpool looking to push them all the way yet again.
In terms of the 'Winner' betting, the bookies make it a two-horse race, with Manchester City strong favourites around the 4/7 mark and Liverpool 9/4 second favs - third best being Tottenham right out at 14/1.
Odds correct at 2119 (20/07/22)
For as much as Spurs have improved under Antonio Conte - more on that in a moment - and Chelsea's mini-overhaul this summer, I'm still under the impression that this season's title will again be fought out by City and Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have set a new standard in the English top flight, with their teams performing at incredible levels last term - with more of the same expected this season.
Defence usually wins titles, and ultimately City are the best defensive team in the land - and have been for some time.
In fact, ever since Pep Guardiola took charge at the Etihad, City have posted the best defensive process (xGA per game) in every season.
Odds correct at 2200 (20/07/22)
In fact TOTTENHAM TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR takes the crown as my most confident selection at a best price of 4/5.
Antonio Conte is a genius. It's as simple as that.
Spurs now have an elite coach with a winning mentality and proven track record. He has been backed by Daniel Levy, meaning fellow top-flight teams should be worried.
With a mediocre squad last season, Conte turned Tottenham's fortunes on their head, with their xGD per game transforming from -0.55 under Nuno Espirito Santo to +0.91 under the Italian.
David Moyes' side, somewhat ironically, missed out on Europa League football last season by prioritising the Europa League, with their league form dipping as they concentrated on a deep European run.
They had a thin squad so couldn't cope with the demands of Thursday-Sunday without heavy rotation, but they have brought in bodies this summer, with more set to follow.
The well-drilled, well-organised side are a nightmare to play against given their physicality and that tried and trusted process is likely to reap reward again.
Newcastle haven't yet done any super flashy business that makes me think they will contend in this market, while third favourites Aston Villa were just too easy to play against at the back end of last term.
Fourth favourites Leicester will have their backers at a decent price, but their defensive process was utterly abysmal last season and needs rectifying drastically.
Scouring the rest of the markets, one bet stands out at the prices as being slightly too big.
It appears as though Crystal Palace are being underestimated again this season, with the Eagles in the relegation betting mix last season.
Patrick Vieira has simply revolutionised Palace, both on the eye-test and the spreadsheets.
The Eagles have gone from playing a deep-block and counter-attacking under Roy Hodgson to playing in a more proactive and attack-minded approach, integrating more youth in the process.
Their xG process from Hodgson in 20/21 to Vieira in 21/22 could hardly be more polar opposite.
They are a team on the up. With City, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea, United, Arsenal and West Ham fancied to make up the top seven, we have three places up for grabs, and I'd rate Palace higher than Newcastle and Leicester, and on par with Brighton.
Newcastle are a 4/11 shot to finish top half, Leicester 8/11 and Brighton 6/5, so the 5/2 available about Palace in the same market is most certainly worth a wager.
Odds correct at 2230 (20/07/22)
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