Aston Villa vs Man Utd Betting Odds - Injury-plagued United host emerging Aston Villa squad

Manchester United’s betting odds have taken a bit of heat lately as they have no less than 12 senior players who are battling injuries, including most of the defensive players. United will welcome Aston Villa to town in Saturday’s late match, and with the injury problems at the back for the home team, Villa will try to at least snatch a point.

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting odds maker breakdown: The Storyline
Villa is fifth in the Premiership, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, and they haven’t lost in their last four league matches. United is two points behind the Blues and they’re unbeaten in their last three, scoring 11 goals in those games, although they are being decimated by injuries at the back. A Villa win would be huge for their confidence given their recent struggles against the Red Devils, while United tries to keep pace with Chelsea.

Betting Edge: Draw

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting odds maker breakdown: Offense
Villa is coming on in the goal-scoring department, as they scored five against Bolton and three against Hull, but those were at home, and they’ve scored just nine goals in seven away matches. Gaby Agbonlahor and James Milner are the main attacking threats, while Ashley Young is starting to come around. Richard Dunne’s three goals at the back have been a bonus., and Stewart Downing is back and healthy after a lengthy knee injury.

United never has a problem scoring goals, not as long as Wayne Rooney is on the field. Rooney has scored four goals in his last two games, including a hat trick at Portsmouth two weeks ago. Dimitar Berbatov is struggling with a knee injury, which could open the door for a Michael Owen start as the striker hit his own hat trick in a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Tuesday. England manager Fabio Capello would love to see what Rooney and Owen could do together.

Betting Edge: Man United

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting odds maker breakdown: Defense
Villa has stayed in the sportsbook race for the last Champions League spot in England because of a stingy defense that has allowed just one more goal than United. Dunne has been strong since coming from Manchester City, while Carlos Jiminez Cueller has also played well in front of keeper Brad Friedel.

United are second to Chelsea in goals allowed, but they face a real crisis as Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Jonny Evans and John O’Shea are all out, along with Owen Hargreaves. Wes Brown and keeper Edwin van der Sar could be cleared to play, as well as Nemanja Vidic. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, both midfielders, did an admirable job in their Wolfsburg victory as the central-defensive pairing, but Aston Villa could attack that with the height of John Carew.

Betting Edge: Draw

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting odds maker breakdown: Notable Injuries
James Collins (groin) is trying to get healthy for this match, while Craig Gardner (back) may be ready to play his first game of the year.

Where to start for United: Nani (ankle), Brown (hamstring), Neville (groin) Fabio (groin) Berbatov (knee), Ferdinand (calf), O’Shea (thigh), Evans (calf) and Hargreaves (knee) are either out or very doubtful. Rooney (hamstring), Vidic (virus), and van der Sar (knee) are doubtful, but Rooney and van der Sar should make it out on the pitch.

Betting Edge: Aston Villa

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting odds maker breakdown: Totals
Six of the last 10 meetings between these two have gone over the posted total, and only once in the last 10 games as Villa kept a clean sheet against United, who hold a 24-5 edge in goals scored in those 10 games. However, with United’s injury problems at the back, Villa could be able to sneak a goal in there.

Pick: OVER 2.5

Aston Villa vs Man Utd betting breakdown: Outlook and Pick
United have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 against Villa, who have lost seven in a row at Old Trafford, where they last won in the league in 1983. United has six wins and a draw in seven homes matches, while Villa has three draws and a pair of losses in seven away matches, and they haven’t won on the road in the league since a 3-1 victory at Liverpool on August 24th. However, they’re improving on the road, and with United’s injuries at the back, Villa should be able to score a couple to earn a point.

TODD’S PICK: Draw +280

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