Soccer Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Thursday 3/19/20

By Joe Williams

Turkish Super Lig - Best Bets
Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Odds Subject to Change (T&C's Apply, 21+)
Fenerbache vs. Kayserispo
Date: Friday, March 19
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Super Lig Betting Odds
Fenerbache (-380)
Kayserispor (+750)
Draw (+460)
Like everywhere else, the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic situation is front and center in Turkey. Kayserispor's Bernard Mensah expressed his concerns about Super Lig continuing to play despite the global pandemic.

Kayserispor has posted a 3-1-1 mark across the past five outings, but they're still in the basement of the Super Lig with just 22 points at 5-14-7, while posting a league-worst minue-34 goal differential. Facing Fenerbahce will not be the cure to their ills, as they enter with 40 points, and a plus-12 goal differential. Fenerbahce has posted a win or draw in 22 of their past 24 matches at home, and Kayserispor has dropped 10 of their past 11 matches on the road. In addition, Kayserispor has allowed at least three goals in six of the past seven on the road, so look to the Over 2.5 goals (-250), or Over 3.5 (+100). DK also offers spread props with Fenerbahce (-3, -115) worth a look. Fenerbahce (-145) on the first-half line is also an attractive play Friday.
Gazisehir Gaziantep FK vs. Ankaragucu
Date: Saturday, March 20
Time: 7:00 a.m. ET
Super Lig Betting Odds
Gazisehir Gaziantep FK (-135)
Ankaragucu (+310)
Draw (+270)
In this one, Gaziantep is on their home pitch looking to keep the boys from the capital city down. Ankaragucu has only Kayserispor below them in the standings, posting 23 points. They're 2-3-0 in the past five overall, while Gaziantep is 1-2-2 in their past five. Ankaragucu has managed a minus-22 goal differential, which is also the second-worst in the Super Lig. Gaziantep owns a 2-1-2 edge across the past five head-to-head meeting, including a 2-1 win on Nov. 4 in the most recent matchup. Add in the fact Ankaragucu has dropped 10 of their past 11 matches on the road, and Gaziantep is a slam-dunk play on their home turf as moderate favorites as they look to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Alanyaspor.
Besiktas vs. Antalyaspor
Date:Saturday, March 20
Time:1:00 p.m. ET
Super Lig Betting Odds
Besiktas (-220)
Antalyaspor (+500)
Draw (+320)
Besiktas enters this one as heavy favorites, sitting fifth overall in the Super Lig table with 44 points and a plus-8 goal differential. Antalyaspor, sitting at 7-10-9, has registed just 29 goals across 26 matches with just 30 points and a minus-14 goal differential. However, across the past six, they're 3-0-3, while Besiktas is 3-1-2, including a 0-0 draw against their rivals Galatasaray last time out over the weekend. Dorukhan Tokoz is sidelined with a long-term injury for Besiktas, which hurts them a bit offensively, and Burak Yilmaz will be serving a suspension. Kevin-Prince Boateng is expected to feature in his stead. While Besiktas is unbeaten in 22 of their past 24 matches at home, this will be a lot tougher than expected without Yilmaz and Tokoz. Add in the fact that Antalyaspor is unbeaten in each of the past eight, and they're worth a look as the underdogs (+1, +160) against the spread.
Caykur Rizespor vs. Galatasaray
Date:Sunday, March 21
Time: 9:00 a.m. ET
Super Lig Betting Odds
Caykur Rizespor (+360)
Galatasaray (-150)
Draw (+270)
Galatasaray is coming off a very disappointing scoreless draw with Besiktas, and they'll look to take their frustrations out on lowly Rizespor on the road. Rizespor is 16th out of 18 in the table, and currently in line for relegation if they can't get their act together soon. They are also 16th in the Super Lig in goal different at minus-18, while Galatasaray sits third overall in the standings while posting 44 goals across 26 matches with 50 points and a sparkling plus-24 goal differential. They have also gone unbeaten in each of their past 10 matches in the Super Lig while scoring at least two goals in each of the past four away from home. Rizespor checks into this one in an 0-5-1 nosedive, and they're 0-3-3 across their past six tries against Galatasaray. Rizespor fell 2-0 to a mediocre Goztepe side in a mid-week battle, and they're going to be in a world of hurt against a high-octane side. Galatasaray (-1, +200) on the road is a particularly attractive wager, too.
Goztepe vs. Trabzonspor
Date:Sunday, March 21
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Super Lig Betting Odds
Goztepe (+200)
Trabzonspor (+110)
Draw (+250)
The big news involving Trabzonspor this week was John Obi Mikel, the former Chelsea midfielder, leaving his club over concerns about the Super Lig continuing play despite the coronavirus situation. His contract was terminated by mutual consent as a result. Mikel was not used as a substitute in last week's game, basically the same thing as a healthy scratch in hockey, so his absence shouldn't affect Trabzonspor too much. It's been a strange month for Trabzonspor, as England's Daniel Sturridge was also jettisoned by mutual consent, and a regulatory commission fined him $150,000 pounds while barring him from football activity for four months due to betting misconduct.

As far as Sunday's action on the pitch, Goztepe hosts Trabzonspor at Gursel Aksel Stadyumu in Izmir. The home side has picked up wins in three of the past five in this series, and Goztepe won the most recent meeting by a 1-0 count at Trabzonspor. Goztepe is coming off a solid 2-0 mid-week victory over Rizespor, a match in which they were heavily favored. However, despite all of the off-field distractions with Mikel, Sturridge, etc., they still sit atop the table with 53 points, and they're 2-0-3 across the past five. They also own an impressive plus-31 goal different, best in the Super Lig. They're a solid play to win outright, but a double chance wager taking Trabzonspor and a Draw (-280) isn't an awful wager, either, albeit quite a bit of juice.

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)