A prediction is a stab in the dark, a desire to stick your head in the Gypsie´s bag and see the future. We stir the past, iron the present, and imagine the future.

A predilection is the tendency to think favorably about a particular object or person. I have a predilection for United. Pardon my diction, but here goes…

Chelsea at Wigan

Wigan will rely on its homefield advantage to improve over the disasterous loss to Arsenal last weekend. John Terry will score fewer goals than Mr. Vermaelen, but Didier Drogba will score more goals than Eduardo and Carlos Vela combined.

At least until he gets injured in the 60th minute and is subbed out in favor of Kalou, who will manage to look totall over his head until using his head to nod home a free kick deep in stoppage time. Final score: 2-0 Chelsea.

Everton at Portsmouth

Portsmouth will start off its Championship campaign with a hardfought loss against Everton. Still, with the right spirit, grit, and determination, the ragtag team could pull of a bad news bears-esque upset and avoid the drop to League One. Oh. Wait. Sorry – they are still a Premiership club. Whoops. I looked too far into the future. And that does make sense they are playing Everton.

David Moyes´s side will win without impressing you. The backline will look disorganized, but rarely be tested. Miguel Arteta will do his hair in the stands while watching the game.Final score : 1-0 Everton.

Manchster United at Stoke City

Wayne Rooney will score an early goal to give United breathing room, but then the swiss cheese defense will complicate matters. Rio Ferdinand will attempt to nutmeg his own defense partner, Vidic, but faily miserably and invite a Stoke goal.

However, to the shock of everyone, including himself, Berbatov will score a goal. Granted, it will be a header that deflects off a defender, thus wrongfooting the goalie. But a goal is a goal and a victory is a victory. 2-1 United.

Arsenal at Fulham

The Gunners will have a 60% possession advantage, with Almunia completing more passes than the entire Fulham side combined. Still, after a dull and scoreless first half, Vermaeleen will nod home a corner for a slim lead.

Fulham will mount a somewhat respectable comeback, with Johnson and Zamora taking advantage of an inevitable Gallas miscue to score the equaliser. William Gallas will then bitterly blame every other players, and claim that “if only he were captain, things would be different…” Sadly, 1-1.

Hull City at Liverpool

Phil Brown will upstage Rafa Benitez in the headset department, but little else. Still, with no semblance of a possession game, Giovanni and Altidore will create enough danger to make Anfield sweat. Until a dubious penalty allows Steve Gerrard to confirm his reputation as the hardest-ball-kicker since Roberto Carlos.

This would be a fiesta of goals, but both sides have displayed nerves as of late. And Rafa Benitez will look sorely in need of a siesta. Final score: 1-0 Liverpool.

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