During this soccer season Doc’s Sports Service has teamed up with Strike Point Sports and Vegas Sports Informer, two of the top soccer handicappers, to provide weekly free soccer picks on English Premier League, MLS and Champions League matches. Check back each week for a new free pick. This week, Strike Point Sports has a free play on a side in the Norwich City/West Ham United match.

On Saturday, Norwich City will face off against West Ham United for the 11th match of the Premier League campaign, a campaign that has been none too kind to either side. Saturday’s match will find Norwich hungry to fight out of the relegation zone and attempt to put last week’s 7-0 defeat to Manchester City behind them. Norwich City are the skinniest kids at fat camp right now as they sit on top of the bottom three and are four points clear of Sunderland below them.

Norwich City vs. West Ham United Betting Story Lines

Russel Martin, the Canaries’ captain, has conveyed the team’s determination to put last week’s dismantling behind them to the media as well as give their support to under-pressure manager Chris Hughton. The humiliation of losing by a touchdown may very well have lit a fire under Norwich that will help propel them to an improved performance as they return home against West Ham.

The Hammers sit just two points above Norwich and the relegation zone. Following the early-October demolition of Tottenham, the Hammers have been playing some of their worst football of late, with their last two matches being 0-0 draws against Swansea City and Aston Villa.

Norwich City vs. West Ham United Betting Odds and Trends
West Ham United has failed to score in six of its 10 matches this EPL season. In addition to lackluster play, West Ham was dealt another blow this week as the squad learned they would remain without its £15 million striker Andy Carroll. The former Newcastle and Liverpool forward suffered another setback in his bid to return to action for the first time this season as he has contracted a stomach virus. Prior to the virus, back-to-back heel injuries ruled Carroll out of action. His return could have helped a West Ham team that lacks offensive ability.

Norwich have had the tougher schedule this year, facing Everton, Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, responsible for their six losses, and they are 2-2 in the other four. Look for the Hammers to continue their poor form following the deflating loss of Carroll as well as struggles away from home. If you exclude the oddity of the Tottenham win, West Ham has scored just one goal in four away matches.

English Premier League predictions: Take Norwich City (+160) over West Ham United (12:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9)

The Canaries may have been crushed this past weekend by a score line of 7-0 by Manchester City, but West Ham have been awful in their own right. Norwich should assuredly be off the radar here. The Hammers have already been kept to a clean sheet six matches this campaign. Norwich will be in true bounce-back mode after this past weekend’s drubbing, not to mention they are the more desperate side currently sitting in the relegation zone. I think we see a desperate and much-needed performance from the home side in what easily could be described as a must-win for eastern English club. I see a score of 1-0 to Norwich.

Strike Point Sports has won four of the past five weekends on the European soccer front. They are looking to make November their seventh winning soccer month in the last eight, and they will have more winning picks posted on Friday for this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. Click here to purchase.