West Ham vs. Aston Villa prediction, odds, time: 2024 Premier League picks for Aug. 17 from proven expert

West Ham United attempt to end their recent drought in the all-time series when they host Aston Villa on Saturday in the 2024-25 English Premier League season opener for both clubs. West Ham have posted a 6-5-1 record in their last 12 matchups against Aston Villa but are winless in the last three meetings between the teams. Last season, the Hammers were defeated 4-1 on the road before battling the Lions to a 1-1 draw at home. West Ham finished ninth in the Premier League table in 2023-24 with a 14-10-14 record, while Aston Villa went 20-8-10 to place fourth.

Kickoff at London Stadium is set for 12:30 p.m. ET. The Hammers are +140 favorites (risk $100 to win $140) in the latest West Ham vs. Aston Villa odds, while the Lions are +165 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +270 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before locking in any Aston Villa vs. West Ham picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer insider Jon "Buckets" Eimer has to say.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. In 2023, he was red-hot, going 248-234-12 for a profit of $2,593 for $100 bettors. That included an 86-59-5 record in the Premier League for a $3,463 profit.

Now, Eimer has broken down West Ham vs. Aston Villa from every angle and has locked in his picks and 2024-25 Premier League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Aston Villa vs. West Ham:

• West Ham vs. Aston Villa money line: Hammers +140, Lions +165, Draw +270
• West Ham vs. Aston Villa over/under: 2.5 goals
• West Ham vs. Aston Villa spread: Hammers -0.5 (+135)
• WH: The Hammers went 1-4-1 in their last six home games in 2023-24
• AV: The Lions are winless in their last nine EPL road matches against West Ham
  
• West Ham vs. Aston Villa picks: See picks here

Why you should back West Ham 

The Hammers recorded a 10-Game unbeaten streak against Aston Villa before losing the first of their two meetings last season, posting six wins and four draws. Winger Jarrod Bowen led West Ham in 2023-24 with 16 goals, including the team's lone tally in the setback versus the Lions. The 27-year-old got off to a strong start last campaign as he netted 11 of his tallies over his first 17 matches, never going back-to-back Games without a goal over that span.

One of West Ham's many offseason additions is forward Niclas Fullkrug, who signed a four-year contract earlier this month after spending the previous 13 campaigns in the German Bundesliga. The 31-year-old reached double digits in goals for the third consecutive season in 2023-24, finishing second on Borussia Dortmund with 12 in 29 contests. Another potent offensive weapon the Hammers added is 22-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who converted 19 times for Leeds United of the EFL Championship last campaign. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back Aston Villa

The Lions had one of the top goal scorers in the Premier League last season in Ollie Watkins, who tied for fourth place with 19 tallies. The 28-year-old forward also was the best set-up man in the league as he led all players with 13 assists, matching the amount he totaled over his first three campaigns with Aston Villa. One of Watkins' goals in 2023-24 came in the victory against West Ham.

Winger Leon Bailey also reached double figures last campaign, setting a career high with 10 tallies. The 27-year-old Jamaican, who also scored in the win over the Hammers, recorded nine goals twice in his five seasons with Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga. Winger Jaden Philogene joins the Lions after converting a team-high 12 times for Hull City of the EFL Championship in 2023-24. See which team to pick here.

How to make West Ham vs. Aston Villa picks

Eimer has broken down Aston Villa vs. West Ham from every possible angle and is leaning Over on the goal total. He also has locked in a pair of confident best bets, including one that offers a plus-money payout, and is offering a full breakdown of this match. He's sharing his 2024-25 Premier League picks and analysis only at SportsLine.

So who wins West Ham vs. Aston Villa on Saturday, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Aston Villa vs. West Ham have all the value, all from the soccer expert who was red-hot in 2023, and find out.

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