Matchday 15 Picks: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United Will Equal 29-Game Unbeaten Mark, Spurs Too Much for Liverpool

Nobody is exactly sure how they've managed to do it, but if Manchester United manage to win or draw against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on Saturday, they will tie their 29-game unbeaten mark from their glorious 1998-99 campaign.

The team has won ugly, pulled out ties in the last moments, and rarely been said to have played their best football, but they've managed to hold serve.

While many would argue that their last loss, at home against Chelsea this past April, cost them the Premier League title, it would be just as true to say that their 1-0 loss to relegated Burnley in the second match of the season proved to be the margin.

In truth, the league title is perhaps more a reward for teams that simply hold serve than for teams that win clashes of the titans. On matchday 15, only three matches will feature teams of equal talent levels. In all of the others, top-four hopefuls will simply have to hold serve. Those who don't will likely find themselves looking up the table in regret come May.

Last Week: Five correct, One incorrect, Four half-incorrect

Arsenal and Aston Villa draw at Villa Park

There's no way that Arsenal would lose three consecutive matches, particularly given how painful the past two defeats have been — right? The fact that the Gunners failed to deliver a message at Braga, a team that they had previously beaten 6-0, has to cast doubt on Arsene's kids' resolve. Losing Cesc Fabregas probably won't hurt as much as one would expect, given his lack of form this season, but the same can be said for the return of Robin Van Persie. Villa, of course, will be without Marc Albrighton and a host of others, but ex-Gunner Robert Pires may come back to haunt his former squad. Villa haven't beaten the Gunners at home since the Clinton presidency. It's hard to believe that they will now. Expect a lot of two-way traffic up the wings, but it to add up to a draw at full-time.

Bolton Wanderers over Blackpool at the Reebok

Lee Chung-Yong can now be added to the list of talented Trotters set to stay at the Reebok long-term. They may have to sell Gary Cahill in the relative near future, but the future for Owen Coyle's squad looks bright — bright enough to beat the league's most porous defense at home. Blackpool won't be shut out, but there's something special going on in Bolton. They'll keep themselves edging towards a European berth — for now.

Everton over West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park

The Toffees were a blown Jermaine Beckford injury-time breakaway from a huge win at the Stadium of Light, and while their point total may not show it, they are playing solid football. Their weakness is their lack of physicality — which was clear against the bruising Sunderland side — but they should simply be able to outclass the Baggies, especially at home.

Fulham over Birmingham City at Craven Cottage

Alex McLeish doesn't exactly go for the jugular away from St. Andrews. Birmingham will make Fulham's defense look as good this week as they were awful last week against Manchester City. Fulham clearly can't find goals, but they should see enough of the ball to get lucky at some point. It should also be noted that Birmingham's win over Chelsea was far more lucky than good. This has let-down game written all over it.

Manchester United over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford

Blackburn showed identity last week for nearly the first time this season — scoring through Morten Pedersen off set pieces, as they are known to do. Still, their win was against the run of play versus a depleted Villa side. They won't have enough to compete with Sir Alex Ferguson's side — even if Wayne Rooney and company make it look uninspiring. The question that now looms is whether Javier Hernandez or Dimitar Berbatov is United's second choice up top. If Hernandez scores, it may not be a question much longer.

Stoke City and Manchester City draw at the Britannia

Manchester City responded to calls that they were too conservative with an offensive explosion last week, but the Potters aren't a very easy team to repeat such against — especially at the Britannia. Stoke has been in form of late, and City's Emmanuel Adebayor saga and lack of Pablo Zabaleta won't help going forward. This game has ugly written all over it.

Wigan Athletic and West Ham United draw at Upton Park

Wigan have managed to be exciting and front-footed while being awful. West Ham have just been awful. Avram Grant knows this is his best chance to save his job, but the team just may not be good enough to muster three points at home against the more dynamic Latics — who looked pretty good until going two-men down a Old Trafford. Still, Wigan will miss Hugo Rodallega enough to not get the three either.

Sunderland over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux

"Wolves injury woes" usually doesn't lead to many points for Mick McCarthy's side. Sunderland is too big, too fast and has too much class to do anything but win this — particularly with Asamoah Gyan returning and Danny Welbeck suddenly being a match-winner.

Chelsea over Newcastle United at St. James' Park (Sun)

Didier Drogba's uncanny ability to hit the woodwork has reached new heights in the past week — adding three to his resume in Chelsea's last two. There's no doubt that Chelsea is reeling and lacks depth, but that won't matter against Newcastle — too much class, too much pace, too much desperation.

Tottenham Hotspur over Liverpool at White Hart Lanes (Sun)

There's really no way around it. Tottenham is not only a better side than Liverpool right now — as Jose Reina recently suggested — but they also have the mental grit to win big games — as they did last week at the Emirates. If Liverpool play defensively — which it's hard to believe they won't — they'll be giving a team of very creative players opportunities to create. Liverpool may have gotten on track by taking care of business against West Ham via Glen Johnson's return, but White Hart Lane looks to be the site of another hiccup.