The January transfer window action was as cold as our weather these past few days. When the two biggest names to move are arguably Michy Batshuayi and 38-year-old Peter Crouch, it’s safe to say that nobody did the sort of business that ultimately wins titles.

It’s strange, too, because there are at least four clubs who really should have made a splashy move. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are in a scrap for the final Champions League place; a key addition to any of those teams could have been the difference between the cash windfall that CL qualification brings and another slog through the Europa League. Then there’s Tottenham Hotspur, now just two points behind Manchester City. Adding an attacker or at least an offensive-minded midfielder might have given Spurs a path to a second-place finish in the table.

Instead, all of these clubs stood pat. Spurs will eventually get Harry Kane back from injury, and presumably, Chelsea thinks there is nowhere to go but up from here. Well, we’ll see about that. In fact, let’s get right to the picks and say a few more things about Chelsea.

CHELSEA v. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

As was covered in this space last week, there is pretty clearly a mutiny afoot at Chelsea. The players aren’t turning up for manager Maurizio Sarri. But the Italian gaffer shouldn’t take it personally — Chelsea players have a habit of quitting on managers whenever things aren’t going their way. It happened with Antonio Conte. It happened with Jose Mourinho. It seems to be happening again to Sarri.

He thinks he has the answer, apparently:

But as Ryan Adams once sang, this appears to be a situation of “you and I together, but only one of us in love. And everybody knows.” Sarri can try to spin this all he wants. This is a bad situation that promises to get worse before it improves.

So why am I picking Chelsea here? Because Huddersfield Town is the worst team in the league by a full six points. The Terriers have two wins in 24 tries. Their last league win came back on November 25. Last week they lost to ten-man Everton at home. And while Sarri might be on thin ice, at least he wasn’t brought in three weeks ago to captain a sinking ship to the ocean floor.

The schedule gods took care of Chelsea this week. Even a distracted, disinterested Chelsea side is way too much for Championship-bound Huddersfield to deal with. Take Chelsea to win AND over 2.5 goals at 20/23.

MANCHESTER CITY v. ARSENAL

That trend is pretty hard to ignore. Arsenal hasn’t won against a “Big 6” side on the road in their last 20 tries. Manchester City has been at the head of the line administering these beatings to Arsenal, winning four of their last six league matches against the Gunners and drawing the other two.

Yeah, but those were superior City sides taking liberties with the desiccating corpse of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. Unai Emery has the Gunners, for the moment, in the hunt for the last Champions League place. Meanwhile, City scored inside the first minute at Newcastle United mid-week and lost anyway. And it’s not as easy as saying that City will bounce right back. City followed a bad home loss to Crystal Palace in December with another poor performance (and another loss) away to Leicester City.

Pep Guardiola has been his normally remarkable presence in managing City, but the accumulated toll of still being in contention for four trophies is showing on his players. Arsenal is arguably better on recent form, and their odds are really attractive. When you pick an underdog, you really should believe that that team could win the game. Arsenal is being regarded by the books here as a pushover. Their record says they’re not one. Take Arsenal to win OR draw at 5/2.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR v. NEWCASTLE UNITED

You know what, Spurs? Fine. I tap. I give. I picked against you twice in two weeks, and twice you scored late to take money out of my pocket. It’s bad enough when it’s Harry Kane doing it. But Tottenham is winning these matches through goals from people like Harry Winks and Fernando Llorente.

As noted above, Newcastle took three quite unexpected points from reigning league champion Manchester City mid-week. Rafa Benitez continues to make chicken salad out of chicken, er, feathers. Benitez has been rewarded with some new signings, including MLS standout Miguel Almiron.

But it’s too big an ask for Benitez to take the result he earned at home on Tuesday up to London and get his side to do it again to another of the league’s best teams. Mind you, we’re not making this pick to make a lot of money — we’re making it not to lose any. Take Tottenham Hotspur to win at 4/9.

Good luck this weekend, and go Rams.

WEEK 24 RESULTS

Bournemouth to win OR draw against Chelsea at 5/4: WIN

Manchester United to win AND over 2.5 goals against Burnley at 3/4: LOSS

Watford to win OR draw at Tottenham Hotspur at 5/4: LOSS

WEEK 24 TOTAL: -$75

SEASON TO DATE: -$1750