To answer the OP my picks are:
Saints - for all the reasons mentioned a few times above
Villa - started well this year, but I think Dean Smith is being found out. Sockboy might leave or have another spell out injured and they will struggle without him
Burnley - but only if Dyche leaves. If they...
City only won 3 of their first 8 games and were languishing in 13th by late November. I'd say West Ham did a LOT better than expected too - I thought they'd be in the relegation mix, or at least only just above it. I can't imagine (m)any people thought they would be in with a sniff of champions...