FA CUP Betting Preview – 1/16 Finals (Part I)

Punters have a chance to earn some big rewards with the upcoming 1/16 finals of the FA Cup.

After some great football over the last weekend, fans are ready to witness some spectacular action in the FA Cup. The first encounter will get underway on Friday which will see Cambridge take Manchester United, while the rest of the games will be played on Saturday, according to UK gambling news.

• Chelsea strong favorites against Bradford
• Cardiff aims to overcome Reading
• West Brom looking to beat Birmingham away

A total of 22 matches will go head to head on Saturday as they all aim to proceed to the next round and make their presence known in the competition. Blackburn and Swansea will kick off first at around lunch-time whereas most of the other sides will play in the afternoon. Birmingham will host West Brom and Reading will visit Cardiff. And lastly, we will also look at how Chelsea will play against Bradford as they vie to reach the latter stages of the Cup.

Blackburn vs Swansea and Birmingham vs West Brom

Blackburn Rovers are currently fighting in the second division of English football (the Championship) and they sit in 10th place out of 24 teams in the respective competition. They have amassed a total of 6 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses while playing on their home ground, however now they have been pitted against Swansea, a team that is playing in the Premier League and claims a mid-level position (9th place).

 Swansea have an away record of 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in the Premier League, but considering that they are playing in a more competitive and challenging division they have been dealt the upper hand by online sportsbooks in UK against their upcoming opponents. Bet365 has decided to offer preferential odds of 2.37 (11/8) for Swansea while the hosts have been dealt underdog chances 3.10 (21/10) for the match. A draw 3.50 (5/2) between them does not seem likely either.

The game between Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion faces a similar situation as the previous one that involves Blackburn and Swansea. West Brom sit 14th in the Premier League with 22 points overall from 22 games. Their away record stands at 2 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses, stats that are not commendable however they are lucky as they play against a team that is fighting in the Championship and is not entirely on par with them.

Birmingham have managed to clinch 11th spot in the Championship and have accumulated a total of 35 points from 26 games. At home they have notched 5 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses, which means that they are quite uncertain when playing on their home field. Bet365 has given them odds of 4.00 (3/1), whereas West Brom are viewed as favorites 2.00 (1/1).

Cardiff vs Reading and Chelsea vs Bradford

Cardiff City is preparing to host Reading in a match that should produce thrilling plays. Both sides are currently in the Championship and each had their fair share of ups and downs. Cardiff find themselves in 13th spot with an overall point tally of 34 while the visiting team has only managed to accumulate 30 points from 26 games.

The home side have a record of an impressive 8 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses while playing on home turf, which is not that bad as they aim to overcome their next opponents who are in a worse position than them. Reading on the other hand have 2 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses on the road, which is why Bet365 has ranked them as underdogs 2.90 (19/10) for this match. Cardiff enjoy favorite status with their odds being 2.50 (6/4), while a draw has been set at 3.60 (13/5).

The current Premier League leaders Chelsea, who are favorites to clinch their first top flight title since 2010, will host League One side Bradford on Saturday afternoon. This game is a no-brainer for punters as the hosts are light years apart from their third division opponents. Under UK gambling laws, Bet365 offers small odds for Chelsea to win 1.11 (1/9). However, betting enthusiasts are encouraged to place wagers on some other markets that might be more lucrative.

They can bet on Both Teams to Score market which offer odds of 2.50 (6/4) for a Yes and odds of 1.50 (1/2) for a No bet. Placing a bet on a goalscorer can also prove to be winning system. The chances for Diego Costa scoring at anytime are 1.40 (2/5) while Didier Drogba’s and Loic Remy’s odds for scoring at anytime stand at 1.53 (8/15).