FA Cup Quarterfinal Picks, Predictions, Odds
Toby Maxtone-Smith is back for best bets, predictions and picks for FA Cup Quarterfinal fixtures that begin on Saturday, March 19 and conclude on Sunday, March 20.
MIDDLESBROUGH vs. CHELSEA
- Date: Saturday, Mar. 19
- Time: 1:15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Riverside Stadium
- Location: Middlesbrough, England
Score Prediction: Chelsea 1, Middlesbrough 0
Best Bet: Chelsea ML & Under 3.5 (5/4)
Chelsea continued their excellent run of form since mid-January by beating Lille in their Champions League last 16 second leg 2-1 on Wednesday night. They are not playing as fluently as they were earlier in the season, but they are reliably picking up wins. Middlesbrough have already knocked Manchester United and Tottenham out of this season’s FA Cup, but Chelsea are a much better team than both of those. Boro are well managed by Chris Wilder, and they have kept clean sheets in both of their last two matches. It is unlikely to be a cakewalk for the Blues, but this is the sort of fixture they rarely lose. A low scoring away win is the best bet.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. EVERTON
- Date: Sunday, Mar. 20
- Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
- Venue: Selhurst Park
- Location: London, England
Score Prediction: Crystal Palace 2, Everton 0
Best Bet: Crystal Palace ML (1/1)
Everton secured an enormously important last-minute win over Newcastle on Thursday night to help allay their relegation fears, but their recent away form is woeful and they look too short away to Crystal Palace in this FA Cup quarter-final. The Eagles are simply a better side than Everton and their league position means they can focus all their attention on getting to Wembley. Palace are nine points clear of Everton in the league with two games in hand, and while form does count for slightly less in a cup tie, the odds seem too influenced by Everton’s reputation. At even money Palace are probably the best bet of the weekend.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs. LIVERPOOL
- Date: Sunday, Mar. 20
- Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: The City Ground
- Location: Nottingham, England
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3, Nottingham Forest 1
Best Bet: Liverpool ML & Over 3.5 (13/8)
Liverpool are a point behind Man City in the league, have won the League Cup and are still in the FA Cup and Champions League. An unprecedented quadruple is possible, and there seems little chance of the Reds letting it slip by losing to Nottingham Forest. Liverpool’s squad is so much stronger than it has been in the past under Jürgen Klopp, and with an international break coming up after this match there is no incentive for Klopp to rotate too much. They were impressive in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on Wednesday, a result that extended their winning streak in the league to nine. Forest have secured impressive wins over Arsenal and Leicester in the competition so far, but Liverpool are likely to be a much harder challenge.
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