EPL Best Bets and Predictions February 25-26:
Here are this midweek’s EPL predictions:
Wolves vs. Fulham
Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Ahead of FA Cup weekend, there is a full midweek slate of Premier League fixtures. I have two bets from Tuesday and one from Wednesday. My best bet is in the Wolves vs. Fulham, a fixture where there are at least three bets I could put forward.
This is a match in which I have a lot of confidence that I have read it right and one I really want to take a pro-Wolves angle. I think they are the wrong price at +180, and I make them marginal favorites to win. To be able to take “tie no bet” at +100 looks like a superb opportunity.
Vitor Pereira’s men put in a fantastic second-half display against Liverpool a couple of games ago. If they were facing pretty much any other team than Bournemouth at the weekend, I would have bet them to win. As it turned out, they defeated the Cherries 1-0, admittedly helped by a first-half sending off of the host’s defender Illia Zabarnyi.
Just prior to the Liverpool game, I bet Wolves to beat a very good Aston Villa side, which they did with ease. They are a side I felt could go on a very good run and pull well away from the relegation battle they find themselves in. A quality side with a real quality player in the form of Matheus Cunha.
In November, when Wolves were really struggling, they went to Fulham and battered them 4-1 in what was, at the time, their performance of the season. Wanderers out-muscled them then, and they can do so again here on home soil.
Fulham are having a good season, but they got beat 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace this past weekend after putting in a really disappointing showing. The Eagles outfought them, and that got my attention ahead of this trip to the Midlands.
Wolves can continue their very good record against Fulham, especially at home. They are unbeaten against the Cottagers in the last 18 meetings at Molineux, which stretches back to 1985!
I would be shocked to see this price hold until kickoff, and if doubts about Fulham key men Emile Smith-Rowe and Tom Cairney missing this one through injury, we could even see the hosts go off as favorites.
Pick: Wolves tie-no-bet at +100.
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET
I cashed at the weekend on Villa as they came from behind to grab a late win against Chelsea. I am going in again with the same bet at the same price: Tie-no-bet at odds of -108.
I have just mentioned Palace’s win at Fulham. They were very good, but I really like what I see from this Villa side. The table is so close that there are several sides that will think they have a chance of the top four and the Champions League football that goes with it.
Unai Emery’s side are still in this season’s competition and have the taste for it. They will definitely want to be involved next campaign as well. They have improved their squad in January, arguably better than any other team, to give them the best opportunity to do just that.
They have a very winnable tie against Club Brugge in the round of 16. Until those ties start again, they are a side that should be backed. Ahead of this game, they are in eighth place in the Premier League on 42 points, just two points behind Manchester City in fourth, and remember, it is likely this season that the top five qualify.
Both the team and their manager are unstoppable when they get on a good run. I think they will win this match. The signing of Asensio was a great piece of business. His two goals this past weekend showed his quality, while fellow new addition Rashford looks hungry for the ball. That adds to what they have already with the likes of Watkins, Malen and Rogers.
That strength in depth can be crucial when the games come thick and fast with such a quick turnaround. It also means whoever is in the side needs to be on their game at all times and those who start on the bench are desperate to prove their worth when they come on.
Also, Crystal Palace have an absolutely massive FA Cup fixture with local rivals Millwall this Saturday. That is a huge distraction with the fanbase so excited for that match, the players will not want to miss out on it.
With Villa playing Cardiff in their tie, expect them to go full strength here and rotate heavily at the weekend. Their second string will take care of business against the lower league opponents who are struggling in the Championship.
Only the bottom four have picked up fewer points at home than a Palace side that have won only twice. Therefore, having the safety net of a push if the game ends in a tie puts us in a great position, cheering on the away win.
EPL Pick: Aston Villa tie no bet at -108.
Tottenham vs. Manchester City
Wednesday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Tottenham have already beaten Manchester City twice this season, 2-1 here in the League Cup and an incredible 4-0 win at the Etihad in the reverse fixture. Not only that, they have won four of the last five meetings here in the Premier League, and that was when Pep’s men were good!
City looked completely gone in their weekend defeat to Liverpool, outclassed, outrun and outfought by a better opponent. Everyone connected to the club is now fully aware that this is a total rebuild and, in truth, the season cannot end soon enough for them. They’re out of the Champions League with only the FA Cup left to play for.
Yes, it is Tottenham, and we know the doubts that surround them, but at +255, I have to bet them to win. I could quite easily see them sweep City aside, then go and lose next week.
The key thing for them is they are finally getting their players back, the likes of James Maddison, the keeper Vicario and key defender Udogie. That means they can take advantage of just how many goals Manchester City are conceding.
The odds suggest, and the public thinks that the champions will finally put it together and hit a bit of form, but the eye test suggests that is not the case. Yes, they have the forward players to click enough to get the odd, impressive result, but at the prices, the value lies with fading them.
Especially on the road, where they have only won three of their last 15 across all competitions. Those wins were against two of the bottom three in the Premier League, Ipswich and Leicester, as well as Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, a side in the third tier of English soccer.
A massive blow for Guardiola is the absence of Haaland through injury. With him sitting out big games against Real Madrid and Liverpool, they looked toothless. The lines moved in Liverpool’s favor when he was missing from the starting 11, and the same will happen here if that is the case again, although expect a move for the visitors if he does start. But even that does not put me off.
Tottenham will really fancy this off the back of their best performance of the season and the fact they have now won three league games in succession. They will relish this. This version of Manchester City is the perfect opponent for the high press, high-energy Postecoglou style of play.
EPL Pick: Tottenham to win at +255.
