The FA Cup has reached the final 8 stage, and this edition is without the teams that are 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the EPL. Normally it would make the FA Cup full of outsides, but such is the EPL this year that Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all still remain. Arsenal are hoping for a rare third straight Cup, and there’s a group of teams who look like they’ll be bogger all else to win this year – Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United. West Ham and Watford too won’t win anything else, but the Hammers will have their eyes on the 4th place prize, and Watford will see any further progress as a bonus to go with EPL survival. Reading are solid midfield in the Championship, so won’t mind another trip to Wembley, and Crystal Palace just need to beat someone.
GAMES
READING v CRYSTAL PALACE
EVERTON v CHELSEA
ARSENAL v WATFORD
MAN UTD v WEST HAM
MULTI TIP
$1 for $36
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat Reading
EVERTON to beat Chelsea
ARSENAL to beat Watford
WEST HAM to beat Man Utd
The EPL has an interesting line up of games, as the results could make a huge difference at the top and bottom of the EPL table, with the three top 4 sides all playing the bottom three sides. Aston Villa look like they have accepted their fate, so playing Spurs looks as one sided as a game could get. Newcastle are a busted ass at the moment despite a huge spend. But anyone who saw Derby go from EPL promotion certainties to miss the top 6 aren’t surprised by the Magpies ladder position. The other top v bottom clash in Manchester City v Norwich, and given City’s recent wins over the Canaries it appears as if the bottom three will remain that after this weekend too.
MULTI TIPS
$1 for $22
MAN CITY to beat Norwich
DRAW – Stoke v Southampton
BOURNEMOUTH to beat Swansea
SPURS to beat Aston Villa
LEICESTER to beat Newcastle
So onto the Sky Bet Football League, our favourite. No big names here, just run of the mill football clubs, just the way we like it. All 72 clubs. The play off battles will start to get more exciting, in an equal measurement of those who follow EPL club starting to take an interest in the Football League as they realise that three teams will be joining their elite comp this year.
There’s plenty more to talk about, but first our multis for the weekend.
CHAMPIONSHIP Away Pays
LEEDS to beat Blackburn
IPSWICH TOWN to beat Cardiff
BURNLEY to beat Huddersfield
$1 for $38
CHAMPIONSHIP Other Collects
HULL to beat Milton Keynes
QPR to beat Brentford
ROTHERHAM to beat Derby
$1 for $11
LEAGUE ONE
SHEFFIELD UTD to beat Oldham
BARNSLEY to beat Southend
GILLINGHAM to beat Crewe
BURTON to beat Fleetwood
WIGAN to beat Colchester
$1 for 18
LEAGUE TWO
PORTSMOUTH to beat Newport
WYCOMBE to beat Stevenage
WIMBLEDON to beat Morecambe
BRISTOL ROVERS to beat Mansfield
YEOVIL to beat Notts Co.
LUTON to beat Crawley.
$1 for 46
