2015 FA Cup Betting Preview PT 1

There is a good selection of FA Cup fixtures kicking off this weekend with Saturday playing host to many of the lower league sides facing off against each other while Sunday brings a significant amount of Premier League teams into the fold. There are several really interesting looking fixtures on the Saturday but we will be focusing on the Sunday matches right now and we expect a few solid betting opportunities to present themselves - particularly during the in-play wagering. 

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With a number of good sides looking at the FA Cup as their only potential route to silverware or an excuse to look back on the season fondly, you can expect many of these matches to be played with a particular amount of zeal. Manchester United in particular will be looking at the FA Cup as a chance to win at least some form of competition - fact that looks even more important when you consider that drawing their last two Premier League matches has now seen their odds to win the League drop by a significant margin and they look likely to be fighting it out for Champions League honours come the end of the season. 

A handful of matches kick off on Sunday in the early round and we’ve got Crystal Palace trading as the 4/9 favourites for their face-off against Dover, who can be backed at a lengthy price of around 6/1. While Crystal Palace may not be the most high-flying team, you can expect the lower league side to struggle here as Palace look for an opportunity to grab another morale-boosting victory. 

QPR will be favoured in their fixture against Sheffield United and the bookmakers have the relegation battlers trading at an 8/11 price while their lower league counterparts are available at a plausible 4/1 listing. Expect Harry Redknapp to have his side in decent form for this one, but you do have to admit that many punters will probably see this one as a potential upset and will be betting against Rangers. The first goal could be crucial in the grand scheme of things in this one. 

Sunderland play host to former Champions League semi-finalists Leeds United, now slogging it out in the lower echelons of English football. The Black Cats are priced at a 4/7 margin which means they will more than likely be a popular acca selection for those looking to pick off a few smaller fixtures with plausible favourites. Leeds are a 5/1 shot and that’s perhaps a bit short as Sunderland have had a few good Premier League outings this year and look good value for money at this point.