Born in the south east of Ireland, Simon put his life-long love of football to good use when he started a successful independent blog in 2010. That opened up an alternative route to a career in journalism, and having had work published across a number of sites and publications, Simon joined the staff at Spotlight Sports Group in 2018.
The 2020/21 FA Cup resumes at the tournament’s fifth round later this week, and with the business end of the competition fast approaching, intensity levels are expected to be cranked up several notches.
Last season, a largely unfancied Arsenal side marched to FA Cup glory under Mikel Arteta, though the Gunners’ exit to Southampton in the fourth round of this year’s iteration means some fresh faces will be lifting the trophy in 2021.
Following Arsenals elimination, we thought it was a good time to revisit our FST’s FA Cup outright predictions for the campaign, and below you can find FST’s tips as well as the latest FA Cup outright betting odds for the competition.
Remember -we’ll be covering all of the action with betting tips for every fixture from the fifth round to the final on our FA Cup predictions page.
Best bookmaker for FA Cup betting?
All of our tips and prices are quoted with bet365. They have the best range of markets for all of your FA Cup betting needs with everything from match and team markets to Asian lines and handicaps for the more experienced bettors. We recommend you sign up for a bet365 account if you want to bet on the FA Cup, or you can bet on mobile using their iOS app. New customers can claim up to £100 in bet credits.
FA Cup winner betting odds
- Manchester City – 7/4
- Manchester United – 9/2
- Tottenham Hotspur – 6/1
- Chelsea – 7/1
- Everton – 12/1
- Leicester City – 12/1
- Southampton – 14/1
- Wolves – 20/1
- West Ham – 20/1
- Brighton – 40/1
- Burnley – 50/1
- Sheffield United – 50/1
- Bournemouth – 100/1
- Swansea City – 100/1
- Bristol City – 100/1
- Barnsley – 150/1
*Odds correct as of 08:00 on February 8 with bet365. Prices subject to fluctuation.
The bookmaker’s favourite: Manchester City
Odds: 7/4
After a clunky start to the campaign where their fluidity was affected by a lack of a proper pre-season, the Citizens clicked ominously into gear in December, and Pep Guardiola’s troops seem to have rediscovered the form that allowed them to win a clean sweep of domestic silverware in 2018/19.
Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield made for particularly harrowing viewing for any team hoping to challenge them for trophies this term, and the bookies certainly think Guardiola’s relentless winning machine will be impossible to stop.
However, Cheltenham came incredibly close to dumping City out in the last round of the FA Cup before the Manchester giants rallied late on, showing that the Citizens still have a habit of dropping their guard unexpectedly against inferior opponents.
Nevertheless, City are worthy favourites to win the FA Cup and they are priced to match. Other options could be more appealing at bigger prices however.
FST’s pick: Chelsea
Odds: 7/1
New Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is already getting a tune out of his new charges, and the German coach will see the FA Cup as his best chance to finish his first campaign with a trophy.
Chelsea are a strong cup team, and having reached the final in three of the last four seasons, another surge to Wembley looks possible as long as their luck in the draw continues to hold.
The Blues coasted past lower-league sides, Morecambe and Luton, in the tournament’s early rounds, while Championship strugglers Barnsley, who Chelsea meet this week, don’t have the look of giant killers either.
Chelsea are likely to improve as Thomas Tuchel’s tactical ideas begin to bed in, and if they can avoid City until the FA Cup’s climactic fixture in May, the might be ready to go toe-to-toe with the Citizens by the time the final rolls around.
Dark horse: Leicester City
Odds: 12/1
Quarter finalists in two of the last three seasons, Leicester City have been pushing hard to break through English football’s glass ceiling in recent years, and with their Premier League top four challenge well on track, further success could be found in the FA Cup.
The Foxes are a match for anyone on their day, and with a solid defence marshalled by Jonny Evans, energy in midfield and pacey forwards capable of launching devastating counter-attackers, Brendan Rodgers’ team looks tailormade for knockout football.
Wins over Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea earlier in the campaign showed Leicester’s ability to produce results in the biggest fixtures, and the Foxes look capable of springing more surprises in the FA Cup.
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