Betting Picks

Event: English FA Cup

Chelsea v. Sunderland

Saturday, January 14, 10:00 ET

Chelsea Looks to Gain Ground on Top Three Premiership Clubs

As the New Year begins, the sports landscape gears up for a big month of action with plenty of sports betting available. With baseball over and the NBA just beginning, fans turn to hockey-follow all the action and NHL scores. For more help and advice on betting, check out price per head booking and bookie software. In addition, look to sportsbook reviews for addition information during the dramatic season of sports.

This weekend features a full slate of soccer action, with the top leagues around Europe playing, and Premiership action in full swing. Two teams in the top half of the league, including powerhouse Chelsea, do battle as both look to gain ground.

Sitting in fourth position with 20 games in the books, Chelsea has a great opportunity to gain ground on the top three: Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. They have 11 wins and 37 points, and are five points behind third place Tottenham while only one points ahead of fifth place Arsenal.

A recent stunning home loss to Aston Villa still haunts Chelsea as they lost ground, but they rebounded on the road against Wolves in their most recent Premiership match. They will look to start a winning streak as they host Sunderland.

At home this season Chelsea have played well, winning six, drawing one, while losing three. Though they have scored 23 times in those matches, they have allowed a staggering 16 goals, while allowing much fewer on the road.

Their opponent, Sunderland, meanwhile, sit right in 10^th position with six wins and six draws and eight losses. They have scored 27 goals while allowed 23, and have played decent on the road. They will seek their fourth road win while trying to avoid their sixth loss away from home. They come into the match on a four game unbeaten streak, a stretch that includes a very impressive 1-0 home victory over mighty Manchester City.

Sunderland also have two straight road victories, including one in their most recent match, a 4-1 triumph over Wigan Athletic. Though they have been plagued by injuries, Sunderland scored four times from four different players, and will bring that offense to Chelsea, a club that allowed more than one goal in a match only three times this entire Premiership season.

Betting lines: At home Chelsea is the clear favourite, and rightly so. They have much higher in the table and have played more consistently throughout the season. Sunderland, however, is the hotter team and has played better over the last month than Chelsea. They’ve already upset a great team in City, and have a great chance to do so again. Sunderland will visit Chelsea and earn the upset draw, 1-1.