In the premier EPL match of the weekend, Manchester City (3 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw) visits Chelsea (4-0-1). The match will kick off at 7:30 a.m. ET and will be held at Stamford Bridge. Below, we preview the Chelsea vs. Manchester City odds and lines, and make our best EPL bets, picks and predictions.
This will be a battle of two of the best midfields in the world. M Jack Grealish, M İlkay Gündoğan, and M Kevin de Bruyne should headline Man City’s lineup.
Man City is coming off an embarrassing tie against Southampton. It gets its first real test of the season with Chelsea, although it lost to Tottenham to open the season despite threatening throughout the entire match.
Chelsea is coming off a dominant 3-0 win over Tottenham. Its lone test was a 1-1 draw against Liverpool in which it looked like the better side until a 45th-minute red card.
Both sides have allowed just one goal through five matches, an important note for this match.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City: Odds, picks and predictions
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Chelsea +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Manchester City +175 (bet $100 to win $175) | Draw +225
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)
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Prediction
Chelsea 1, Manchester City 1
Money line (ML)
“LEAN” to the DRAW (+225) as there really isn’t much separating the two sides.
Man City looked like the better team in both non-wins, posting 16 shots and 64% possession against Southampton. The results haven’t been there, and on the road, I don’t think City comes out with three points.
However, I also wouldn’t bet on Chelsea to take down a side that’s given up just 1 goal on a quick counterattack against Tottenham.
The strength of the defenses should be clear in this match. The only real match we have to reference is Chelsea vs. Liverpool which ended in a draw. Two top-tier sides could easily end in a draw.
For this value, I’d lean that way for half a unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
BET on the UNDER 2.5 (-135) as both teams have elite defenses.
Chelsea has given up just 1 goal on a penalty kick to Liverpool F Mohamed Salah. Man City, who was playing Tottenham on the road to start the season, allowed a quick counterattack and was scored on.
Neither side has consistently shown weakness, and with two of the best goalies in the league between the sticks, I’d be shocked if either team can get to 2 goals Saturday.
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