Watford v Crystal Palace
FA Cup 2.15 pm
BT Sport
The weekend of FA Cup action kicks off at Vicarage Road with Watford playing host to Crystal Palace in this all-Premier League clash. It looks as if it could be a tight duel between them as well. Watford have a bit of form behind them with four wins in their last six. They have gone W3 D2 L1 in their last six home games. So it has been pretty solid and steady stuff from them and they are 13/10 favourites.
But Palace are more than capable of putting up a fight and they have produced better away from home than at Selhurst Park. So they will want to get this done at the first time of asking. The Eagles are on a three-match winning streak away from home in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in each of those. The Eagles will turn up as 21/10 underdogs with leading bookmakers.
Wales v Ireland
Six Nations – 2.45 pm
BBC One
The Six Nations 2019 title is on the line here. Ireland have to collect a win in Cardiff to have a shot at the title. If they do that, they will sit one point clear at the top of the table before England face Scotland later in the day. Ireland would need Scotland to win at Twickenham to be crowned champions. So they have to turn up and throw the kitchen sink at this one, but they are 23/20 underdogs as it’s never easy winning away from home.
The Welsh are in a position where they know that if they win and collect a bonus point for at least four tries scored, they will be crowned champions. Second-placed England wouldn’t be able to catch them. With the Welsh having already beaten England in Cardiff during the campaign and with them having won three of their last four at home against Ireland in the Six Nations, the Dragons are 4/5 odds-on favourites with leading bookies for the match win.
England v Scotland
Six Nations – 5.00 pm
ITV
England will have the benefit of home soil and they will have the benefit of knowing what they may need to do in order to win this year’s Six Nations title. The only way that their title hopes stay alive is if Wales don’t beat Ireland with a bonus point earlier in the day. England have won each of their last five home games in the Six Nations against Scotland. The Red Rose have produced immense scoring power in this season’s championship too.
So much so that an England -18 handicap is at 10/11 odds with leading bookmakers. But last season it was Scotland who came out on top in the meeting between the two old foes. The Scots took a famous home win at Murrayfield, snapping a seven-match losing streak that they were on against the English. They have been below par in this season’s tournament though. But they would love nothing more than to ruin any chance of the title for England.
Swansea v Man City
FA Cup – 5.20 pm
BT Sport
Championship side Swansea have the tough task of trying to knock outright favourites Manchester City out of the FA Cup. This quarter-final duel from the Liberty stadium sees the Swans go as 16/1 underdogs which would easily be the best bet of the day if that came up for any bold punter. However, of course, the challenge of stopping the rampant Citizens is easier said than done.
Man City have scored a total of seven goals in their last two trips to the Liberty Stadium and they are on a three-match winning streak there. The Premier League title challengers have been in stunning form lately, including a 7-0 Champions League win over Schalke in midweek. What kind of margin will they be able to win by in South Wales? It’s one of those games where the Asian Handicap markets, where for example a Man City -2.5 option is at 21/20 odds, could be a good alternative to the match outright.
Wolves v Man Utd
FA Cup – 7.55 pm
BBC
The third and final FA Cup match of the day sees Manchester United head to Wolves. This should be a fascinating contest because across the course of the Premier League season, Wolves have shown time and time again that they have been able to stand up to and challenge the top sides in the country. Will they be able to make it count on home soil against the Red Devils?
Wolves are 21/10 with top bookmakers to pull off the win. Manchester United continue to go along in decent form, although they suffered a league defeat at Arsenal last weekend. They had won nine straight away games prior to that. But the Red Devils have shown up in a couple of big FA Cup games this season, taking wins at both Arsenal and Chelsea in the tournament. Will they be able to handle another tough away day for which they are 13/10 favourites?
