FA Cup Betting: The pick of Saturday's 3pm Kick-offs

FA Cup / Mike Norman / 22 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Lee Hughes has been in good form all season for Notts County. Can he get on the scoresheet against Premier League Wigan on Saturday?

Best Bet: Aston Villa To Win Both Halves @ [2.34] in Villa v Brighton

Also: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ [1.82] in Everton v Birmingham; Back Notts County @ [5.6] to beat Wigan; Back Portsmouth HT/Portsmouth FT @ [4.7] in Portsmouth v Sunderland; Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [3.8] in West Brom v Newcastle

It may not be as exciting as FA Cup third round day, but the fourth round still has the potential to spring an upset or two says "Mystical" Mike Norman - not least at Meadow Lane.

Aston Villa [1.25] v Brighton [15.0]; The Draw [7.2]

I can't see anything other than a straightforward victory for Aston Villa here. Whilst the priority for the home side is Champions League qualification via the Premier League, Martin O'Neill is a born winner and I can't see him messing around with team selection against lowly League One side Brighton.

A wager that definitely caught my eye is the [2.34] available about Aston Villa Winning Both Halves. I doubt it will be a rout, but I can definitely see Villa doing enough to land this bet. In the Correct Score market 3-0 - available to back at [9.2] - is my preferred choice, but an investment to refund all this game's stakes will be going on the Any Unquoted option, which can be backed at [3.7].

Everton [1.8] v Birmingham [5.5]; The Draw [3.7]

This all-Premier League encounter pits a team that had a marvelous result last week (Everton beating Man City) against a side (Birmingham) that has been phenomenal by their own standards in the last three months or so. It's a tough match to call, but Brum are proving so hard to beat these days that I can see them getting a draw at Goodison Park today.

I doubt the game will be a classic, and I believe the 0-0 ([11.0]) and 1-1 ([7.6]) options in the Correct Score market are worth an interest. Under 2.5 Goals is probably the bet I fancy most in this game however and can be backed at [1.82], though to cover the one goal victory either way scenario, a bet on Under 1.5 Goals ([3.4]) is also recommended.

Notts County [5.6] v Wigan [1.78]; The Draw [3.7]

At first glance, a mid-table Premier League side that is available to back at [1.78] against a League Two side performing below expectations looks a cracking bet, but like most people I believe that if there is to be a shock in round four then it could well be at Meadow Lane. County struggled to beat Forest Green in round three, but it would be typical of the FA Cup if they were to come out just a few days later and beat a top-flight side.

County boss (I was going to address him by his name but he will probably have been changed by the time the game kicks off) has a virtual full strength squad to choose from which means the prolific Lee Hughes will start in attack. Along with my bet on the home side to win, I'm also having a wager on Hughes to be the First Goalscorer ([10.0]) and To Score ([4.0]) at anytime.

Portsmouth [2.66] v Sunderland [2.9]; The Draw [3.4]

Another all-Premier League encounter and one that I think Pompey will win, quite simply because of Sunderland's depressing away form. The Black Cats have now gone five months since they won on the road in any competition, as well as conceding 13 goals in their last three away league fixtures.

Another low-scoring game is on the cards and I'm of the opinion that backing Under 2.5 Goals is a sensible option at [1.82] - though perhaps Under 1.5 Goals ([3.5]) can land us a bigger payout. In the Half Time/Full Time market Portsmouth/Portsmouth is definitely worth backing at [4.7] - three of their four league victories have came virtue of this method whilst all three of their League Cup victories were secured this way.

West Brom [2.4] v Newcastle [3.2]; The Draw [3.5]

I was in Lanzarote when these two met in the Championship on Monday, and went back to my hotel and told all the guests that the game had finished 8-8. It was only the next morning that I'd realised I'd drunk a bit too much, the game had actually ended 2-2, and that I'd counted all the replays as actual goals. It also explains why I thought Roman Bednar had scored four identical tap-ins. On a more serious note, I'm going for The Draw again at [3.5].

I have a feeling that this could be the game of the day; both are very attacking, free-scoring sides and though I doubt it will finish 8-8, Over 3.5 Goals ([3.8]) and even Over 4.5 Goals ([8.0]) are definitely worth playing.