English Premier League Football Betting Picks for Week 26
Get ready for another weekend of Premier League action that brings many more chances to chase some betting value. We've got the best bets and picks for the matches taking place on February 25, 26 and 27, along with DraftKings daily fantasy soccer picks for Saturday.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Chelsea vs. Swansea City
Chelsea has been so strong home and away this season, that it seems a tall order for Swansea to get anything, except that the Blues have faltered a little of late from their high standards, thanks to tiredness. With the Swans better organised under Paul Clement, and Gylfi Sigurdsson enjoying a great run of form, a draw is possible.
Top Bet: 5/1 with Ladbrokes for a draw
Crystal Palace vs. Middlesbrough
Palace has been dismal all year, but Middlesbrough fans cannot recall anything to cheer about either. Both teams go into this match knowing it's a relegation six-pointer (as the cliche goes), but with Palace only having one win in the last 13 league games, and Boro one in 11, this isn't going to be a classic.
Top Bet: 9/4 with BetVictor for a draw
Everton vs. Sunderland
David Moyes returns to his old club's ground needing three points to get his Sunderland side off the bottom, but with only five victories all season, and precious few goalscorers except Jermain Defoe in the side, Ronald Koeman's Everton looks a step too far, with 14 points taken from the last possible 18. Expect an Everton win, but a ground-out, late-season one.
Top Bet: 9/5 with Paddy Power for a one-goal winning margin
Hull City vs. Burnley
Burnley has only one point away from home this season, and yet is safely mid-table. With away form being so poor for the visiting side, this game represents an opportunity for Hull, resurgent under Marco Silva, to cement recent good form. Oumar Niasse and Lazar Markovic are dangerous attackers for the Tigers, and this could be another step to safety.
Top Bet: 22/5 for BetVictor for a half-time/full-time result of draw/Hull
West Bromwich Albion vs. Bournemouth
Tony Pulis has to be happy with how West Brom has performed this season, especially given the lack of investment on new players that he has complained about, and the sale of a key man in Saido Berahino. Bournemouth seems to be falling into relegation danger, and has lost all of the last three matches, so on form and because of Albion's home record, this looks like a Baggies victory.
Top Bet: 14/5 with Betfair for West Brom to win by one goal
Watford vs. West Ham United
Watford is one of the less consistent of Premier League teams, and while it won two games in a row to get clear of relegation danger, the last game was an expected defeat to Manchester United. Given West Ham's return to mid-table respectability, both of these teams are evenly-matched at the moment, and ought to play out a close game with goals at either end a possibility.
Top Bet: 23/10 with Paddy Power for a draw
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Stoke City
Spurs, notwithstanding the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield that curbed a run of great form, has looked fairly commanding in the league of late, especially when taking on mid-table sides like Stoke. Even if long balls are lofted up to Peter Crouch, the Tottenham defence, now once again featuring Jan Vertonghen, ought to be good enough to deal with it. Expect a home win.
Top Bet: 10/3 with Bet365 for Spurs to win by two goals
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Leicester City vs. Liverpool
Liverpool's chances of reaching the Champions League might have taken an upturn with the win over Spurs, but Leicester seems to revel in the afterglow of European games. Although only having won five times all season, Leicester nonetheless seems to play more dynamically after a midweek game in the Champions League.
There's a sense of this season reaching an endgame for the champion side, and so Liverpool ought to beware a surprising improvement from the 17th-placed Foxes, even in the sad aftermath of Claudio Ranieri's sacking as manager.
Top Bet: 5/1 with Betfair for a Leicester win
DraftKings Picks (Saturday)
GK Ben Foster, West Bromwich Albion ($5,100)
Foster always scores well in DraftKings thanks to the number of quality saves he produces; with out-of-form Bournemouth the opponent this Saturday, the former England goalkeeper has an opportunity to get another clean sheet at home. Although the price might seem steep, Foster will not let you down.
D Andrew Robertson, Hull City ($3,400)
With Hull taking on Burnley, a team that struggles to get results away from home, Robertson has a chance of a rare clean sheet along with an assist to add to his one this season. The Scot has a good delivery, and is accustomed to going forward, so is a quality budget signing.
M/F Nacer Chadli, West Bromwich Albion ($5,200)
With five goals and three assists in the league this season, it's a mystery why Chadli doesn't always play. Having scored against West Ham last time out, the Belgian has made his case for starting the upcoming match against Bournemouth, and is likely to be in the thick of the action. At this price, a great purchase.
F Romelu Lukaku, Everton ($9,000)
Lukaku's 16 goals and four assists make him the main reason why Everton continues to challenge for the European places. He's been superb against all obliging defences in the league, and Sunderland's has rolled out the red carpet to lesser strikers than Lukaku.
