The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world and dates back more than 150 years. One of the most storied and unpredictable tournaments on the planet, the drama produced by pitting clubs against each other from every level of the football pyramid produces incredible drama every year. What makes the FA Cup so special is that any team can face another, giving sides in non-League the opportunity to face Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in a competitive fixture.
Anything can happen in the Cup and there are countless examples of giant-killings where teams in the Premier League are defeated by clubs in the second and third tier and even the fourth tier. That is the Magic of the Cup but with so many clashes impossible to call, this competition can trip you up when betting on matches. With this in mind, this article will provide and tips and guidance to ensure you are stacked with information required to bet from a place of real and genuine knowledge.
Track Team News
When it comes to weighing up the strength and weakness of teams at different stages of the competition, it is imperative you tune into pre-match press conferences so that you can follow all of the latest team news. When speaking to the media ahead of the game, managers will detail which members of the squad will be sidelined through injury or suspensions.
Of course coaches will never reveal the exact starting line-up but making yourself of aware of which star names are missing for the FA Cup game will give you a decent idea of what level the team will be at. For instance, if a League Two side are without their captain and top scorer, they are going to find things even more difficult when playing Tottenham or Chelsea. By taking the time to tune into team news, you can wager knowing you have the inside track on how each side is likely to line up.
It’s all about strategy. Just like using a forex trading app where you will assess the big picture before attempting to move at the right time, wagering on the FA Cup is exactly the same. You must gather as much information on the sides in order to make an educated pick on the scoreline rather than a blind guess based solely on the standing of the two teams.
Look at the Route to the Third Round
In the FA Cup Third Round, which is the stage when all Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition, there will be 20 sides from League One, League Two and below. The entire football world will be looking at these sides and wondering which ones will pull off a famous and memorable giant-killing. The odds of this happening will be high and so it could be worth taking a punt.
If you elect to do so, it’s important to check out the qualifying rounds, together with the First Round and Second Round. Here, a team from the sixth or seventh tier could have knocked out the teams at the top of the third tier. This would show they are on a good run and capable of beating sides above them. It’s these type of clues which can give you a strong steer on who to back for victory. Tamworth, for example, defeated League One Burton Albion on penalties in 2024 to set up a classic tie with Tottenham. Giant-killings can and do happen, particularly in the early rounds.
Follow the Form Guide
Fans and pundits alike will often say that the form guide goes out the window in the FA Cup and it’s a fair argument. With it being a one-off game, anything can happen in the Cup. However, it is still worth looking at how teams are doing in the league heading into the match to properly assess their confidence levels and how they are doing. Take Southampton, for instance. The Saints have won just once in the first 20 games of the Premier League season and so if they come up against a team in the top half of the Championship, they certainly won’t be massive favourites to record another victory. Often times teams struggling with belief can come face more difficulties in the FA Cup and so checking out their recent results is a wise move to make.
Make Use of Live In-Play Betting
The ability to place wagers as the FA Cup action is unfolding is a tool fans should certainly take advantage when predicting results on matchday. Live in-play betting has allowed football supporters to see the game in real-time and wager accordingly based on what they are seeing. This is hugely useful if teams are depleted through key players being injured or if one side is dominating in the game and enjoying all the possession.
Watching the match as it is happening allows knowledgeable fans to put their understanding to the test. You should always look to wager on corners, shots and goals while viewing the game as it means you can accurately weigh up the two sides there and then as opposed to guessing long before kick-off.
Summing Up
The excitement for the FA Cup is different to the thrill of the Premier League and makes it standout as a unqiue and special competition. While it never fails to produce drama and games really can’t be called, there are strategies you can follow to ensure you are making picks from a place of authority.