We’re down to five teams that are perfect through the first two weeks of the English Premier League betting season – and there are a couple of surprises atop the table as all 20 teams prepare for Matchweek 3.
Everton have opened with consecutive victories over Tottenham and West Brom and have one of the top goal differentials in the league, while Crystal Palace have also impressed (and defied the EPL odds) with two straight wins while allowing just one goal over that stretch.
Here are our top Premier League betting plays for Matchweek 3
Premier League Predictions for Matchday 3
Crystal Palace vs Everton (Saturday, 10 am ET)
Well, would you look at that! The two teams in our intro will face off Saturday to see who will remain unbeaten. Oddsmakers have much more faith in Everton’s start than Saturday’s home side, making the visitors +105 favorites for the first of two regular-season meetings between the clubs. Everton earned a win and a draw in two meetings last season, with their most recent encounter a 3-1 win back on Feb. 8.
These teams could be headed for a low-scoring affair, despite having combined for 10 goals through their first two Premier League matches. Palace have shown impressive defensive prowess in the early going, while Everton have been incredibly stout defensively in recent visits to Selhurst Park Stadium, with clean sheets in seven of their last eight away matches versus Crystal Palace. You won’t get rich on this play, but the odds honestly should be a lot higher than this.
PREDICTION: Under 2.5 (-150)
Sheffield United vs Leeds United (Sunday, 7 am ET)
We’ll be honest: Leeds might just wind up in every edition of Premier League betting picks we write this year (as long as they’re playing, of course). Leeds have been one of the most wildly entertaining teams in all of European domestic soccer to this point, with seven goals scored — and seven goals allowed — through two games. That’s quite a shift for Sunday opponent Sheffield United, who have allowed three goals but have yet to score in their first two matches.
Oddsmakers believe that Sheffield will dictate the play to a greater extent than Leeds — and we see that as a mistake. Leeds has been the aggressor in each of its first two games, putting a major scare into Liverpool in a 4-3 loss before breaking out to a big lead and holding on to upend Fulham 4-3. The O2.5 play pays out well enough, but we like the chances of Leeds potting multiple goals and Sheffield ending its scoring drought with emphasis Sunday.
PREDICTION: Over 3.5 Goals (+250)
Liverpool vs Arsenal (Monday, 3 pm ET)
Two other unbeaten teams square off at Anfield as defending-champion Liverpool battle Arsenal. Both teams have shown solid form, though Liverpool could have done without that Matchweek 1 test against Leeds. Arsenal have been the steadier club since beating Liverpool on penalties in their Community Shield showdown on August 29, having defeated Fulham and West Ham in league play and earning an impressive 2-0 win over Leicester in Carabao Cup action.
Right off the bat, expecting an Arsenal upset is folly: Liverpool might have shown cracks against Leedsbut they’ve won 27 of their previous 28 league matches at Anfield and will remain a brutal home opponent...even without the benefit of a capacity crowd.
The more likely scenario: Arsenal plays a similar bend-but-don’t-break style to the one it employed in their previous meeting and earns a well-deserved single point.
PREDICTION: Draw (+375)
Premier League Betting Card for Matchday 3
- Crystal Palace-Everton Under 2.5 (-150)
- Sheffield United-Leeds United Over 3.5 Goals (+250)
- Liverpool-Arsenal Draw (+375)
Did you know that if you parlayed our EPL Matchday 3 picks, you could win $267.08 on a $10 bet?
Use our EPL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
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