EPL Betting – No Vardy, No Problem vs Man U?

Leicester City (+280) at Manchester United (+100), Draw (+229)

If Leicester City (22-10-3, 76 pts) can pick up a win over Manchester United (17-8-9, 59 pts) at Old Trafford this Sunday (9:05 AM Eastern), they’ll make Tom Hanks a very rich man. Er, a very richer man. The Foxes are just three points away from clinching the Premier League title and, even if they don’t get it done this Sunday, still have two matches to achieve what everyone thought impossible at the start of the year.

When the season started, Leicester were expected to battle for relegation. But manager Claudio Ranieri has employed the perfect systems for his less-than-star-studded roster, getting the most out of limited talent.

Much of the credit for the team’s success can also be placed squarely on the shoulders of striker Jamie Vardy. The 29-year-old has had a breakout campaign with 22 goals (along with six assists), a massive leap from the five goals he netted last year. Unfortunately for Ranieri, the Foxes will have to go to battle without their most dangerous weapon for the second week in a row. Vardy remains banned due to his reaction to receiving a red card in a match with West Ham two weeks ago.

The team didn’t miss him last week, routing an overmatched Swansea side, 4-0. But they’re apt to feel his absence against a defensively focused United. Man U has only surrendered 30 goals in 34 EPL matches, second-best in the league.

Without Vardy, look for Leicester (who are third in goals against, conceding just 33 times this year) to bring a defensive gameplan on the road. United struggle to score at the best of times (42 goals-for), and that’s a big part of why they sit outside the top-four at the moment, five points back of both Man City and Arsenal with a game in hand.

United will be hoping their FA Cup momentum carries over into the Premier League. The Red Devils advanced to the tournament final last weekend with a 2-1 win over Everton. Anthony Martial put the team through with a stoppage-time goal that broke the 1-1 tie.

It’s no surprise that Manchester United have dominated the head-to-head history with Leicester City, winning all five matches they’ve played at Old Trafford. But this isn’t your dad’s Foxes. Leicester are the best road team in the EPL and have won three straight away from home. Considering United’s scoring struggles and the fact that Leicester will likely come out passive, the draw looks like great value.

Pick: Draw (+229).

(Photo Credit: Kajsh (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)