EPL Matchday 1 Picks, Predictions & Best Bets

• Matchday 1 on the EPL schedule continues this weekend with nine more games
• Arsenal is undefeated in its last 14 matches away from home
• See my favorite EPL Matchday 1 picks, predictions and Best Bets below

It’s a busy weekend in the Premier League, as nine matches are still left to be contested on Matchday 1. Online sportsbooks are flooding their sites with a plethora of betting options to mark the occasion, and I’ve narrowed down my favorite three EPL Matchday 1 best bets below.

EPL Matchday 1 Picks

Odds as of August 15. Join the soccer crowd with the Bet365 bonus code.

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My EPL Matchday 1 predictions start with a plus-money Aston Villa victory over Newcastle, followed by Arsenal knocking Man United off at Old Trafford. I’ll round out my card with Man City to win the first half and the match versus a Wolverhampton club they dwarf in talent.

EPL Matchday 1 Prediction #1: Aston Villa Moneyline

My first EPL Matchday prediction is a play against Newcastle as much as it is a bet on Aston Villa. The offseason has been an utter disaster for the Magpies. They missed out on nearly all their key targets, and are still dealing with Alexander Isak’s hold out. Newcastle was dreadful in the preseason, posting just one win in six matches. I expect another slow start versus Unai Emery’s side, which looks eerily similar to last season’s club.

Instead of making a big offseason splash, Aston Villa has largely kept their own talent. Preseason returns were promising, as they reeled off a 3-1-2 record in their last six matches. Ollie Watkins and Malen have been the offensive catalysts, and I expect them to lead Aston Villa to their sixth win in their last seven home outings versus Newcastle.

EPL Matchday 1 Pick #2: Arsenal Moneyline

Per the EPL title odds, this is a big mismatch, and I’m inclined to agree. Arsenal is fresh off a runner-up finish last season, and boast the second shortest championship price tag at +225. Man United, meanwhile, checks in with +3000 title odds, after a humiliating 15th-place result in the 2024-25 campaign.

The Gunners significantly bolstered their squad this summer, headlined by Viktor Gyokeres, who’s buried 68 goals in the last two seasons. More importantly, they retained all of their stars from a season ago, putting them in position to win their first championship since 2004.

United made big offseason moves as well, but on the surface, it doesn’t look like they’ve solved their defensive woes. To make matters worse, number one goalie Andre Onana is out, meaning Altay Bayindir will take over in net. Bayindir struggled in the preseason, which doesn’t bode well versus this potent Arsenal attack.

The Gunners are undefeated in each of their last 14 road matches, and I expect that trend to continue with a victory at Old Trafford.

EPL Matchday 1 Best Bet #3: Man City Halftime/Fulltime

While I expect Man United to struggle on Matchday 1, I’m predicting the exact opposite for Man City. Pep Guardiola’s side prioritized rest over the summer, taking part in just two preseason matches. They outscored the opposition 4-0 in those outings, and have a long track record of dominating Wolverhampton.

Man City vs Wolverhampton Results – Last 5 Matches

Man City has won nine of their last 10 matches against the Wolves, including four of the last five on the road. This will mark the ninth straight season they’ve began away from home, and that hasn’t been an issue in the past. Man City has won seven of their last 8 season openers, scoring 19 times, while conceding only two goals.

Wolverhampton was the only team to finish worse than Man United last season, without being relegated, and were dreadful in the preseason. They didn’t post a win in five matches, and have won just once in their last 20 league games in August.