Bournemouth vs Watford Odds & Prediction – EFL Championship Round 33

• Bournemouth host the Hornets of Watford at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, February 27th at 7:30 AM EST
• Watford currently sit in third place, level on points with Brentford in second place, while Bournemouth are level on points and goal difference with Cardiff City, as they remain in seventh
• Watford are the favorites to win this match with a moneyline of +160. Are they the best bet? Read our match preview below

With 14 matches remaining in the 2020/21 EFL Championship season, things are heating up as Bournemouth vs Watford this weekend at the Vitality looks to be one of the top matches of the round.

This match is imperative for Bournemouth as they sit one spot outside sixth place. Meaning if the season ended today, they would not be included in a Promotional Playoff. Four teams are within six points of the sixth spot in the table, and as the games fly by, Bournemouth has less and less chances to get a shot back in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, this match is also crucial for Watford as they sit in an awkward position, one spot outside of the automatic promotion. The Promotional Playoff can be cruel to teams who seemingly had good seasons, meaning Watford will want to avoid it at all costs. Nonetheless, the Hornets, managed by Xisco Munoz, have won four Championship games in a row. Their recent form and cushion in points to their weekend competition is the reason why Watford is narrowly favored in this match.

Bournemouth vs Watford Odds

All odds taken Feb. 25th at DraftKings

Bournemouth Look to Bounce Back from Two Defeats

Despite being in seventh place, Bournemouth are a quality side, one that was in the Premier League just last year. However, It has been a challenging year for them in the Championship, especially as of late, picking up two consecutive 2-1 losses against QPR and Cardiff. Their last win was at home against 22nd place Rotherham, so you can make of it what you will. Additionally, it looks as though they will be without former Liverpool striker Dom Solanke this weekend as he remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

Reaction from @SteveCook28 following last night's game against Cardiff. #afcb 🍒

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) February 25, 2021

Solanke had a tough start to life on the south coast but has found an important role in this Cherries side. This season, the 23-year-old has bagged ten goals and provided four assists. Sadly, he is not the only injury in the Bournemouth team. It also looks like Jack Stacey and David Brooks will also be missing for Saturday’s match, which makes you wonder if Bournemouth have enough to get the job done at home. Junior Stanislas and Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld can provide some instant offense, but they will be going up against the second-best defense in the Championship.

Bournemouth vs Watford Domestic Statistics

Watford’s Offense is Electric

While the injury bug has hit Bournemouth quite hard before Saturday’s match, Watford will also be without a key player. Unfortunately, that player is Troy Deeney, a true leader and goal-scorer for this Hornet’s team. The 32-year-old will definitely be missed, but the bottom line is that this Watford attack is still deadly without him. The combination of Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro is ferocious, which is why they have garnered the interest of some of England’s largest clubs.

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3. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿@DeJesusofiicial tops the goalscoring charts ⚽ pic.twitter.com/7ZzPpWupa4

— Watford Football Club 💙 (@WatfordFC) February 25, 2021

The pair of youngsters have combined for 22 goal contributions this weekend, and they will look to exploit Bournemouth’s defense on Saturday. Nonetheless, historically speaking, there is not much to separate these two sides. In fact, going back to 2018, this head-to-head matchup has seen four draws and a win for each club, meaning it could go either way.

Bournemouth vs Watford Best Bet

Overall, the best bet for this match is the Watford moneyline at +160. These odds have incredible value for a team currently in third place in one of the most competitive leagues in all of sports. Furthermore, I think that Watford has a little bit more to play for as they desperately do not want to see a Promotional Playoff at the end of what has already been a grueling season.

Finally, the absence of Solanke will completely change the game plan for the Cherries. Personally, I am not sure they have enough offensive backup to replace his productivity, and Watford’s injury affects their play far less. Watford also have the run of good form which is why I favor them to pick up three points.

My Pick: Watford moneyline (+160)