Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Odds & Preview – Premier League Round 20
- On Wednesday, January 27th at 1:00 PM EST, Chelsea host Wolves at Stamford Bridge in London
- Both of these sides have been two of the biggest disappointments in the Premier League season, sitting in ninth and 14th place respectively after finishing last year in fourth and seventh
- The heavy favorites in the match are Chelsea with a moneyline of -167. Are they the best bet? Read on for our preview below
The most significant news heading into Premier League Matchday 20 and in this Chelsea vs Wolves match is Chelsea’s sacking of former club star, Frank Lampard. After a year and half of service, the Blues waved goodbye to their former midfield standout in exchange for former Borussia Dortmund and Paris manager, Thomas Tuchel. The German gaffer put together a winning percentage of 74.8-percent after 127 games in charge of the Parisian club but was let go due to a falling out with PSG’s Sporting Director, Leonardo.
It has yet to be confirmed when the new Chelsea addition will be announced, but it will surely be a lift to the squad as they look to get themselves out of a run of incredibly poor form. Chelsea’s last major Premier League win came on December 21st, at home against West Ham. The match prior, they faced Wolves in Wolverhampton and lost 2-1 thanks to two second-half goals from Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto. Nonetheless, Wolves have hardly been better as their last win was the aforementioned match against Chelsea in December.
Chelsea vs Wolves Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea vs Wolves | CHE -1 (+104) | WOL +1 (-125) | CHE -167 | WOL +440 | DRAW +325 | Ov 2.5 (-108) | Un 2.5 (-115) |
All odds taken Jan. 25th at DraftKings
Blues Will Have the Post-Breakup Glow
Even if Tuchel is brought in as manager before Wednesday, it is highly unlikely he will be in Chelsea’s dugout at Stamford Bridge against Wolves. However, usually when a manager is sacked it gives the squad a reason to get up and go again in an effort to recreate what they were building towards. Do not get it twisted, Chelsea are a quality side. They just need the proper managing and tactics to put them on the right foot. Against Wolves, they probably will be allowed to play more freely which is scary given their attack of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Tommy Abraham.
Chelsea hope to appoint Thomas Tuchel as the club's new head coach before the game against Wolves on Wednesday
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 25, 2021
While their attack has not been up to par, Chelsea’s defense is the more concerning area of their team. Against teams with quality attackers, Chelsea are shocking and luckily for the Blues, Wolves are still without striker Raul Jimenez. Wolves were lucky to get three points in their first meeting of the season, which leads me to believe with a jolt of energy, this could be a fairly easy result for Chelsea.
Chelsea vs Wolves Domestic Statistics
| 1.74 | Goals per game | 1.11 |
| 13.8 | Shots per game | 12.7 |
| 57.5% | Possession % | 49.8% |
| 86.3% | Passing % | 83.2% |
Wolves Still Desperately Miss Raul Jimenez
Watching Nuno and Wolves without their main man just is not fair, truly. It is comparable to watching a car try to start without an engine, and Raul is an engine custom made for this Wolves team. Fabio Silva is a worthy replacement, but as an 18-year-old, it is unfair to even try comparing the two. Luckily, Nuno still has his attack of Adama Traore, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence because they have felt the loss of Diogo Jota to Liverpool as well.
A big read with Willy Boly about his injury battles and the squad's fitness over the past two seasons.
💪💬
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 26, 2021
Furthermore, Wolves only recent wins come in the FA Cup to Crystal Palace and Chorley, a sixth tier English team that went viral for belting Adele. Also, a game they only managed to win by a score of 1-0. In their past three matches with Chelsea, Wolves lost the other two by a combined score of 7-2, and their insufferable form points to another win for Chelsea.
Chelsea vs Wolves Best Bet
Finally, the best bet for this Chelsea vs Wolves match is the ‘over’ on 2.5 total goals. The moneyline is swayed so far in Chelsea’s favor it is not worth betting on, and the spread is dangerous because Wolves really like to keep things close despite losing in the end. With that being said, I could see a frustrated Chelsea side releasing their anger on Wednesday, especially at the Bridge. Conversely, Wolves rarely get shut out, and I have a hard time seeing this Chelsea team holding a clean sheet. Taking all of these factors into account, I think the ‘Over’ is a safe, but valuable bet at -108.
My Pick: Over 2.5 total goals (-108)
Josh Ricker is a freelance sports journalist, currently attending the University of Southern Maine (Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Marketing). He has recently interned with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and his work has been featured on Fansided, as well as now here on SBD.
