FA Cup Round of 16 Odds & Best Bets: Chelsea favorites to beat Liverpool at Stanford Bridge

• It’s the FA Cup round-of-16 with next week with eight games on Monday though to Thursday
• Chelsea entertain Liverpool on Tuesday in the big tie of the round
• Get the odds and best bets from next week’s FA Cup action below

The FA Cup has reached the last-16 stage and, unusually, the games will all be played in midweek. The action kicks off with Portsmouth vs Arsenal on Monday and concludes on Thursday when Manchester United travel to Derby.

In between, there are six more games, and as a result, there’s plenty of betting value to be had in this week’s EPL schedule. We’ll take a look to see if we can find some good bets in this weekend’s games.

FA Cup Round-of-16 Odds

All odds taken Feb. 28

FA Cup Pick 1: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Liverpool are still on course for an incredible quadruple – EPL Champions-elect, winners of the 2019 Club World Cup, in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and, of course, still in the FA Cup.

Despite Jurgen Klopp opting to play a second-string team in their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Shrewsbury, and not even being in the dugout himself, the young Reds still found a way through to the last 16, and so will not be daunted by an away trip to Chelsea. The big question will be whether Klopp persists with playing a second-string team or will he bring back some of his big names for the Stamford Bridge clash?

The bookies are assuming he will keep with his youngsters – Chelsea start the game as favorites – but with the EPL title all but sewn up, he may opt for a stronger line-up than many expect. In some ways, there’s a greater need for Frank Lampard to keep his players fresh as they strive to hold on to fourth place and, with it,  a place in next season’s Champions League.

So, for that reason, the value here is very much with the Merseysiders, who I expect to progress to the quarter-finals.

Pick: Liverpool to win (+193)

FA Cup Pick 2: West Brom vs Newcastle

Despite West Brom being a Championship team, they start this one as narrow favorites. The bookies have concluded that a team that looks almost certain to return to the Premier League – the Baggies are four points clear at the top of the Championship – and which has home advantage is more likely to progress against a team that’s mid-table in the EPL.

They may have a point, and Newcastle are currently on a run of no wins in four in the EPL, but it’s worth remembering that the Magpies have a free shot at this. They have 31 points in the EPL – effectively just two wins away from safety – so have nothing to lose in going all out for the win. Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic, West Brom’s head coach, still has a balancing act to perform, as the last thing he’ll want is to lose any of his key players through injury ahead of the Championship run-in.

For that reason, I see the value here being with Steve Bruce’s Toon, who will have a massive away following roaring them on at the Hawthorns.

Pick: Newcastle to win (+156)

FA Cup Pick 3: Tottenham vs Norwich

With Jose Mourinho’s Spurs still in the Champions League and also locked in the battle for fourth place in the EPL, many expect him to ‘mix and match’ for this one; taking the opportunity to rest a couple of big names while playing some of his fringe players.

In previous rounds, Norwich head coach Daniel Farke has done similar but the quandary here for him is, should he go for broke given that his team is adrift at the bottom of the EPL and looking unlikely to survive? Will he go full strength?

If he does, there is a chance here the Canaries could surprise a few – +440 for the City win looks fairly generous in the circumstances – but as most Norwich fans know, despite playing an attractive brand of soccer, their team struggles to get over the line in the big games.

So, I’m going for this to be level after 90 minutes – just as it was in the league between these two at Carrow Road – but for Spurs to edge it, either in extra-time or on penalties.

Pick: Tottenham and Norwich  to draw after 90 minutes (+300)