FA Cup Odds: Best Bets for Stacked Semifinals

This year, the FA Cup saw some impressive performances from lower-league clubs like Millwall, Lincoln City, and Sutton United. But the natural order has been restored for the semifinals with only four top-flight Premier League teams remaining.

The games will take place on April 22 and 23 at Wembley Stadium. Here’s an early run-down of what to expect.

Chelsea (+125) vs Tottenham (+252), Draw (+250)

When Chelsea were ten games into a win streak earlier this year, it was Tottenham who stopped them in their tracks. Since that defeat, Chelsea are back to their winning ways and enter the semis unbeaten in 12 straight.

Tottenham are currently second in the league but a full ten points below the EPL-leading Blues. It’s unlikely that they’ll close the gap with just 11 league games to go, especially with the recent injury to star striker Harry Kane (ankle). Kane already missed time at the start of the season and we saw Tottenham suffer tremendously because of it. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks, which could rule him out of the FA Cup semifinal.

Even with a full-strength lineup, it would take a lot for Tottenham to overcome the current Chelsea squad. Without Kane, it becomes a near-impossible task. As we get closer to match day, we’ll have a better idea of whether Kane will be fit to play. But for now, things are looking pretty bleak for the Spurs, and the better value resides with the league leaders.

Pick: Chelsea (+125)

Arsenal (+250) vs Manchester City (+130), Draw (+260)

Arsenal and Manchester City will face each other this weekend for a crucial league game, and the outcome will provide some insight into how the semifinal will pan out. As it stands, Manchester City is the more sensible pick.

The Citizens are currently seven games unbeaten in the league and are sitting in third place with 57 points. Meanwhile, Arsenal have sunk to sixth place after losing four of their last five games. Most recently, they tanked 3-1 against West Brom.

Arsenal fans are calling for the head of manager Arsene Wenger, but it’s looking increasingly likely that the Frenchman is here to stay. To further complicate things, contract negotiations with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been put on hold by the club. If Arsenal are doing poorly now, imagine what they’d look like without their two star players. While it’s hard to say what state Arsenal will be in a month from now, I don’t see the dissension calming down.

Pep Guardiola’s City squad has had its issues throughout the season, but they’ve become a pretty reliable side as of late. The FA Cup would be a nice consolation prize for the team after a heartbreaking Champions League exit to Monaco.

Pick: Manchester City (+130)