* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
The FA Cup 3rd Round is great, everyone’s in agreement on that. Well, almost everyone. There’s only two exceptions to the rule, A; You support one of the fancy-Dan big boys or B; You support a club that crashed out in the 2nd Round, missing out on a juicy away day at a Premier League side because of some laughable officiating decisions, just like your truly.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS
As you can tell I’m not bitter and I’ll bravely put my pain on the backburner the best I can and try and find you an underdog to throw your weight behind this weekend. Admittedly, some of our underdogs are longer shots than others but I’ll be weighing up who can make a mockery of Paddy Power’s odds this weekend. Let’s go.
Saturday 12.30pm: Burnley v Huddersfield – Huddersfield to Win
I know what you’re thinking, would Huddersfield beating Burney really be an upset? Well, according to Paddy’s all-important prices then yes, yes it would be. Burnley are big odds-on favourites and that’s the nub of this little ditty here. The Clarets are 18th in the top flight and have won just one league this season, eight games back.
Since then they’ve drawn four and lost four. The Terriers are up to 6th in the 2nd tier and are just eight places lower than Burnley in the footballing pyramid. Huddersfield are in fine form and have won three and drawn three of their last six.
The key here is both lines of form, Burnley’s crippling lack of depth and where their priorities lie. If Sean Dyche rotates even a little his side will be severely weakened and I think he’d be happy to depart the competition at the first hurdle courtesy of an away win. The Huddersfield Win/Draw Double Chance could be a nice one for your accas, by the way.
Saturday 12.30pm: Hartlepool v Blackpool – Hartlepool to Win
Bit of a long-ranger this and I’m drawing it to your attention because of Hartlepool’s remarkable home record. It has slipped a little of late with some defeats and draws, I’ll admit. The League Two side take on Blackpool of The Championship looking to rekindle some of their pre-December home form.
Hartlepool have won 24 of their 28 points on home soil this season so something special happens to that team when they play in front of their own fans. They’ve lost just twice at Victoria Park and nothing ups a League Two side’s game like an FA Cup 3rd Round fixture on home soil. Blackpool beware, this should be no walkover. I think there’s a chance we see a Hartlepool Win in this one.
Saturday 3pm: Wigan v Blackburn – Wigan to Win
This Wigan to Win punt is based on how strong they went for their EFL Cup win over Oldham in the week. They pumped the struggling League Two side 6-0 on Tuesday as they look to get everyone back up to speed following a lengthy Covid-enforced layoff. Both sides are going well in their respective divisions.
Wigan are 3rd in League One and Blackburn are 2nd in The Championship. Rovers will be going all out to gain an unlikely promotion back into the Premier League and they’ll surely not be at full strength here off the back of a packed Christmas schedule. Their opponents have shown during the week, I think, that they’re going to go full strength here and that could prove to be the difference between the two in-form sides.
Sunday 2pm: Liverpool v Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury to Win
Hear me out. If this game goes ahead it will do so with Liverpool fielding a severely weakened team. After their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal was postponed due to rising Covid cases in the week there’s a chance, I think, that they opt to play the game using only their under 23 squad.
If this scenario happens then the battle-hardened warriors of Shrewsbury Town will really fancy their chances. They’ll be bang up for it and, obviously, while this is the long shot of all long shots, if Liverpool play the kids just to get the game out of the way with the fixtures piling up then anything could happen.
If you like my logic you’ll want to back Shrewsbury to Win ASAP before any potential team news comes out. Their price is already steadily tumbling and they were 11/1 when I first set eyes on them. Plus, if the game’s postponed Paddy will give you your money back anyway.
Sunday 2pm: Wolves v Sheffield United – Sheff Utd to Win
What more of a comedown could you ask for after beating Manchester United away from home for the first time in 42 years than an FA Cup match against a side from a lower division? That’s the order of the day for Wolves who tackle Sheffield United on Sunday.
I think that could be the key, the after the Lord Mayor’s Show feel about this one for the hosts. I suspect Bruno Lage will ring the changes as well. The Blades are on fire and have won four on the bounce. Don’t be too surprised to see that become five with a Sheffield United Win in this one.
Monday 7.55pm: Manchester United v Aston Villa – Villa to Win
TV: BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Website
Not a conventional upset this and, maybe, not much of an upset in the sporting sense either. Whatever you think about it, Manchester United are Paddy’s big favourites against Aston Villa. This is a classic case of two managers who will approach this very differently.
I suspect Ralf Rangnick has a license to aim purely for a top-four finish while Steven Gerrard will want to put on a good show in the FA Cup to try and get the fans onside after an up-and-down start. United have proven time and time again that they’re fallible, no more so than that aforementioned loss against Wolves.
Despite this, United have actually been quite good recently, in terms of results at least, but that Wolves game hit hard. Villa have been poor, losing three of their last four, but with rotation from United and Villa desperate to progress while finding some form, we might just see a Villa Win.
Potential FA Cup upsets
Saturday 12.30pm: Burnley v Huddersfield – Huddersfield to Win
Saturday 12.30pm: Hartlepool v Blackpool – Hartlepool to Win
Saturday 3pm: Wigan v Blackburn – Wigan to Win
Sunday 2pm: Liverpool v Shrewsbury – Shrewsbury to Win
Sunday 2pm: Wolves v Sheffield United – Sheff Utd to Win
Monday 7.55pm: Manchester United v Aston Villa – Villa to Win
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Saturday football tips
- Millwall v Crystal Palace football betting tips from Phil Thompson for the early kick-off
- Our Saturday football acca tips from the FA Cup 3pm kick-offs comes to 27/1
- FA Cup betting tips: 6 ties this weekend where there could be upsets
- 7/1 shot among our 3 Chelsea v Chesterfield betting tips for Saturday
- Hull v Everton Bet Builder tips: Our 14/1 punt for Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off
- PHIL THOMPSON: My Hull v Everton tips for the televised FA Cup clash
- Paddy’s 3 Real Madrid v Valencia tips for Saturday’s evening kick-off
Sunday football tips
- Paddy’s Africa Cup of Nations tips for Sunday includes a 9/1 double
- PHIL THOMPSON: My West Ham v Leeds tips for the 2pm kick-off
- Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Bet Builder tips: Our punt for the 5.10pm kick-off clocks in at 21/1
- 17/2 selection among Thommo’s Forest v Arsenal tips for Sunday’s cup clash
- Euro Football Tips: Paddy’s evening treble is a tasty 15/1 shot
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
