FA Cup first round predictions, tips, best bets and previews
The FA Cup first round proper sees teams from League One and League Two enter the fray this weekend. Sporting Life picks out several best bets from selected matches.
Football betting tips: FA Cup
1.5pts Derby to win to nil v Torquay at 19/20 (Unibet, BetUK)
1.5pts Wrexham Half-Time/Full-Time v Oldham at evens (Sky Bet, Coral)
Torquay v Derby
- Kick-off: Sunday, 15:00 GMT
- TV channel: ITV1
- Torquay 14/1 | Draw 11/2 | Derby 1/7
Cam Pope (@CamPopeSport)
It's been a tough old season for Torquay United and the FA Cup first round could scarcely have presented them with tougher opposition.
The chance to host the famous Derby County at Plainmoor represents a dream draw in many respects for the National League basement boys, but the challenge facing the Devon side on Sunday afternoon will be to come away on the back of a respectable scoreline.
Paul Warne will have his first taste of FA Cup action at the helm of the League One club and does so on the back of a three-game divisional unbeaten.
The steely Rams are seventh and have conceded less than one goal per game in the third tier; I'm backing DERBY TO WIN TO NIL against a team ranked 65 places below them.
The Gulls enjoyed a freak 6-1 win over Aldershot on Tuesday, but the wider picture tells a starkly different picture, with no wins coming from the nine league games before that.
Rooted to the bottom rung of the ladder, Torquay have scored only 13 goals in their 16 other games in the fifth tier and will face a test on an altogether different level against the one-time FA Cup winners, whose fringe attackers will be desperate to fire there way into contention for Wednesday's EFL Cup encounter at Liverpool.
Score prediction: Torquay 0-4 Derby (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
Odds correct 1330 GMT (04/11/22)
Wrexham v Oldham
- Kick-off: Sunday, 12:30 GMT
- TV channel: ITV1
- Wrexham 3/10 | Draw 19/5 | Hartlepool 7/1
Cam Pope (@CamPopeSport)
One of the leading candidates for promotion to the Football League having lost out in the fifth-tier play-offs last season, Wrexham have so far backed up their credentials with a 39-point haul after 17 games.
The Welsh side are second in the National League, hanging onto the coattails of leaders Notts County, and will have been reasonably satisfied when the FA Cup gods handed them a home tie with Oldham, a side they beat 2-1 just over a month ago on league duty.
The Racecourse Ground side are unbeaten in seven since losing narrowly at top boys County in early October and will back themselves against lowly Oldham.
The Latics' form has failed to pick up following last term’s League Two relegation – they teeter above the drop zone once again going into the weekend.
A punt on WREXHAM HALF-TIME/FULL-TIME stands out as a strong option for this Sunday lunchtime tie.
The hosts have a penchant for goalsome performances, hitting the net a league-high 47 times, and have won every single home match since their play-off semi-final defeat to Grimsby in May.
Only once in those nine wins have they not led at the halfway stage and Oldham, who needed penalties to claim their only road win of the campaign – over Wrexham’s bitter rivals Chester – face a veritable battle from the off.
Score prediction: Wrexham 3-0 Oldham (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)
Odds correct 1230 GMT (04/11/22)
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