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FA Cup. Betting Tips from our Experts

FA Cup predictions

There's never a dull moment in the FA cup, but what is it that makes this legendary competition so different to other knockout competitions around the world? Let us explain why this is such a fantastic cup competition.

First held in 1871 wih the initial FA Cup final held the following year, the Emirates FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world. 732 clubs will be playing in the FA Cup in the 2023/24 season. That's the 20 Premier League clubs, 72 from the EFL and a massive 640 non-league clubs. Renowned for the amount of shocks that it provides, over the years many lower league teams - or "minnows" - have been labeled as "Giant killers" for knocking out clubs higher than them in the Pyramid. It is the magic of the FA Cup, known worldwide as one of the most competitive cups to play for. Will Manchester City be able to retain the FA Cup after beating Manchester United in the 2022/23 final?

Read on to find the key facts about the FA Cup and who you should be backing.

Check out FA Cup betting at bet365!

WHAT MAKES THE FA CUP SO SPECIAL?

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Full of surprise upsets, most years a top division team can be beaten by a much lower tier team, who can sometimes even win the cup! Did you know that Wigan Athletic won it against Manchester City in 2013? Their fans celebrating for a few days but then saw Athletic relegated from the Premier League. Portsmouth also beat Cardiff in 2008 to lift the trophy. Anything is possible.

One reason for that is because managers give younger players a chance to show their worth. In the early stages of the cup, it is ideal for bigger clubs to integrate their youngsters with some of the established players. A manager must be careful not to play too many young players as this increases the chance of a cup upset. You always have to bear in mind the line-ups that are going to be selected when placing your bets on the FA Cup. Also remember, it's a cup competition so upsets will happen.

Games can go to a penalty shoot-out, so anything can happen. Being drawn away can also be a big issue for Premier League clubs. The small stadiums and poor-quality pitches make it difficult for the big clubs, with a hostile home crowd cheering their side on. Such is the beauty of the FA Cup.

Dates for Your Diary

  • Qualifying rounds begin on August 5
  • First Round Proper - November 3-6
  • Second Round Proper - December 1-4
  • Third Round Proper - January 5-8
  • Fourth Round Proper - January 26-29
  • Fifth Round Proper - week beginning February 28
  • Quarter Finals - March 16/17
  • Semi-Finals - April 20/21
  • Final - May 25

See all markets to bet on the 2023/24 FA Cup!

FA CUP: OUR FREE ADVICE FOR THE 2023/24 SEASON

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While the FA Cup has been renowned for it's unpredictability over it's long history, in recent years it is the top Premier League sides that have been successful in the competition. In the last 10 years, clubs such as current holders Manchester City, Liverpool, Leicester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have lifted the trophy. The top clubs play weakened line-ups but the sheer strength of their squad means they can still field sides that are capable of winning.

We do see surprise results though and last season, League Two Grimsby Town reached the last eight. The 2023/24 FA Cup has again seen some surprise results and that's what makes it such a great competition. One of the highlights of this years edition was Conference North (sixth tier of English football) side Maidstone United making it to the round of 16, although they would ultimately meet their end at the hands of Championship side Coventry. When it comes to who will be triumphant at Wembley in May 2024, it's difficult to rule Manchester City out. As long as they remain in the competion, they will always be favorites. Pep Guardiola has the deepest team in English football at the moment, and could probably field two complete teams capable of winning the FA Cup. The odds are shown below and you can see that there are some very good ones available for clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, although we believe it will ultimately be the blue side of Manchester that are crowned champions.

Latest Odds to Win the FA Cup

Here are the latest betting odds for who will win the 2023/24 FA Cup ahead of the semi-final:

  • Manchester City - 1.67
  • Manchester United - 3.25
  • Chelsea - 6.50
  • Coventry City - 34.00

Odds from bet365.com

FA CUP 2022-23 SEASON RESULTS

Winner: The FA Cup was won by Manchester City who beat Manchester United 2-1 in the first ever all-Manchester final. 

Get great odds on the 2023/24 FA Cup now!

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