Leicester City will try to overcome major absences when it opens defense of its FA Cup title on Saturday in a home matchup with Watford. The Foxes have numerous players out with injuries and COVID or playing in the African Cup of Nations. But they face a Warford team that has been struggling mightily in the English Premier League. Leicester is 10th in the Premier League table at 7-4-7, while Watford is 4-1-13 and sits 17th.
Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. ET in Leicester, England. Leicester is the -145 favorite (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in the latest Leicester City vs. Watford odds, with Watford the +380 underdog. A draw is listed at +250 and the over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before you make any Leicester City vs. Watford picks or FA Cup predictions, you have to see what proven soccer insider Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been stunningly accurate. Green has generated more than $37,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Now, Green has broken down Leicester City vs. Watford from every angle and revealed his coveted FA Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Watford vs. Leicester City:
- Leicester City vs. Watford spread: Leicester -0.5
- Leicester City vs. Watford over-under: 2.5 goals
- Leicester City vs. Watford money line: Leicester -145, Watford +380, Draw +250
- LEI: James Maddison has 26 goals in his four seasons with the team
- WAT: Emmanuel Dennis has scored 33 goals in 133 career club matches
Why you should back Leicester City
The depleted Foxes pulled off a huge 1-0 victory against full-strength Liverpool in their last game before their New Year's Day meeting with Norwich was postponed. They have won six straight against the Hornets at King Power Stadium and have won four straight at home in all competitions. Leicester is likely to pull out all the stops in the FA Cup this year with a top-four spot in the league likely out of reach.
Top scorer Jamie Vardy (nine goals) and Kelechi Iheanacho (two goals, four assists) are out on Saturday, but Youri Tielemans and James Maddison are capable attackers. Both have five league goals, and they have combined for five assists. Harvey Barnes (two goals, two assists) should lead the line, and the Foxes are likely to find solid chances against a leaky Watford defense. The Hornets have allowed 36 goals, fourth-most in the EPL, while Leicester has scored 31, sixth-most.
Why you should back Watford
The Hornets are in desperation mode as they sink toward the relegation zone, but they face a Leicester City team that is severely shorthanded. Leicester is without its top scorer and will have trouble fielding an adequate defense with six backs missing. It has conceded 33 goals with its full complement of defenders, so Watford should have some scoring opportunities. Emmanuel Dennis has eight goals and five assists, and Joshua King has scored five times and set up three goals.
The Hornets held Tottenham scoreless for 95 minutes in their last outing before the winter break, falling 1-0 on a last-gasp goal. Manager Claudio Ranieri also will have special motivation after he was fired by Leicester less than a year after leading the Foxes to an unlikely Premier League title in 2016. The FA Cup is notorious for shocking results, and with Leicester severely hampered, Watford could pull one off on Saturday.
How to make Watford vs. Leicester City picks
Green has analyzed Leicester City vs. Watford from every angle, and he is leaning over on the goal total. He also provides his two confident best bets and gives his full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his expert FA Cup picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Watford vs. Leicester City? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Leicester City vs. Watford, all from the European soccer expert who has generated well over $37,000 for $100 bettors over the past five seasons, and find out.
