Saturday promises a packed schedule for soccer enthusiasts with thrilling games from various leagues worldwide. A major highlight of the season is the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, kicking off the weekend action at 11:30 a.m. ET. Crystal Palace faces Manchester City. This will be Manchester City`s 14th FA Cup final appearance, while Crystal Palace (the Eagles) is in its third final, having lost to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016.
The FA Cup final features significant star power, notably with striker Erling Haaland returning for Manchester City. The Norwegian star had been out for nearly two months with an ankle injury from the FA Cup quarterfinals. Haaland has scored 21 Premier League goals this season. Odds for him to score anytime in Saturday`s match are -105. Manchester City is favored to win the cup at -230 odds, while Crystal Palace is the underdog at +180 odds.
Beyond the FA Cup final, the schedule includes MLS action with the Columbus Crew hosting FC Cincinnati at 7:15 p.m. ET, and NWSL play featuring the Washington Spirit against Utah Royals FC at 7:30 p.m. ET. With numerous soccer games to consider for betting, SportsLine`s soccer expert Brandt Sutton has evaluated the odds to identify valuable picks for Saturday, May 17.
Brandt Sutton, a former college soccer player, has served as SportsLine`s primary soccer editor for over six years. In 2023, he generated profits for SportsLine subscribers betting on various leagues like the Champions League, English Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup. In 2022, he was recognized as SportsLine`s top soccer expert, achieving a 165-130-2 record and providing a return of nearly $2,200 for those betting $100 per pick.
FA Cup Pick: Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
“Manchester City comfortably defeated Crystal Palace 5-2 on April 12, recovering from a 2-0 deficit early in the game by scoring five consecutive goals,” Sutton stated. “City is undefeated in their last seven encounters with Palace, winning four of those matches. The Citizens have netted 18 goals against Crystal Palace in their last six games, leading me to predict a victory for Pep Guardiola`s team.”
MLS Pick: Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati
“The `Hell is Real` derby is a personal favorite in MLS due to its tendency for exciting, high-scoring games,” Sutton commented. “More than 2.5 goals were scored in five of the last six matches between these two rivals, and I anticipate at least three goals again in this fixture.”
NWSL Pick: Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals FC
“Utah Royals FC has been struggling lately, suffering three consecutive defeats,” Sutton highlighted. “The Royals have failed to score in five of their last six matches, so I am picking Washington to earn a home win.”
