Saturday, May 17th, presents a packed schedule for soccer enthusiasts, featuring exciting contests from various leagues globally. A major event is the FA Cup final, taking place at Wembley Stadium, where Crystal Palace faces Manchester City.
This marks Manchester City`s 14th appearance in the FA Cup final, while Crystal Palace is participating for the third time, having previously lost to Manchester United in the 1990 and 2016 finals.
The final boasts significant star power, notably with the return of striker Erling Haaland for Manchester City. The Norwegian sensation is back on the pitch after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Haaland has netted 21 goals in the Premier League this season. Manchester City is heavily favored to win the cup with odds of -230, while Crystal Palace is the underdog at +180.
The day`s soccer action extends beyond the FA Cup. In MLS, the Columbus Crew are set to host FC Cincinnati in a derby match. Additionally, NWSL features Washington Spirit playing against Utah Royals FC. With a wide array of games available for betting, SportsLine`s soccer expert, Brandt Sutton, has analyzed the odds to identify potential value for your Saturday soccer picks.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player and SportsLine`s leading soccer editor for over six years, has a strong history of providing profitable picks across numerous leagues, including the Champions League, English Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup. He finished 2022 as SportsLine`s top soccer expert.
Brandt Sutton`s Top Soccer Picks for May 17:
FA Cup Prediction: Manchester City (-130 on 90-minute money line)
Sutton backs Manchester City to secure the win within 90 minutes in the FA Cup final. He points to City`s recent dominant performance against Crystal Palace, a 5-2 victory in April, and their overall strong record against them, being unbeaten in their last seven encounters and scoring 18 goals in the last six meetings. He expects Pep Guardiola`s side to triumph.
MLS Prediction: Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati – Over 2.5 goals (-106)
For the “Hell is Real” derby in MLS, Sutton predicts a high-scoring affair with over 2.5 goals. He highlights that five of the past six matches between these rivals have seen three or more goals, anticipating similar fireworks in this upcoming clash.
NWSL Prediction: Washington Spirit (-165 on 90-minute money line)
In the NWSL match, Sutton favors Washington Spirit to take all three points at home. His analysis notes that Utah Royals FC has been struggling recently, having lost three consecutive games and failing to score in five of their last six fixtures. This poor form leads him to believe Washington is well-positioned for a victory.
