If you had told me last Aug. 1 that Manchester City would be a -390 favorite over Chelsea in their penultimate match of the 2022-23 English Premier League season, I would have been floored.
City was odds-on to win the trophy before the season, but Chelsea was viewed as a potential contender, and things looked to be trending in the right direction for the Blues after a busy transfer window.
But though things rarely go as planned in any season in any sport, Chelsea’s pedestrian 2022-23 performance has been startling.
That said, Chelsea is still a talented, dangerous team with a defense that can — at the very least — hang with Manchester City.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
(11 a.m. Eastern)
That may seem crazy since City are riding a 23-match unbeaten streak (19 wins) across all competitions and have not allowed more than one goal in a game since a 4-2 win over Tottenham on Jan. 19 — a span of 26 contests — but at some point City will crack.
Manchester City manager Pep GuardiolaReutersNo team — even the best club in the world — can sustain this level of play. This is the high-water mark in the market for Manchester City.
The other intriguing part of this bet is that this match takes place a day after Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, which clinched the title for Manchester City for the third consecutive season.
That means Pep Guardiola likely will rest key players.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
It’s not a bet you should expect to win, but Chelsea’s talent will always make it appealing at this kind of price.
The play: Chelsea +950.
