Premier League Predictions: EPL Picks, Best Bets for Matchweek 1

EPL Betting Picks in Summary

• Spurs vs Brentford Draw (+260)
• Liverpool Over 1.5 Goals (-164)

The English Premier League is one of the best and most entertaining sports leagues in the world.

When looking at the EPL soccer odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, which bets make the most sense for this matchweek?

All soccer odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

EPL Predictions: Premier League Picks

Tottenham at Brentford (Sat, 12:30 p.m. ET)

Draw (+260)

This looks like a pretty dead even matchup, and I’ll take the draw at these odds.

Brentford quietly finished a solid ninth in the Premier League last season, compiling 53 points with a 14-11-13 record while scoring 55 goals and allowing 52. Not too bad for a team some feared could be in a relegation battle after losing its manager and some key cogs.

Spurs, meanwhile, stumbled to 17th last campaign at 10-11-17 and were outscored 57-48. Tottenham has responded aggressively this summer, adding Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, so I expect this to ultimately be a much-improved side.

But it's reasonable to expect an adjustment period for Spurs after that much turnover, especially in an opening-day road match. Brentford has added some useful pieces of its own, including Jaidon Anthony, Mamadou Sangare and Callum Wilson, so while they’re probably the more settled side, they may have an acclimation period, too.

Ultimately, I think this will be high-tempo opener where the two sides will share the points.

Liverpool at Newcastle (Sun, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Liverpool Over 1.5 Goals (-164)

If anyone tells you they know what to expect from the Magpies early in the year, they’re lying. Newcastle's roster looks dramatically different from the one we've grown accustomed to seeing.

The Magpies finished only 12th last season with 49 points, a -2 goal differential and 55 goals conceded. Since then, they've lost three of the most important players from their recent teams: Bruno Guimaraes went to Arsenal, Sandro Tonali moved to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona. Newcastle has reinvested, but replacing that much high-end talent at once is an enormous task. Oh, and they lost manager Eddie Howe, too. It’s been a wild summer for them.

Liverpool struggled last season, finishing fifth with 60 points, but they still posted a +10 goal differential and scored 63 goals. The Reds have undergone some turnover of their own -- notably losing Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate while also getting adjusted to a new manager in Andoni Iraola. But there is still enough quality in this squad for me to rate the Reds clearly ahead of a Newcastle team that's replacing the core of its midfield.

I considered taking Liverpool moneyline at -120 but ended up preferring to back the Reds to score at least twice.

Soccer Betting FAQ

What is a moneyline bet in soccer?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the match. Because soccer matches can end in a draw, most moneyline markets include three options: the home team, the away team, or a draw.

What does “draw no bet” mean?

Draw no bet removes the draw as a losing outcome. If the match ends tied, your wager is refunded. If your team wins, the bet wins.

What is a soccer total?

A total is a bet on how many combined goals will be scored in a match. For example, an Over 2.5 Goals bet wins if at least three goals are scored.

What does “both teams to score” mean?

Both Teams to Score, often abbreviated BTTS, is a wager on whether each team will score at least one goal during the match.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.