Premier League Odds, Picks, Predictions: Chelsea vs. Wolves Betting Preview (Saturday, Oct. 8)

Chelsea vs. Wolves Odds

Chelsea look to continue their momentum under new manager Graham Potter on Saturday when they host a Wolverhampton Wanderers side amid their own transition.

Potter has commanded back-to-back victories in his second and third matches in charge. First came a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Crystal Palace in the league, then an impressive 3-0 home thumping of AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.

Wolves are in their first game since manager Bruno Lage was sacked following a 2-0 loss at West Ham last weekend. Coaches Steve Davis and and James Collins are currently sharing caretaker managerial duties.

These teams drew both league meetings last season, 2-2 at Chelsea in May and 0-0 at Wolves last December.

Chelsea Offense Improving Under New Manager

Potter will need some time to truly leave his mark on his new club after he was lured away from the same role at Brighton & Hove Albion.

But he already appears to be instilling more consistency than in the end of previous manager Thomas Tuchel's tenure.

Chelsea have won two and drawn a third in three matches in all competitions since Potter's arrival, with two of those games coming in Champions League. And the Blues outplayed their opponents by at least 0.6 xG in each of those three games.

Overall, Potter's Chelsea have played to a +2.6 xGDiff in those three games, compared to a +1.2 xGDiff in their first seven under Tuchel. The caveat? Most of Tuchel's matches this season were against league opponents, while Potter's primary experience so far is in continental competition.

Defender Wesley Fofana is a doubt after exiting early in the 3-0 win over Milan with a knee issue. He scored the opening goal in the victory.

Wolves Offensive Struggles Continue

Wolves' lack of goal scoring is a major reason they enter the weekend lodged in the relegation places. It also obscures some a level of overall performance that is more resembling a mid-table side.

Wolves' -2.3 xGDiff is 13th out of 20 league teams, several rungs above their current 18th-place standing. The last two matches were particularly brutal, playing to a -5 goal difference and only a -1.2 xGDiff in losses home to Manchester City and away to West Ham.

Diego Costa made his long-awaited club debut in the final 33 minutes of the latter defeat. He could make his first Wolves start against his former club. Costa once scored 52 league goals and winning two Premier League titles in three seasons with Chelsea.

The visitors' current striking options are slim otherwise, with Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-Chan both likely still out to injury.

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Betting Analysis & Pick

Potter's version of Chelsea look improved, but the underlying numbers don't suggest an attacking onslaught.

The Blues have not created 2.0 xG or more in any game this season, no mater the manager. And for all Wolves' faults, they still defend reasonably well, having only conceded more than twice in their loss to Manchester City.

The total has gone above 3.5 goals only once in these teams' combined 15 league games played so far.

And, while price of +100 odds on a Chelsea victory and total under 3.5 goals seems steep, it's a bet that has hit in eight of those games.

When you also factor these teams' relative quality, it's a good value, if not the sexiest play on the board.

Pick: Chelsea and total under 3.5 goals — same game parlay (+100)