Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United Saturday Premier League Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: (Jan. 2)

Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United Odds

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Clubs seeking anything positive go at it in Premier League action Saturday when Crystal Palace hosts Sheffield United at Selhurst Park.

These are two of the most out-of-form sides in the entire league at the moment, which has both desperate for a three-point performance in England's top flight.

The host Eagles, who are coming off a 1-1 stalemate against Leicester City, are winless in their last five outings. They've gone 0-3-2 (W-D-L) during that stretch, sending them spiraling down the table into 15th place on 19 points.

On the other side, the Blades are at the bottom of the standings and going nowhere fast. Winless in 16 fixtures, Sheffield United suffered a 1-0 shutout loss to Burnley on Tuesday at Turf Moor in its most recent contest.

Let's take a look at what might be in store with these clubs in this contest.

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Crystal Palace

Manager Roy Hodgson had to be relatively pleased with his side's effort last out against the Foxes, who are third on 20-team table. The draw snapped a two-game losing skid, so it's a result the Eagles can hopefully build on.

Wilfried Zaha struck for his team-leading eighth goal to give the Eagles the lead 15 minutes into the second half, but Harvey Barnes' 83rd-minute equalizer led to the match finishing all square.

Crystal Palace's overall statistics are dismal across the board. Needless to say, they perfectly reflect a team struggling to keep its head above water. The Eagles sit on a subpar 15.6 expected goals and a brutal 23.6 expected goals against, resulting a disturbing -8.0 xGDiff and -0.50 xGDiff/90 minutes.

That xGDiff and xGDiff/90 minutes rank 17th overall, putting them ahead of only Burnley (-8.3 xGDiff | -0.55 xGDiff/90), Sheffield United (-9.6 xGDiff | -0.60 xGDiff/90) and West Bromwich Albion with its ghastly -19.3 xGDiff and -1.20 xGDiff/90 numbers.

Sheffield United

Not to sound like a broken record, but things could not get any worse for the Blades this season.

Sheffield United has lost 10 of its last 11 games, including back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Everton and Burnley. Its offense defines stagnant, with the club scoring just eight goals for a 0.50 GF average. That simply will not cut it at any level of football in the world.

As for its overall data and numbers, Sheffield United is exactly where I thought it would be in the rankings. The Blades have created 15.5 expected goals and league-worst 25 expected goals against, resulting in a subpar -0.60 for xGDiff/90 minutes.

Suffice it to say, Sheffield United is heading down to the Championship if there isn't a complete, 180-degree as we commence the second half of the season.

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Betting Analysis & Picks

It goes without saying this is a confrontation featuring two very out-of-form sides that really need to get it together.

That being said, I really think Crystal Palace is going to build off that result against Leicester City and move forward in this spot. For that reason, I am backing the Eagles to grab all three points at Selhurst Park.

I will also play the total to stay under the number as well. Sheffield United's last three games have finished with less than three goals, which has me confident in this wager.

Picks: Crystal Palace ML (-106) | Total Under 2.5 Goals (-157)