English Premier League Odds & Betting Picks: Southampton vs. Crystal Palace (Tuesday, May 11)
Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images. Picturd: Crystal Palace teammates Jeffrey Schlupp, left, and Christian Benteke celebrate a goal.
- Clubs with very little to play for go at it Tuesday when Southampton hosts Crystal Palace in Premier League action.
- The Saints and Eagles are in no danger of being relegated, so finding motivation for this match could be tough on both teams.
- Jeremy Pond details below why he likes Crystal Palace to get a result on the road.
Southampton vs. Crystal Palace Odds
| Southampton Odds | -106 |
| Crystal Palace Odds | +280 |
| Draw | +270 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-114 / -109) |
| Day | Time | Tuesday | 3:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBCSN |
| Odds updated Tuesday afternoon via DraftKings. | |
When you're in the middle of the pack in the bottom half of the table with absolutely no chance of being relegated, there isn't a whole lot to play for other than pride.
Well, that's the exact situation facing Southampton and Crystal Palace when they go into battle in Tuesday's Premier League showdown at St Mary's Stadium.
The Saints, sitting in 17th place on 27 points in England's top flight, are coming off a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool last time out. The latest setback just added to their woes, marking their 13th loss in their last 17 league games.
In contrast, the Eagles snapped a three-game losing skid with a 2-0 win over lowly Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Crystal Palace hasn't been much better than Southampton, though, as it has a firm grasp on 13th place with 41 points.
Southampton
With Fulham now officially relegated after Monday's 2-0 loss to Burnley at Craven Cottage, the excitement of a relegation battle going down to the wire has completely vanished.
However, the Saints probably breathed a collective sigh of relief after learning of the Cottagers' fate. The loss meant Southampton, which is now 10 points clear of Fulham in the standings, had secured its place in the EPL next season.
Now, Southampton can literally just play its final four matches and close the book on what has been an absolutely brutal campaign. Following a 3-2 win over Burnley back on April 4, the Saints haven't done a whole lot right. They've secured just one point since that victory via a 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
The one plus on Southampton's side is the fact three of its last four games will be on home soil, so at least it has that working in its favor.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles finally got out of their rut in their most recent contest, albeit in a meeting with the relegated Blades. Christian Benteke opened the scoring in the second minute, giving Crystal Palace a lead it would never relinquish. Eberechi Eze closed out the scoring in the 88th minute for the Eagles, who won the battle of expected goals by a 2.1-0.7 margin.
Yes, manager Roy Hodgson's side had suffered three consecutive defeats prior to the win over Sheffield United, but it should be noted they came against some high-caliber foes in Chelsea, Leicester City and soon-to-be champion Manchester City.
Now, Crystal Palace hopes to build off that win and close out its season in strong fashion. Benteke and Wilfried Zaha continue to lead the line against a Southampton defense that seems to be on its heels in every match of late.
Betting Analysis & Pick
What has become a common trend as the season winds down, we've found ourselves with another match featuring clubs with a whole lot of nothing to play for other than pride.
So, where do you go when it comes to betting angles in these situations? The club in better form, even if it's a pair of clubs sitting in the middle of the pack in the bottom half of the table.
Even though Crystal Palace is coming off that victory against the EPL's worst team, it's still a whole lot better than what Southampton has produced in the second half of the season. The Eagles looked good against Sheffield United, plus Benteke and Zaha could have a field day against the Saints' defense.
That said, I'm backing Crystal Palace via a double chance wager at -137 odds at DraftKings as my top pick. The Eagles have been sensational on the road when it comes to scoring, finding the back of the net in their last five league affairs. They're also unbeaten in their last three games at St Mary's Stadium.
I will also sprinkle a little on both teams to score at -130 odds. Southampton has yielded at least two goals in six of its last seven matches, plus Crystal Palace has given up at least one goal in its last seven fixtures. For those reasons, I will take my chances on this being a wide-open showdown.
Pick: Double Chance — Crystal Palace (-130) | Both Teams To Score — Yes (-137)
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