The first thing to do after analysing an FA Cup match is to look at the odds. In the field of sports betting, an odds is a numerical indicator that is offered by bookmakers on a match or a sports competition and that allows calculating the potential gain that the bettor can receive in case of a winning bet. In the case of the FA Cup, we naturally talk about the odds for each of the cup ties being played.. To find out how much you can expect to win by betting on the FA Cup, the FA Cup odds are to be taken into account and will certainly have a big influence on the betting choices you will make..

How are the odds calculated on the FA Cup?

First of all, it is important to know that the odds are a reflection of statistics and mathematical probabilities, linked to the FA Cup match you wish to bet on. As such, an outcome that has a high chance of happening will be given low odds, while an outcome that has a low chance of happening will be given high odds. To be clear, let's take the example of an FA Cup match between Manchester City and Southampton.

As one of the most impressive teams in England in recent years, Manchester City are the logical favourites in this match against Southampton according to the experts. An FA Cup bet on Manchester City's victory will be offered at low odds by sports betting sites (e.g. 1.20), since the probability of a Manchester City victory is high. On the other hand, the odds for Southampton to win will be very high (e.g. 8.50), since the chances of Southampton winning are very low as they are not performing as well as Manchester City, both in the league and the cup. The odds of the FA Cup matches will change according to the level of play and the results of each team and its squad.

It is also important to know that the odds can vary during a match, depending on the action that takes place. For example, if Southampton opened the scoring on the half hour mark, the odds for a Saints win would drop sharply in the live betting win market (e.g. from 8.50 to 2.70), while the odds for a Manchester City win would increase (e.g. from 1.20 to 2.30). A red card received by a player during the match will also increase the odds of his team winning. This is a factor you should keep in mind if you want to bet live.

How to use FA Cup odds?

First of all, you have to understand that each bookmaker offers different odds on an FA Cup match. Comparing the odds of FA Cup matches will therefore have several benefits, the main one being to calculate the potential winnings of your betting slip. To find out how much you can expect to receive for a winning prediction, simply multiply the odds of your bet by the amount you wish to bet. The total is what will be credited to your account if you win (odds x stake = bet winnings).

Furthermore, the odds allow you to know whether a bet is worth taking or not. Let's take the Chelsea vs Leeds match for example. If you think that Chelsea have a much better chance than Leeds to win the game and go through to the next round, and you see odds of 1.50 at the bookmakers for the Blues to win, then the logic of the market is correct. There is no need to take the bet, the odds are not worth it.

However, if you find that the odds on Chelsea's success are really too high (e.g. 2.00), then there may be a good chance to make a move on this match. There are two solutions in this context. Either you have missed a key piece of information (injury or suspension of an important player, high-stakes game in the same week, internal problems or a weakened line-up being played as is often the case in the FA Cup. If that's the case, you'll have to pass and not bet on a victory for the London club. Another possibility is that you have taken into account every factor that can influence the outcome of the match and you really think that the bookmakers are underestimating Chelsea or overestimating Leeds. This would be the perfect time to take advantage of Chelsea's good odds in this FA Cup tie.

Check out the odds on VBET

Bet on the long term with the odds of the future FA Cup winner

As you probably know, you can place bets on many FA Cup games. But as well as being able to take odds on a specific match, betting sites also allow you to bet on the team that will lift the cup, but also on the finalist team or the top scorer for example. These types of long-term bets can be very interesting, especially at the beginning of the competition. If you find good odds, don't hesitate to take the bet and follow the FA Cup even more closely.

Register everywhere!

Finally, it will be important that you register on different sports betting sites to take advantage of the English FA Cup. As you can see, the odds can vary depending on the bookmaker. By having an account on as many of them as possible, you will always be able to bet on the highest odds available and thus optimise your winnings to the maximum.

In an FA Cup match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers, let's imagine that you find the Liverpool odds well worth taking and you want to bet £100 on this team. If you compare the odds, you will find that the Liverpool win is offered at 1.35 on average by the bookmakers, except at bet365 where the price is 1.40. By betting your £100 with this bookmaker, you will receive a return of £140 (£40 win plus your stake returned) which is £5 more than if you bet with the other bookmakers..

So, it will be essential to open an account with all the betting sites on the market, in order to always jump on the best odds. Indeed, what would be the point of seeing higher odds at bet365 if you don't have an account to grab them? Just understand that you will be leaving a lot of money behind if you are only registered with one bookmaker. By following our advice, you will see a clear difference in winnings in the long run. To help you, our reviews of the best bookmakers on the market are here to guide you. Now you know why you should compare the odds before betting on the FA Cup. To do so, our odds comparison tool is at your disposal. Find out now what the odds are for the next FA Cup games.