SPURS and Chelsea will be hoping to give the FA Cup Final a “home” feel by returning to Wembley next month.
The London sides are favourites to win semi-final ties against Man United and Southampton respectively and I'm backing both.
Spurs are first up today against Man United and while they'll prepare in the away dressing room bookies have priced it up as if they're at home – and Wembley's been their base all season.
It was 2-0 to Spurs when they met in London earlier in the season and who knows what Jose Mourinho side will turn up.
In their last three matches United have beaten Man City away, lost to WBA at home then won at Bournemouth in midweek. That kind of sums up their season.
Despite not yet clinching a Champions League place Mauricio Pochettini rested players for the midweek 1-1 draw at Brighton and that suggests he's desperate to pick up silverware.
Spurs are 13-10 with William Hill while United are more than double that at 27-11 with 188Bet.
There will be plenty of big-time players in show, the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli for Spurs and Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez for Man United.
Alli is my pick for first scorer at a reasonable price of 9-1 with William Hill.
Semi-finals can often be edgy but I see goals with Spurs' last five bringing up both to score. That pays 4-5 at betfair.
Chelsea are massive favourites to win the second semi tomorrow with Betway going a best 8-15.
Both meetings this season have been one-goal victories for the Blues – 3-2 last weekend after trailing 2-0 – but Saints boss Mark Hughes must be more focused on safety with his side four points adrift. And if he's nit he should be.
I can see Chelsea winning by at least two and that pays 27-20 with Coral. For a first scorer back Olivier Giroud at 9-2 with bet365 if he starts.
There are two games in the Premier League with West Brom entertaining Liverpool days after their stunning win at Old Trafford.
The Baggies probably need to win their last four to stay up and it won't happen. Liverpool, whose top-four place is just about assured, may rest players but should be strong enough although I'd want to see their line-up before backing the away at a skinny 8-15 with William Hill.
Crystal Palace can all but seal their Premiership place with a win at Watford who have lost four out of five. Palace are 8-5 at William Hill.
In the Championship there's a huge scramble for the final two play-off places with as many as seven teams in the running although Millwall suffered a blow with a 3-0 defeat at home to Fulham on Friday night.
Brentford lie 10th and need to win their last three. Back them at 4-6 with McBookie at home to QPR.
Cardiff are fighting Fulham for the second automatic promotion place and are 8-15 at BetStars to beat Nottingham Forest at home – and it's a must-win after the Cottagers' result at the New Den.
Wolves virtually have the title sewn up but I expect them to officially crowned champions by winning at Bolton. They are 20-21 with William Hill.
In League One Plymouth's form has been amazing but a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth last week pushed them down to seventh although they have games in hand against the teams directly above them. Derek Adams's side can edge close to the play-offs with a win at relegation-haunted Northampton and are 6-5 with Betfred.
I also like sixth-placed Scunthorpe at home to Walsall with McBookie going 8-13.
Recommended Bets
- Spurs
- Chelsea -1 (Sun)
- Cardiff/Brentford double
- Crystal Palace
- Plymouth
- Scunthorpe
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
