Well, folks, the meaningful portion of this Blues’ season has mercifully come to an end. The residual effects of the pandemic, a collection of self-destructive players and unprecedented sanctions due to a foreign war coalesced to make 2021/22 the most memorable—and undoubtedly most stressful—Chelsea season in recent memory. My ultimate frustration with this campaign has been the team’s inability to reach its highest levels consistently, although I guarantee asking the same of 100 different supporters would only result in 100 different primary grievances. Credit to Thomas Tuchel for remaining professional through it all. But I’m sure he, like everyone else associated with the club, will be happy to put this season in the rearview mirror.
The squad’s potential lack of ambition over the next two matches should not deter us gamblers, though. The oddsmakers might have checked out on meaningless contests in favor of the fixtures that will decide who gets top four, who is relegated and who is crowned Premier League champion. This means the value on some plays should be improved, but I would recommend waiting until the lineups have been announced to make any bets. There’s nothing worse than putting down a hefty moneyline wager before finding out the team is starting 11 academy players. Let’s not make that same mistake in the next few days.
Here is the gambling guide for the match between Chelsea and Leicester City
While Chelsea supporters will certainly be feeling fatigued after the rollercoaster that was 2021/22, fans of the Foxes are likely carrying a similar sentiment. Leicester City is one of the strangest sides in the Premier League this season. The Foxes boast a high-flying attack and sturdy midfield worthy of competing for European trophies, but a defense comprised of big-name has-beens alongside an injury-prone starlet in Wesley Fofana. This poor back line has ultimately been the 2015/16 champions’ undoing with their 57 goals conceded ranking worst among teams in the top half of the table. I’ll back the Blues to score, but I wouldn’t rule out a goal by the opposition either. Both teams to find the back of the net at -135 odds is a pretty strong play, in my opinion.
The oddsmakers are clearly expecting a high-scoring affair, as well, seeing as they’ve raised the over/under number from 2.5 to 3.5 for the first time in forever. Both teams have partaken in matches that have had at least four goals in the past two weeks, so this is an understandable adjustment. I’m really not seeing either side go all-out with nothing left to play for, though, so I like the under at -170. I recognize there isn’t a ton of value in this play unless you’re willing to wager some serious cash, but I really like it as one leg of a parlay. Combining it with Chelsea on the moneyline gets you to +126 odds, which sounds pretty good to me depending on who Tuchel deploys in his first XI.
Official odds (via WynnBet as of May 19)
Chelsea ML: -235
Leicester City ML: +650
Draw: +385
Over/Under: 3.5 (+135/-170)
My picks
It’s time to really pad my stats with the season coming to an end, so I’m playing it fairly safe with favorites over these final two matches. Definitely give me the aforementioned both teams to score prop (-135) and under 3.5 total goals scored (-170), but I’m struggling with my final pick against the Foxes. I don’t love a ton of plays on the board, if I’m honest, and I especially don’t love the value on this last pick. However, I’ll take Chelsea to win either half at -450 odds, with the caveat that I would pretty much only bet it as part of a parlay.
What are some of the bets you’ll be keeping an eye on? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!