This week, you can bet on three of the four EFL Cup Quarter-final matches. On Tuesday, Chelsea kick things off with a game on the road in Wales against Cardiff City at 3:00pm EST. We’ll make our EFL Cup Quarter-final predictions for this match and all of the others, including Arsenal’s game against Crystal Palace next week.
Before we look at the individual EFL Cup Quarter-final matches this week, let’s take a closer look at the EFL Cup outright odds.
EFL Cup Outright Odds
At the moment, the best odds you can get with US bookmakers on both Arsenal and Manchester City are +225. It should come as no surprise that these two are the favorites to win the competition, given their excellent form in the Premier League. The EPL title race may go down to the wire this season.
Chelsea are at +450 and they’ve won two trophies in the last 12 months. With a favorable EFL Cup Quarter-final matchup, they will be thinking about a third.
Current EFL Cup holders Newcastle show +550 odds to repeat as champions. They’ll take on Fulham (+2000) on Wednesday, who shouldn’t be underestimated.
Crystal Palace (+1200) won the FA Cup in 2025. Oliver Glasner’s side have pulled off plenty of upsets recently, and they can compete with anyone.
Brentford (+2200) will have to get through Manchester City on Wednesday to even have a shot of winning the EFL Cup. Given their poor away form, it seems somewhat unlikely.
En route to the Quarter-final, third-tier Cardiff City (+6500) have already defeated two higher-division sides. Cardiff beat Premier League club Burnley in the Third Round and followed it up by beating Welsh rivals Wrexham last time out.
EFL Cup Quarter-Final #1: Cardiff City vs Chelsea – Tuesday, December 16th, 3:00 pm EST
Expect a heavily rotated Chelsea (-450) squad for Tuesday’s game in Wales against Cardiff City (+1150). Cardiff have won each of their last three games, in all competitions, and enter this one on an eight-game scoring streak.
Meanwhile, Chelsea ended a three-game winless run against Everton on Saturday. Talisman Cole Palmer marked his return with a goal. Chelsea have conceded four goals in just two EFL Cup games, as manager Enzo Maresca has gone with second-choice backlines.
Today, don’t expect Maresca to risk Marc Cucurella, Reece James, or Trevoh Chalobah. That could open the door for Cardiff, who are in first place in EFL League One, to get on the scoresheet. The odds are favorable for both teams to get on the scoresheet today, at +120.
If you want to go one step further, you can get Chelsea to win and both teams to score at +195 odds. Still, I think the best bet here is both teams to score (+120).
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score (+120)
Manchester City vs Brentford – Wednesday, December 17th, 2:30 pm EST
Manchester City (-250) enter this match on a five-game winning streak, during which they have scored 3.2 goals per game. The Cityzens picked up a massive 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Erling Haaland is back at his best, with three goals in his last two games.
However, it’s unlikely that Pep Guardiola starts Haaland in this one, even with Omar Marmoush away at the Africa Cup of Nations. On the other hand, Brentford (+625) have been highly disappointing on the road this season. They are 1-7 in the Premier League away from home.
Yet two of their three road victories this season have come in this competition. Brentford took down Bournemouth 2-0 in the Second Round back in September. In the Fourth Round, Brentford ended fourth-tier side Grimsby Town’s cinderella run with a dominant 5-0 victory.
Things won’t be as easy for the Bees on Wednesday at the Etihad, as Brentford are winless in their last five games against Manchester City. Still, each of the last four meetings between these teams has finished in a draw or been decided by a single goal.
I’d go with Brentford to keep this one relatively close even if City do manage to eke out a victory.
Best Bet: Brentford +1.5 (-135)
Newcastle vs Fulham – Wednesday, December 17th, 3:15 pm EST
Heading into Wednesday’s match against Fulham, Newcastle United (-145) have conceded in eight straight matches, in all competitions. When these teams met at St. James’ Park in the Premier League in late October, Newcastle United eked out a 2-1 win.
The scoreline could be quite similar today, as both teams have scored in each of Fulham’s previous four matches. Fulham (+375) will also be without defender Calvin Bassey, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and winger Samuel Chukwueze, who are all at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, Newcastle defenders Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, and Sven Botman are all out injured. So too is forward William Osula. With at least one defensive absence on both sides, expect some makeshift backlines.
I’d go with both teams to score a goal today, at -135 odds.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score (-135)
EFL Cup Quarter-Final #4: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – Tuesday, December 23rd, TBD
A lot could change in between now and next week, and Arsenal (-175) players have been dropping like flies as of late. Right back Ben White became the latest Gunner to go down, and he will likely be out for one month. That leaves Arsenal with Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, Myles Lewis-Skelly, William Saliba, and Jurrien Timber as their only healthy defenders.
Calafiori has been the Premier League starting left back, while Lewis-Skelly has featured mostly in cup competitions. In both of Lewis Skelly’s previous appearances in the EFL Cup this season, he’s provided an assist. Look out for any updated odds on MLS to do it three times in a row.
This game was moved because Crystal Palace (+450) play on Thursday in the UEFA Europa Conference League. So, the EFL Cup Quarter-final will be their third match in just six days. They already have a thin squad, and could be reeling by the time this match comes around.
Just go with Arsenal to win at the Emirates, where they are 11-1-0 this season.
Best Bet: Arsenal (-175)
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