St. James Park hosts an intriguing English Premier League tilt on Saturday. Newcastle United welcomes Nottingham Forest to the venue for the EPL opener on both sides. Nottingham will play its first match in the EPL in more than two decades. Newcastle will aim to build off a strong finish from last season.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Newcastle as the -155 favorite (risk $155 to win $100) in its latest Newcastle vs. Nottingham odds. Nottingham is a +450 underdog, a draw is priced at +280, and the over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET. Before making any Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United picks or predictions, be sure to see what proven soccer insider Brandt Sutton is saying.
Sutton, a former collegiate soccer player, has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for nearly five years. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible, keeping his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Sutton has also been on a roll with his best bets, going 114-85 in his last 199 soccer picks, returning over $3,000 for $100 bettors.
Now, Sutton has taken an in-depth look at Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest and just locked in his picks and Premier League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Sutton's picks. Here are the betting lines for Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest:
- Newcastle vs. Nottingham money line: Newcastle -155, Nottingham +450, Draw +280
- Newcastle vs. Nottingham spread: Newcastle -0.5 (-145)
- Newcastle vs. Nottingham over-under: 2.5 goals (under -130, over +100)
- NEW: Newcastle won six of final eight matches last season
- NOT: First EPL appearance in 23 years
- Newcastle vs. Nottingham picks: See picks here.
Why you should back Newcastle United
St. James Park provides a clear edge for Newcastle United. The club accrued 30 of its 49 points at home last season, and Nottingham is facing a real jump in competition in its first EPL game in more than two decades. Newcastle's roster has improved mightily in the last year after an infusion of cash, and the club added a standout goalkeeper in Nick Pope. He has 46 career clean sheets, and Pope was in the top five of the EPL last season with 116 saves while playing for Burnley.
Pope's 73.6 percent save rate was also in the top five in league play. Newcastle also deploys a 30-year-old star in Callum Wilson, who has 20 goals in EPL for the club, and Sven Botman and Matt Targett bring additional talent as newcomers. Newcastle won six of its final eight EPL matches last season, and the home club is favored for a reason.
Why you should back Nottingham Forest
With manager Steve Cooper at the helm, Nottingham Forest is promoted for the first time in 23 years, and Nottingham actually won the last two head-to-head matches against Newcastle. The club has revamped its roster with quality additions, headlined by Jesse Lingard, and finished with a +33 goal differential in the Championship a year ago. Nottingham was No. 2 in goals allowed and in the top five in goals scored, earning promotion with stellar play.
Brennan Johnson is a budding star, and the 21-year-old from Wales generated 16 goals and 10 assists last season, ranking in the top 10 of the Championship in both categories. Nottingham should also benefit from an opponent that finished with a -18 goal differential in EPL last season, with Newcastle allowing 62 goals and saving only 64.8 percent of shots. On offense, Newcastle finished third-worst in assists (22) in EPL play.
How to make Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United picks
Sutton has taken an intensive look at the Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest matchup. He has locked in a pair of best bets, in addition to a full match analysis. He's only sharing his EPL picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for the Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest match, all from the expert who is red-hot on his soccer picks, and find out.
