Crystal Palace (4-4-6) vs. AFC Bournemouth (3-4-7)
Crystal Palace vs. AFC Bournemouth 12/6/23 – Mid-table side Crystal Palace hosts relegation candidate AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday in a crucial EPL matchup to watch for both clubs. Palace looks to continue their solid home form while Bournemouth hopes to steal points on the road as they fight to avoid relegation.
Odsonne Edouard has led Crystal Palace’s offense this season with five goals scored from midfield. His ability to find space and finish will be essential against Bournemouth’s defense; also notable are Joachim Andersen and Eberechi Eze. Palace will need to execute their attacking approach with precision in order to break through Bournemouth’s defensive setup.
Bournemouth counters with a dangerous attack led by Dominic Solanke’s 6 goals. Marcus Tavernier has added offensive punch with 2 goals and 1 assist this season. They face a Crystal Palace defense anchored by veteran James Tomkins and Joachim Andersen, who has 2 goals himself. The Palace back line has been solid at home, posting 5 clean sheets at Selhurst Park this season.
Crystal Palace vs. AFC Bournemouth 12/6/23 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 2:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Selhurst Park |
| TV: | PEAC |
| Stream: |
Sam Johnstone GK vs. Neto GK
Veteran Sam Johnstone has been excellent in goal for Crystal Palace this season. Despite facing plenty of shots, he has kept 5 clean sheets while allowing just 17 goals in 14 starts. His 30 saves lead the team. Neto has struggled in his first Premier League action for Bournemouth. While making an impressive 46 saves, he has already allowed 20 goals and kept just 2 clean sheets in 12 starts. Johnstone’s savvy and skill give Palace an edge in goal.
Neto will have his hands full against an aggressive Crystal Palace attack that takes over 15 shots per game. The Bournemouth keeper has shown vulnerability against high-powered offenses, allowing 3+ goals in 5 of his last 7 starts overall. His 46 saves indicate Bournemouth’s weak defense allows too many shots. Johnstone has proven himself to be one of the better shot-stoppers in the EPL. If Crystal Palace can break down Bournemouth’s improving back line, they should be able to beat Neto and find the net.
Soccer Odds/Point Spread: Crystal Palace -108, Total Odds: 2.5
The oddsmakers see Crystal Palace as modest favorites playing at home. Bournemouth comes in as major underdogs despite sitting just behind Palace in the table. The Eagles are solid at home, with a 5-1-3 record at Selhurst Park. With Bournemouth averaging just a goal per road game, the under looks tempting. However, Crystal Palace’s propensity for 2-1 home wins makes the over 2.5 goals highly probable.
Crystal Palace Betting Trends
Crystal Palace is 2-2 straight up and 2-3 against the spread over their last five overall. They are a profitable 5-3 against the spread in nine home games this season. The over has hit in two of Palace’s last five games. At Selhurst Park, the over is 3-3 over the Eagles’ last six home matches.
AFC Bournemouth Betting Trends
Bournemouth has struggled lately, with a 1-2 straight up record over their previous five matches but a 3-2 mark against the spread over that stretch. On the road, the Cherries are 3-3 against the number in six away fixtures this campaign. The over has hit in three of Bournemouth’s last five overall. In their last six away contests, Bournemouth games have gone over four times.
Crystal Palace vs. AFC Bournemouth 12/6/23 Betting Picks
Crystal Palace sits eight points clear of the relegation zone and looks well on their way to Premier League safety this season. Patrick Viera has his squad playing well at home, using their rowdy supporters at Selhurst Park effectively. Bournemouth has shown improvement under interim manager Gary O’Neil, but still looks bound for relegation.
In this matchup, there are too many factors favoring the Eagles. Their stellar home defense should be able to contain Bournemouth’s mediocre attack. Meanwhile, Palace’s superior firepower should be able to break down the Cherries’ vulnerable back line. Bettors looking for the best premium picks could play Crystal Palace on the three-way moneyline at excellent plus-money value. They offer the best straight wager in this Premier League affair.
Free Pick and Prediction: Crystal Palace 2, Bournemouth 1.