The magic of the FA Cup has always been in its giant killings and underdog triumphs and, while this year’s third round draw has generally offered vulnerable goliaths the comforts of being drawn at home, there remain very backable Davids to get stuck behind.
Championship Bristol City and QPR will fancy their chances of claiming Premier League scalps in the shape of struggling Wolves and Leicester, while League One Leyton Orient are bang-in form and look one of the bets of the coupon at home to second tier Derby County.
FA Cup Third Round underdog tips
Bristol City to win (draw no bet) vs Wolves @ 21/20
QPR double chance (win or draw) vs Leicester @ 29/20
Leyton Orient to beat Derby County @ 19/10
Bet on the latest FA Cup odds at Betzone
Ashton Gate date an away day test Wolves could do without
Wolves are 11/8 favourites for victory away to Championship Bristol City but they look worth taking on having seen the brief resurgence that followed the arrival of Vitor Perreira snuffed out thanks to a 3-0 Molineux defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Old Gold talisman Matheus Cunha was absent for that game through suspension and the mercurial Brazilian, head and shoulders his team’s most dangerous player, will also miss this tie.
City have won three of their last four in the league and look well worth chancing at 21/20 to win (draw no bet) against opponents that have lost 11 of their past 18. Liam Manning’s hosts have lost just twice in their last 13 home games.
Tip: Bristol City to win (draw no bet) vs Wolves @ 21/20
Rejuvenated Rangers can avoid defeat against spiralling hosts
Leicester look the epitome of vulnerable FA Cup ‘giants’ having been priced up at mere 8/15 to beat QPR at the King Power Stadium, despite losing 10 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, including their last five heading into this assignment.
The Foxes’ long odds-on status is all the more surprising given the Rs’ resurgence in recent months. Rangers have won six of their last 11, drawing four times and losing just once.
Martin Cifuentes’ side are a hefty 4/1 for the win, but the 29/20 about the visitors in the double chance market is preferred. The R’s do most of their winning at Loftus Road and while they’ve lost just one of their last five on the road they’ve only won one of those away games.
Tip: QPR double chance (win or draw) vs Leicester @ 29/20
Flying Orient excellent value to eject Championship strugglers
Arguably the best underdog bet of the third round comes in the shape of Leyton Orient to beat Derby at 19/10 – an exceptional price given the League Two hosts’ sensational form.
The O’s have won eight of their last nine in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets and winning to-nil seven times in that sequence.
Derby, who are somehow 11/8 favourites to win at the Gaughan Group Stadium, have lost seven of their last 10 (all league games) and won just once on the road all season.
