football | Monday, May 22, 2023 11:14 AM (Revised at: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 9:03 AM)

Early Bird Best Bets: May 27th-28th - An Early Look at Four Matches this Week

Sam Ingram

Early Bird Best Bets: 27th-28th May

It’s the business end in France and the season’s final day in the Premier League. We have three from one and one from the other below in what is one of the last Early Birds of the season.

In this article:

RC Lens vs AC Ajaccio Preview & Best Bet
Leicester vs West Ham Preview & Best Bet
Everton vs Bournemouth Preview & Best Bet
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham ForestPreview & Best Bet

RC Lens vs AC Ajaccio Preview

France, Ligue 1, May 27th, 20:00 (UK)

RC Lens’ nine wins in their last ten matches suggest we’ve got a team at the top of their game toward the summit of Ligue 1. Kylian Mbappé and Co. will ultimately be out of reach in terms of the title, but entering the Champions League at the group stages looks very much a goer as they enter the final two matches sat in 2nd.

Looking ahead to next weekend, the 1.14 for an RC Lens win means you’ll need to get a little creative if fancying a punt over in France.

Of those ten games, RC Lens only lost to PSG – no disgrace there. The proposed 1-4 Winning Margin has landed in all nine of their victorious nine outings. The Lens/Lens pick also romped home in 8/9 of said wins.

RC Lens vs AC Ajaccio Best Bet

So, here we have a team very much in form against an AC Ajaccio outfit that has just lost 0-5 and 5-0 in successive weeks. Another five-goal margin, and we’ll lose this bet, though I’m hopeful the Rennes and PSG matches were just two big blips against decent opposition.

Three points for RC Lens will see them lock in 2nd spot, whilst AC Ajaccio have proven in recent weeks that their relegation certainly hasn’t spurred them on in any way, shape, or form to recover a sense of pride.

Selection: Lens/Lens & 1-4 Winning Margin
Best Odds: 1.80 (William Hill)
Stakes: 10/10

More RC Lens vs AC Ajaccio Tips

Leicester vs West Ham Preview

England, Premier League, May 28th, 16:30 (UK)

Continuing similar thinking with a selection that many may run a mile from – it’s West Ham on their travels in Leicester. The fact that you can get anyone in a plus Asian Handicap against anyone right now has to be tempting – that best describes my reaction-like angle into this one.

The Foxes have been appalling, both at the back and in their inability to heap pressure on and break down opponents. Considering they’re en route to the Championship, I think we all expected a little more in their fight for survival. But, instead, it has been limp, and it makes Leicester’s need to win a little less attractive in getting behind them than maybe it should.

It’s a different story for West Ham. Once relegation-threatened not too long ago, those concerns have dissipated into the European air. Now 14th in the league and nine points off safety, The Hammers also find themselves in a European Cup final.

Leicester vs West Ham Best Bet

Somehow David Moyes’ men have turned what looked to be one of the worst seasons in distant memory to potentially their only campaign returning major silverware since 1980 at the ‘Old Wembley Stadium’. West Ham’s most recent cup final? The FA Cup loss to Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool side in 2005/06.

Confidence is high as you’d expect. Leicester away hands them a decent opportunity to kick on and put in another proper collective performance. Also, players will be scrapping for a right to be in the eleven to start in Prague – this will be their final chance in a game setting.

Selection: West Ham +0.25 Asian Handicap
Best Odds: 2.02 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Leicester vs West Ham Tips

Everton vs Bournemouth Preview

England, Premier League, May 28th, 16:30 (UK)

Just because a team needs a win doesn’t mean they should automatically become heavy favourites.

Everton have scored the fewest home goals in the Premier League this season (15 in 18), with only Southampton and Leicester winning fewer games on home soil. Yet, Bournemouth head to Goodison Park as 7.50 outsiders. That’s as large as Everton is short at 1.50.

I get the Toffees have something on the line which they have to go all out for it, but they’re also in a position where drawing, or even losing, might oversee Premier League football’s return next season.

The proposed +1.25 Asian Handicap has paid out fully in just 2/37 Everton matches this term as they seemingly stumble toward the safe haven of future top-flight football.

Everton vs Bournemouth Best Bet

I think Everton does enough to remain in the division, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if they recorded a win on the final day. However, that Handicap just seems a bit too big for me. The Cherries would have returned at least half profits (one-goal margin) in nine of their last 15 matches.

Each of Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, and Tottenham have failed to cover the +1.25 against Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth in that 15-game stretch.

Selection: Bournemouth +1.25 Asian Handicap
Best Odds: odds (bookmaker)
Stakes: 8/10

More Everton vs Bournemouth Tips

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Preview

England, Premier League, May 28th, 16:30 (UK)

Roy Hodgson’s Palace have transformed into one of the division’s trickiest outfits since the 75-year-old waltzed back into Selhurst Park and unshackled the likes of Eze, Olise, and everyone else in red and blue.

We’ve seen five wins in Hodgson’s nine matches so far, with just two losses – Spurs and Wolves – since the switch from Viera. However, although Forest have done superbly to confirm top-flight football for another year, their poor away form has continued to be a thorn in their side all season long.

No other team has returned fewer points than Forest (7) after 18 matches. The ten goals scored when playing away from home is also the fewest behind Wolves (12), West Ham (15), and Southampton (17).

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet

The pressure will be off of Forest now, which could have an impact. Yet, if we see more of the same against a rejuvenated Palace side on the back of two decent performances against Bournemouth and Fulham, the Asian Handicap could have a shot.

I assume the market will think similarly and that 1.70 for Palace to win might just shorten before next weekend.

Selection: Crystal Palace -0.75 Asian Handicap
Best Odds: 1.96 (bet365)
Stakes: 7.5/10

More Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Tips

Best odds available as at 10:00, May 22nd, 2023. Odds may now differ.

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Our best bets are posted by some of the best tipsters around. These are our tipsters best value bets. A best bet can be placed on any number of different markets. The most common of which are 1X2, the Asian handicap, BTTS, and the goals markets. Value can be found in matches from leagues across the world. Be sure to follow bettingexpert for the latest best bets.