West Brom vs. Sheffield United Odds
| West Brom Odds | +163 [BET NOW] |
| Sheffield United Odds | +188[BET NOW] |
| Draw | +215[BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (+130/-162)[BET NOW] |
| Time | 3 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBCSN |
Odds updated as of Thursday at 9 p.m. ET and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
Struggling teams chasing their first Premier League win of the season head into battle Saturday when West Bromwich Albion hosts Sheffield United at The Hawthorns.
Combined, these clubs have taken just four out of a possible 54 points in England's top flight this season. Add their records together and they have no wins, four draws and 14 defeats. That's simply atrocious at this level of play.
Suffice it to say, if neither team drastically improves, it's going to be a full season in the relegation zone and eventual trip back to the Championship for both come season's end. It's that simple.
Neither want to be part of potential history in this game either, which is exactly what will happen if this match ends in a draw. If that happens, it will be just the third time league history two teams failed to win any of their first 10 matches.
That said, let's take a look at these clubs and see what might be in store.
West Brom
Life at The Hawthorns has been a downright nightmare for the host side.
After picking up its only two points of the season in draws with Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, West Brom suffered losses to Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
When it comes to the statistical data, there is no way to sugarcoat the obvious. These are the two worst outfits in the entire league on the numbers.
So, how bad has it been for West Brom? The Baggies are last among all 20 teams on the table in the following metrics :
- Expected goals: 5.4
- Expected goals against: 16.4
- XGDiff: -11.0
- xGDiff/90 minutes: -1.23
Bottom line, those numbers are horrific. There's no other way to put it.
Sheffield United
Talk about a tale of two seasons.
After a respectable ninth-place finish (14-12-12 record/56 points) in England's top flight last season, the Blades find themselves in last place on the table. I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't see this role reversal coming at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United has been downright awful, losing 11 of its last 12 league tilts. Most recently, the club dropped matches against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in their of its last four fixtures. It's lone highlight (and point) came back on October 18 via a 1-1 stalemate with Fulham.
Like their counterparts, the Blades have some truly brutal numbers in their advanced metrics. Sheffield United has a subpar 8.0 xGs and terrible 14.7 expected goals against, yielding a -6.7 xGDiff and -0.75 for xGDiff/90 minutes.
The lone positive the Blades can take from those stats is the fact they're not the worst in the league. West Brom holds that distinction, which gives a slight edge on paper to the visiting side.
Betting Analysis & Picks
Something has to give in this showdown. Neither side can afford a loss — or a tie for that matter — if it wants to stay above the basement water.
In my opinion, West Brom is the better side in comparison to Sheffield United by the slimmest of margins. The Baggies more than held their own last out in a 1-0 loss to Manchester United, where a controversial, second-half penalty kick that turned out to be the difference.
That said, I am backing West Brom via the Draw No Bet wager at a fair price. It really comes down to the fact the Baggies are at home, giving them the slight edge in this meeting of struggling sides.
I am also going to play the total to stay under the number. There have been less than three goals in West Brom's last six league fixtures. Add in the fact three of Sheffield United's last five games finished with a goal or less, and I like my chances with this pick.
Picks: West Brom — Draw No Bet (-120) | Total Under 2.5 Goals (-162)
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