Man City vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction, Odds, Pick | Premier League Match Preview

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Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.
(Jon Super/AP Photo)
Nick Hennion @nickhennion Apr 25, 2024, 2:19 PM
  • Man City is a -1.5-goal favorite against Nottingham Forest.
  • City has earned wins in two of the last three against Nottingham Forest.
  • Why the market is overrating Manchester City.

As their quest for a fourth consecutive league title continues, Manchester City travels to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. 

It marks the second match in four days for the title holders. They’ll travel to Forest after facing Brighton on the English South coast on Thursday. 

Forest enters this match in less-than-desirable form. They lost 2-0 at Everton the previous weekend and are winless in their last three matches. 

Here’s a look at the EPL odds and my prediction for Sunday’s match. 

EPL Betting Odds – Man City vs. Nottingham Forest

  • Man City Moneyline: -275
  • Nottingham Forest Moneyline: +650
  • Draw Moneyline: +425
  • Over/Under: 3.5 Goals (+115/-160)

EPL Prediction – Man City vs. Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest Spread (+1.5, -130)

Although the Tricky Trees lost the reverse fixture at the Etihad, the underlying metrics suggest the match was closer than the 2-0 final. 

Forest created one expected goal compared to only 1.3 for Manchester City. Even in terms of the post-shot expected goals battle, Forest won 1.0-0.4, per fbref.com. 

A City red card on 46 minutes devalues some of those offensive metrics for Sunday’s hosts, but this feels like a good buy-low spot against a City side playing on short rest. 

Although it’s a small sample, Forest have held their own against the title threats at home. 

In two matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, they’ve stayed within this number on both occasions. 

Not only did they stay within this number in terms of expected goals, too, but they limited those two sides to only four shots on target. 

Forest have also quietly produced outstanding metrics at home for a bottom-half side. 

Entering Sunday’s game, they’re sitting on a +0.13 xGDiff per 90 minutes at the City Ground and have dropped all three points only seven times. 

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s side also matches a historically profitable betting system. 

Since the 2012-13 season, underdogs at +1.5 or higher off a loss as underdogs that lost the previous head-to-head meeting are 62.5% ATS. 

Just this season, those teams are 15-9 ATS. 

With City playing on short rest, take the home dogs to do no worse than a cover with more time between games. 

Man City Form 

April 25 at Brighton

April 20 vs. Chelsea: 1-0, W (FA Cup)

April 17 vs. Real Madrid: 1-1, D (Champions League, Madrid Win on PK’s)

April 13 vs. Luton Town: 5-1, W

April 9 at Real Madrid: 3-3, D (Champions League)

Nottingham Forest Form

April 21 at Everton: 0-2, L

April 13 vs. Wolves: 2-2, D

April 7 at Tottenham: 1-3, L

April 2 vs. Fulham: 3-1, W

March 30 vs. Crystal Palace: 1-1, D

Upcoming EPL Match Schedule

HomeAwayDateTime (ET)Location
ArsenalBournemouthMay. 47:30 AMEmirates Stadium
BrentfordFulhamMay. 410:00 AMGtech Community Stadium
BurnleyNewcastle UnitedMay. 410:00 AMTurf Moor
Sheffield UnitedNottingham ForestMay. 410:00 AMBramall Lane
Manchester CityWolvesMay. 412:30 PMEtihad Stadium
Brighton & Hove AlbionAston VillaMay. 59:00 AMAmex Stadium
ChelseaWest Ham UnitedMay. 59:00 AMStamford Bridge
LiverpoolTottenhamMay. 511:30 AMAnfield
Crystal PalaceManchester UnitedMay. 63:00 PMSelhurst Park

EPL Standings

TeamRecord (Wins-Draws-Losses)PointsGoal DifferentialNotes
Arsenal FC25-5-58057---
Manchester City24-7-37950---
Liverpool FC22-9-47541---
Aston Villa FC20-7-86721---
Tottenham Hotspur18-6-106013---
Manchester United16-6-12541---
Newcastle United16-5-135319---
Chelsea FC14-9-11515---
West Ham United13-10-1249-9---
Bournemouth13-9-1348-8---
Brighton & Hove Albion11-11-1244-59---
Wolves13-7-1546-7---
Fulham FC12-7-1643-4---
Crystal Palace10-10-1540-12---
Everton12-9-1537-108 Point Deduction
Brentford9-8-1835-8---
Nottingham Forest7-9-1926-204 Point Deduction
Luton Town6-8-2226-29---
Burnley FC5-9-2124-32---
Sheffield United3-7-2516-63---

EPL ATS Records

TeamATS RecordATS Win Pct.Home ATS RecordHome ATS Win Pct.Road ATS RecordRoad ATS Win Pct.
Arsenal21-13-1.6149-7-1.55912-6.667
Aston Villa18-16-1.52911-7.6117-9-1.441
Bournemouth19-14-2.5719-7-2.55610-7.588
Brentford13-20-2.4006-10-1.3827-10-1.417
Brighton & Hove Albion13-19-2.4127-8-1.4696-11-1.361
Burnley17-18.4865-12.29412-6.667
Chelsea16-18.4719-8.5297-10.412
Crystal Palace18-17.5148-9.47110-8.556
Everton17-19.47210-8.5567-11.389
Fulham17-17-1.50010-7-1.5837-10.412
Liverpool17-18.4869-8.5298-10.444
Luton Town22-13-1.62513-5.7229-8-1.528
Manchester City16-18.4717-10.4129-8.529
Manchester United15-19.4417-10.4128-9.471
Newcastle United17-17.50012-6.6675-11.313
Nottingham Forest14-19-2.4295-12-1.3069-7-1.559
Sheffield United18-17.5149-8.5299-9.500
Tottenham Hotspur18-16.5299-8.5299-8.529
West Ham United18-17.51411-7.6117-10.412
Wolverhampton Wanderers18-17.5149-9.5009-8.529

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About the Author

Nick Hennion

Read More @nickhennion

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.

Nick Hennion is a senior content writer for BetMGM. His previous stops include VSiN, NBC Sports, The Action Network and Forbes Betting. He owns a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.