EFL Cup Betting and Odds at NetBet Sport

The EFL Cup (English Football League Cup) is a major competition in English football and usually attracts a high number of viewers, both domestic and abroad, each year.

Featuring teams from various different tiers of the pyramid, the tournament lends itself to underdog stories and goal-filled matches.

EFL Cup betting, like the competition itself, is also very popular and at NetBet Sport, we have every game covered with a range of EFL Cup odds and markets.

How popular is the EFL Cup?

The EFL Cup is held in high regard all across England, though teams in the Premier League do often pump more resources into an FA Cup campaign.

With EFL Cup rounds routinely held at the start of the English football season, top teams can often prioritise other competitions - particularly the Champions League and Europa League.

However, this allows smaller teams to gain an advantage and make a run for the trophy, which is why the tournament retains a high level of popularity in the present day.

Birmingham, Swansea, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leicester and Blackburn are just some of the teams outside the established ‘Top Six’ to have won the EFL Cup since the turn of the millennium.

What is the format of the EFL Cup?

The EFL Cup is open to all 92 teams in the English football pyramid. It is made up of seven different rounds, with fixtures scheduled to ensure that only 32 teams remain by the Third Round.

All fixtures are determined by a random draw, with Premier League sides entering the tournament in the Second Round. Those playing in Europe receive a bye to the Third Round.

An important piece of format-related information for EFL Cup betting is the fact that the semi-finals are the only matches to be played over two legs.

Aside from that, all games are contested over one leg, with the match going straight to a penalty shootout if the scores are level. The final is the only fixture which can go to extra-time.

EFL Cup Betting Tips & Strategies

Giant Killings: As previously mentioned, shock results or ‘giant killings’ are common in the EFL Cup. A team from the second or third tier eliminating a Premier League side fielding a second-string XI happens nearly every single season, so beware the underdogs. Instead, seek value in the EFL Cup odds and markets outside of predicting the result, perhaps look at over/under or goalscorer bets.

Team News: With a lot of teams often using the EFL Cup as a platform to give crucial minutes to fringe players, it is important to stay on top of official club updates and squad news. Teams like Liverpool, Manchester City or Arsenal may change their entire XI for a Third Round match against a fellow top-tier side with their strongest team out. While this presents challenges, keeping up to date with the online information can also give you an edge when it comes to finding value in the EFL Cup betting odds.

Stick to What You Know: If your knowledge of the English game is restricted to just the Premier League and Championship, avoid placing bets on matches which feature teams from League One or League Two.

Top EFL Cup Betting Markets

Outright Winner: Simple, predict which team you think will win the tournament.

To Qualify: Similar to the ‘Match Result’ market, only this selection removes the option of a draw. So if you think the game could be decided by a penalty shootout, look no further.

Both Teams to Score: EFL Cup games are famed for being high-scoring affairs, so the BTTS market is always very popular among bettors.

Outcome and Both Teams to Score: Another easy market to get to grips with - and a popular choice, as it usually has fantastic EFL Cup odds. An example of a selection here would be ‘Manchester United and Yes’.

Live EFL Cup Betting

Given the unpredictability of EFL Cup matches, attributed to the wholesale changes in XIs and added pressures of knockout football, live EFL Cup betting is gaining more and more traction.

At NetBet Sport, every single EFL Cup game during the season will have in-play betting options after kick-off. This means you can capitalise on trends and events within a match as they are happening in real-time.

If a lower-ranked team is winning against a team like Chelsea but the Blues are now bringing on their top players from the bench, you can place a bet on the West London side to win the match from behind.

The ability to place in-play bets adds an extra layer of excitement to the world of EFL Cup betting, removing the reliance on pre-match odds and allowing fans to better use their extensive knowledge of the sport.