On Saturday 3 October 2026, Crystal Palace play Nottingham Forest in the EPL. Our model likes 2 bets here. The one it likes most is Crystal Palace +0.5 Goal Handicap, priced at -222 when we wrote this. Here is the thinking behind each pick, in plain English.
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest: Crystal Palace +0.5 Goal Handicap (-222)
Odds available at DraftKings at time of publishing As Crystal Palace prepares to face Nottingham Forest, recent trends and stats paint a compelling picture for backing the home side. Palace has struggled lately, with just one win in their last five outings, but they’ve been creating chances, averaging over 10 shots per game at home. Their defense has been shaky, conceding 2.2 goals per game recently, yet Nottingham's ability to capitalize has been lackluster, scoring only 0.8 goals per game away. Notably, Palace has historically had the upper hand against Forest, with a dismal 1-4 record in their last five meetings. While Palace needs a boost, the numbers suggest they can edge this matchup, especially given Nottingham's erratic away form. The handicap of 0.5 feels manageable, making it a smart play for this encounter. With Palace's attacking potential and Forest's struggles, a narrow home victory seems likely.
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest: Draw Moneyline (+235)
Odds available at DraftKings at time of publishing As Crystal Palace prepares to host Nottingham Forest, the draw emerges as a compelling option. Both teams have struggled to find their scoring touch recently, with Palace averaging just 1.2 goals at home and Forest netting only 0.8 on the road. Their recent head-to-head history isn’t much to brag about for the Eagles, having only won once in their last five encounters. Defensively, both sides are leaky; Palace has conceded an alarming 2.2 goals at home, while Forest allows 1.4 away. Yet, with both teams failing to convert their chances—Palace's xG averages are shockingly low—this match could easily end in a stalemate. Given the odds favoring a draw and the teams' recent patterns, securing a bet on a draw offers enticing value as both sides look to avoid a loss rather than chase a win.
That is how our model reads Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back anything. And if a game does not feel right to you, the strongest move is to skip it -- there is another one tomorrow.