I’m backing two players to produce in this weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round matches.
The pregame narrative: Alexander Isak is playing at an elite level for Newcastle United and I like him to make a goal contribution against Brighton on Sunday. Before that, back Ilkay Gundogan to record a shot on target for Manchester City.
Check out the best FA Cup prop bets for the fifth round.
FA Cup prop bets
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Best Bet: Isak to score or give an assist (-136)
Isak snapped a three-game goalless drought with a brace against Nottingham Forest on Feb. 23, marking his third this calendar year.
The Swedish striker now has 16 goals in his last 16 starts across all competitions with three assists mixed in. Isak has cashed this bet 11 times in that span and is making a strong case to be the No. 3 player in the EPL behind Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.
Check out how he stacks up against the rest of the Premiership, with stats provided by FotMob:
- 24 goals+assists (second)
- 19 goals (third)
- 15.1 xG (third)
- 0.83 xG + xA per 90 (third)
Isak is a threat whenever he’s on the pitch and is in a good spot to produce at home against Brighton.
The Seagulls rank a middling 11th in xG conceded (38.6) in the EPL. They’ve allowed an average of 1.71 goals in 14 road games across all competitions.
Key stat: Isak was held off the score sheet against Brighton earlier this year but had seven shots, four of which found the target.
Quick pick
Gundogan over 0.5 shots on target (+132): The FA Cup is Manchester City’s last hope at hardware this season, and it should at least reach the quarterfinal given its fifth-round draw.
The Citizens take on Plymouth Argyle F.C., which sit 22nd in the Championship and are in danger of relegation to Football League One.
Plymouth has conceded 68 goals, which is by far the most of any Championship side.
Gundogan isn’t the player he used to be, but chances should be plentiful for anyone wearing the Sky Blue on Saturday.
The 34-year-old German national is well-rested after coming off the bench in each of City’s last two fixtures. One shot on target isn’t asking much.
Picks made at 3:38 p.m. on 02/28/25.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.