AS far as cup upsets go, last season’s FA Cup third round produced a decent crop all told.

Cambridge from the third tier conjured up arguably the shock of the round, defeating Newcastle at St James’ Park, though Kidderminster’s besting of Reading ran it close. In total, eight sides beat opponents residing in a higher division and for the first time since 2016/17, two non-league clubs progressed to the last 32.

If that suggests FA Cup giant-killing is coming back in vogue it would of course be a very welcomed development, especially as the draw for this year has generously paired up plenty of Davids with Goliaths. Indeed, across the weekend, commentators will have a field day uttering all manner of cliches

Take Oxford United’s hosting of Arsenal on Monday evening, a game so quintessentially FA Cup third round it should be adorned with a sheepskin coat. The Gunners presently top the Premier League while The Us sometimes impress, sometimes flail in the third tier, and it’s easy to imagine the crackling atmosphere that awaits Mikel Arteta’s men at a packed Kassam Stadium.

Then there’s Gillingham lying in store for Leicester, a club that has recently endured the embarrassment of being undone by League Two opponents, losing to Newport in 2019. With the Foxes hemorrhaging goals at the back this is a fixture Brendan Rodgers could well do without.

Yet, concerning both of these clashes it feels too far-fetched to back the underdogs, even when looking out for far-fetched results.

With much the same squad, Arsenal were downed by promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest twelve months ago and they will be hell-bent on not repeating their failing. Furthermore, even the periphery of Arteta’s collective will be swept up by the club’s title charge meaning the likes of Tierney, Elneny and Fabio Veira will comfortably prove too strong for Oxford.

Put sentiment to one side and back over 3.5 goals at 22/25 this Monday, with most – if not all – coming courtesy of the visitors.

As for the Gills, though their opponents fulfil the criteria as a giant-killing victim-in-waiting the Kent side themselves are in no fit state to slay anyone. Rock-bottom of League Two they have scored three fewer goals this season than any other side in the top seven tiers of the footballing pyramid.

Thankfully, elsewhere there are numerous potential upsets to pin our hopes on, with Portsmouth’s trip to North London an intriguing match-up.

By winning just two in their last seven, Tottenham are teetering on the brink of crisis and with tensions rising, and criticism of Antonio Conte’s unadventurous football gaining nationwide attention, it is precisely a game like this that might see matters reach a head.

Up front, Son Heung-min is a shadow of his former self while only Wolves, Southampton and West Ham – all languishing in the bottom four – have conceded first more often this term. Since mid-October, Spurs have conceded 2.1 goals per 90.

Granted, Pompey are hardly in better shape, with a promotion campaign giving way to another season of frustration. Now managerless, after parting with Danny Cowley this week, the south coast side have only won one of their last 13, going all the way back to late September.

Yet, eight of those 13 were draws and if this illustrates that Portsmouth are hard to beat there is also goals in their armoury, in the form of Colby Bishop. The 26-year-old forward boasts a superb 78% shot accuracy and 43% goal conversion rate from his 23 shots this term. If a chance falls his way, he’ll likely finish it.

Take a punt on Colby scoring anytime at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 5/1

If Spurs are in danger of succumbing to cup infamy this weekend, so too are another top six side, namely Newcastle who face a tough trip to Hillsborough.

Losing only once since the start of September – and that to a last-minute sucker-punch at league leaders Plymouth – Sheffield Wednesday are flying this season, accruing the second-best defensive record in League One, while impressively sharing around the goal-scoring with 14 different players off the mark.

Though it feels counter-intuitive to back against high-achieving Newcastle, who have rocketed into the top four on the back of a tremendous, sustained run this term, it’s worth acknowledging there is a notable drop-off in quality the moment that Eddie Howe utilizes the fringes of his squad. From Miguel Almiron to Matt Richie. From Callum Wilson to Chris Wood. Consequently, if Howe does shuffle his pack the visitors are at real risk of falling to inferior fare for the second year running and if that is indeed the case, don’t discount an early advantage being gained.

Just shy of a third of Wednesday’s goals this season have been scored inside half an hour.

Back Wednesday to win the first half at a very tempting 5/1

In the Midlands meanwhile, Coventry City have the thankless task of taking on a side they’re expected to beat despite there being little between them in reality.

The Sky Blues are a lofty 61 places above Wrexham in terms of league standing but via serious investment the Red Dragons are very much a club on the rise, decimating most who come before them in the National League. Since losing at Notts County at the start of October, Phil Parkinson’s men are unbeaten, averaging 2.5 goals per 90 in the process.

So much of their goal-threat derives from a formidable front pairing of Paul Mullen and Ollie Palmer, who have shared out 29 this term, and with Coventry stuck in poor form and only taking three points from a possible 33 when falling behind, an away win feels on the cards here.

A bet builder backing Wrexham to win but BTTS offers up 6/1

Beyond these three, the gulfs between the respective sides begin to reduce but there are still results possibly lying in wait that may raise an eyebrow or two.

Would Burnley progressing at the expense of Bournemouth count as an upset, given how brilliant the Clarets have become under Vincent Kompany and considering to what extent the Cherries are struggling at present? Maybe not, but it’s always worth taking note when a Championship outfit heads to top-flight opposition as much the better side, the odds typically being too good to pass up.

Halfway through losing their sixth game in seven, to Crystal Palace this week, an ironic cheer went up from the home fans when Bournemouth took on a shot, and that’s where they are right now.

By sharp comparison, Burnley are the free-scorers of the Championship, failing to find the back of the net only once all season, and averaging 2.1 goals per game on their travels.

It is a prolificacy fronted by Jay Rodriguez who has converted every 172 minutes in 2022/23 and the former England international will be relishing the prospect of facing a side he has scored five in seven against previously. Furthermore, the Cherries have conceded two-plus goals in 58% of their fixtures this season.

A bet builder of Rodriguez to score and Burnley to win by an exact winning margin of two offers up 16/1

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