Looking for reliable Carabao Cup predictions for the 2026/27 season? This guide gives you clear insights, analysis and betting angles. As a result, you can make smarter selections at every stage.
On this page, we break down everything you need to know. For example, we explain how we generate our Carabao Cup football tips and the key factors that influence cup football. We also show you how to identify valuable betting opportunities in every round.
Today’s Carabao Cup tips
Our latest Carabao Cup tips will appear here ahead of the next round of fixtures.
Anthony Eadson
The market makes the visitors favourites and recent history backs it up. Millwall have won five of the last eight meetings, including both league games last season, and won 2-1 at Loftus Road last October. QPR are blooding new signings across the spine — new keeper Pierce Charles and Boy Kemper are in line to start — while Millwall look the more settled unit early doors.
5/4 PLACE BETCoburn is expected to lead the line ahead of Tairyk Arconte and is Millwall’s obvious focal point after top-scoring with 10 goals last season. Against a reshuffled, largely untested QPR back line still building understanding, the big striker should get chances to get his campaign up and running.
5/2 PLACE BETThe division between the sides tells the story. Blackburn are a Championship outfit expected to name a strong XI ahead of their league opener, and their quality across midfield and attack should be too much for a League One Burton over 90 minutes. Rovers are rightly favourites and look fair value at odds-against.
5/4 PLACE BETBoth of the sides’ only previous meetings finished all-square and with goals in them, and this shapes as an open first-round tie. Burton will back themselves to have a go at home, while Blackburn carry a genuine cutting edge — there should be enough at both ends to clear this line.
1/1 PLACE BETThis fixture has a habit of ending level: four of the last six meetings between the pair have been drawn, including last season’s clash at the Swansea.com Stadium. Two evenly-matched promotion hopefuls, both wary of an early exit and a long night, points to another tight, cagey affair.
5/2 PLACE BETPriske has been Birmingham’s pre-season revelation and is set to lead the line. With Blues unbeaten in their last six against Swansea and carrying genuine attacking form into the tie, the striker is fancied to get on the end of a chance and continue his hot streak.
9/4 PLACE BETA division and a world of resources separate these sides. Burnley are naming a Championship-calibre XI with Kyle Walker organising the back line, and against League One opposition a comfortable, controlled win with a clean sheet is very much on. Ignore the friendly results — the class gap is what counts.
8/5 PLACE BETFlemming operates in the most advanced role for Burnley and is their likeliest source of a goal from open play. Up against a League Two defence that will spend long spells camped in its own half, the Dutchman should get more than enough sight of goal to find the net.
11/10 PLACE BETBowen is West Ham’s talisman and primary goal threat, and he lines up against a Portsmouth defence missing several first-choice bodies. As the Hammers’ focal point and penalty option, the England man is fancied to get on the scoresheet against stretched Championship opposition.
5/4 PLACE BETWest Ham’s attacking quality against a heavily depleted Pompey back line should produce chances aplenty, and Portsmouth carry enough on the break through Colby Bishop to threaten at the other end. With the gulf in resources so wide, this has the makings of a high-scoring evening at the London Stadium.
11/8 PLACE BETWho will win the Carabao Cup?
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup begins in August 2026, so a new campaign is almost here. Indeed, every club in the Premier League and EFL will fancy a run at the trophy.
Premier League sides tend to dominate the latter stages because of their squad depth. However, clubs in European competition do not enter until round three, which gives others an early advantage.
The final takes place at Wembley in spring 2027. Meanwhile, you can check the outright odds below to see how the bookmakers rate each contender.
Carabao Cup outright odds
Outright odds for the 2026/27 campaign will appear here ahead of the new season.
When do you release your Carabao Cup predictions?
We aim to give our readers plenty of time to check our betting tips for upcoming Carabao Cup matches. Therefore, we look to get these tips live between 24 and 48 hours before kick-off. However, that time frame can fluctuate on occasion because of fixture congestion. You’ll find our best Carabao Cup predictions on this page during every round. For the biggest matches, we’ll also have specially picked match previews. These are written by our Squawka Bet experts, who have extensive knowledge of teams across the four divisions.
Carabao Cup key dates
Round one of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup takes place in August 2026. Premier League clubs competing in Europe enter at the third-round stage. Then the rounds continue through autumn and winter, with two-legged semi-finals to follow. Finally, the 2027 final is played at Wembley in the spring. We will add the confirmed dates for each round once the EFL announces the full schedule.
Carabao Cup in-play betting tips
Cup football is unpredictable by nature. Because of that, punters can often find joy when making in-play bets on the Carabao Cup.
In-play wagering allows you to tailor your bets to the unfolding action. It works whether two League One clubs are going at it or a Premier League giant faces a lower-league minnow.
Popular Carabao Cup betting markets
The Carabao Cup’s mix of rotations, tactical changes, and knockout pressure creates a variety of betting opportunities. Here are the markets most commonly featured in our Carabao Cup tips.
Correct score
A high risk but rewarding market. However, cup fixtures can shift quickly, making this a challenging but valuable option in tightly matched games. Correct score bets apply to 90 minutes unless stated.
Over 2.5 goals
One of the most popular Carabao Cup bets.
Cup ties often feature open football, rotated defences and plenty of attacking intent. As a result, high-scoring matches are common. You then only need three goals in total, regardless of who scores.
First scorer and anytime scorer
This market is useful in matches involving squad rotation. For instance, emerging players or attackers with strong cup form can offer extra value.
To Qualify
A simple way to bet on which team will progress to the next round. This removes the need to predict the exact result or scoreline. Therefore, it is especially useful in close matchups.
Carabao Cup accumulators
Given the research that backs up our Carabao Cup tips, you can feel confident in placing an accumulator. This is a bet that combines selections from several different matches for even better value. You can choose different markets on different matches, should you wish. However, most punters stick to the same market. For example, some back 10 different teams from five games to find the net in a Carabao Cup BTTS accumulator.
Best bookmakers for the Carabao Cup
Most major bookmakers now offer a huge depth of markets and leagues. Of course, every one of them will price up the Carabao Cup from the early rounds to the final. We’ve scoured them all and selected our favourites below. They combine excellent new customer offers, competitive odds and strong apps and customer service.
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Which other competitions do you offer tips for?
Of course, it’s not just the Carabao Cup we cover in such detail at Squawka Bet. We aim to cover all the major leagues across Europe and the UK. In addition, we cover key UEFA competitions and international football. Find the latest tips for each of these competitions below.
- Champions League
- FA Cup
- Premier League
- Europa League
- Bundesliga
- Serie A
- La Liga
- League One
- League Two
- Championship
- Nations League
Carabao Cup offers & free bets
When it gets to the latter stages of the Carabao Cup, you’re likely to find enticing new customer offers. Bookmakers often afford huge enhancements to punters looking to back a favourite against an underdog. However, if none of those take your fancy, there are plenty of other ways to pick up price boosts. Many firms offer boosted odds ahead of every fixture in this competition. Of course, there is always the chance to take advantage of a bookmaker’s generic new customer offer too. Then you can start your Carabao Cup betting journey with some free bets.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Carabao Cup
The Carabao Cup is an annual knockout competition. It is open to all clubs in the Premier League and the English Football League. It provides an opportunity for silverware and allows clubs to give playing time to squad players.
The competition starts with early knockout rounds and then progresses through single-leg matches. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with the final held as a one-off match at Wembley Stadium.
All 92 clubs from the Premier League and the EFL are eligible. Lower league clubs enter in the early rounds, while Premier League teams involved in European competitions join at later stages.
The Carabao Cup winner lifts the trophy and earns a play-off spot in the next season’s UEFA Conference League. As a result, it provides a route into European football.
Many clubs rotate squads because they prioritise the league or other competitions. The Carabao Cup also gives younger or fringe players an opportunity to play while allowing key players to rest.
Yes, all rounds are single-leg fixtures except the semi-finals, which are played over two legs. The final is also a single match.
The final is typically held in February or March each season at Wembley Stadium.