Chelsea vs. Manchester City odds, prediction, time: 2024 Premier League picks, Aug. 18 bets by proven expert

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City begin defense of their title on Sunday when they face Chelsea in the teams' 2024-25 Premier League season opener at Stamford Bridge in London. Last season the Citizens edged out Arsenal by two points to lift the trophy. The Champions League title was the fourth in a row -- and the sixth in the last seven seasons -- for City. Meanwhile Chelsea are coming off a sixth-place finish in the EPL table. The Blues will be playing their first season under new manager Enzo Maresca. 

Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. ET. City are the -115 favorites (risk $115 to win $100) in the latest Chelsea vs. Manchester City odds, with the Blues the +280 underdogs. A draw is also priced at +280. The over/under for total goals scored is 3.5. Before making any Manchester City vs. Chelsea picks or Premier League predictions, you must see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Jon (Buckets) Eimer has to say.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. In 2023 he was red-hot, going 248-234-12 for a profit of $2,593 for $100 bettors.

Now, Eimer has broken down Chelsea vs. Man City from every angle and identified his picks and Premier League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Man City vs. Chelsea:

• Chelsea vs. Manchester City money line: Man City -115, Chelsea +280, Draw +280
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City over/under: 3.5 goals
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City spread: Chelsea +0.5 (-105), Man City -0.5 (-125)
• CHE: Cole Palmer ranked second in the Premier League last season in goals (22)
• MCI: Erling Haaland led the EPL in goals last season (27)
• Chelsea vs. Manchester City: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back Man City

Erling Haaland enters the season fresh. Widely considered the best goalscorer in the world, the 24-year-old Haaland did not play at all this summer as Norway didn't qualify for Euro 2024. That bodes well for another big season for Haaland, who has led the Premier League in goals in each of the past two seasons with 36 two seasons ago and 27 last season.

In addition, City easily beat Chelsea two weeks ago. Though the match was just a preseason friendly, City earned a 4-2 win over the Blues during the teams' U.S. tour. Haaland scored a hat trick and helped the Citizens to a 4-0 lead before Chelsea could get on the score sheet. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back Chelsea

Cole Palmer, 22, is coming off a breakout season with the Blues. In his first season with Chelsea, Palmer scored 22 goals in 33 Premier League appearances and 32 goals across all competitions. In his four previous seasons with Manchester City, Palmer had zero goals in 19 EPL matches and just six goals across all competitions.

The Blues will face a City team that will be without promising midfielder Oscar Bobb. The 21-year-old Norwegian will be out three to four months after sustaining a fractured leg earlier this week. The loss of Bobb is a blow to City as he is coming off a breakout season and had been excellent during the preseason. See which team to pick here.

How to make Chelsea vs. Man City picks

Eimer has broken down Man City vs. Chelsea from every possible angle. He is leaning Over 3.5 goals, and he has four other best bets, including two that return +200 or higher, and a full breakdown of this match. He's sharing his Premier League picks and analysis only at SportsLine.

So who wins Chelsea vs. Man City on Sunday, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Man City vs. Chelsea have all the value, all from the soccer expert who was red-hot in 2023, and find out.

How to get in-depth soccer coverage daily

The CBS Sports Golazo Network has you covered with soccer news, highlights, analysis, and exclusive games. The 24-hour digital network provides around-the-clock soccer viewing to fans across the country, including morning shows and live matches. It launched in April and has been a smashing success thus far, expanding its offerings every week. Watch the CBS Sports Golazo Network now here.

The CBS Sports Golazo Network provides soccer fans with wall-to-wall coverage of the most popular Game in the world. Check it out now on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app for connected TV devices, the CBS Sports mobile app, Pluto TV or Paramount+.