NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Deportivo Alaves visit Real Oviedo on Sunday, May 17, for a La Liga Matchweek 37 match at Estadio Carlos Tartiere. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET, and the table pressure is almost completely on the away side. Oviedo are already relegated and locked into last place, while Alaves sit just above the drop zone and can take a major step toward survival with three points.
That makes this a strange handicap. Oviedo have the emotion of their final home match in the top flight, with Santi Cazorla expected to start in what could be a very sentimental day for the home crowd. Alaves have the urgency, though. They are coming off a massive win over Barcelona and know this is the kind of match they simply cannot waste.
The market has Alaves favored on the road, which makes sense because motivation is so one-sided. Still, laying a road favorite in a relegation-pressure match is never completely comfortable. Oviedo have little to lose, Alaves have everything to protect, and that usually creates a tense game state.
Deportivo Alaves vs Real Oviedo Odds
These are the current betting lines for Deportivo Alaves vs Real Oviedo, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before locking in a number. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with the draw priced around +260.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deportivo Alaves | -111 | -0.5 (-114) | O 2.5 (-110) |
| Real Oviedo | +295 | +0.5 (-110) | U 2.5 (-118) |
Go Inside the Handicappers’ Playbook
All in one spot. Real-time line moves, sharp reads, and verified edges.
Deportivo Alaves Betting Form
Alaves arrive in a better mental spot after beating Barcelona 1-0, and that result changed the entire feel of their survival push. They are not safe yet, but they are close enough that this match becomes a huge opportunity. The problem is their away form. Alaves have won only one of their last seven away league matches, so even with the motivation edge, this is not a clean favorite profile.
Quique Sanchez Flores is expected to keep the five-defender shape that worked in the win over Barcelona. That should give Alaves structure, protect central spaces and let them pick moments to break through Toni Martinez, Ibrahim Diabate, Abde Rebbach and the wingbacks. Lucas Boye is still the key availability question after a muscle issue, while Facundo Garces remains unavailable through suspension.
From a betting angle, Alaves are the better side to trust, but the price matters. The 3-way moneyline at -111 is playable because a win is the result they need, but the style does not scream easy favorite. This is more likely to be controlled, physical and tense than open and comfortable.
Real Oviedo Betting Form
Oviedo are already down, so the handicap is not about table motivation anymore. It is about professionalism, pride and the home farewell. That matters, especially with Cazorla starting and the crowd expected to make the day about him as much as the match itself. But it is still hard to ignore the bigger picture. Oviedo have 29 points from 36 matches and have been the weakest team in the division.
The expected Oviedo setup includes Horatiu Moldovan in goal, Lucas Ahijado, David Costas, Dani Calvo and Javi Lopez across the back, Nico Fonseca and Santiago Colombatto in midfield, and Hassan, Cazorla and Alberto Reina behind Fede Viñas. Eric Bailly is suspended, while Leander Dendoncker and Ovie Ejaria are injury concerns or absences. That leaves Oviedo with some creativity, but not much margin defensively.
For bettors, Oviedo are more interesting on the handicap than the moneyline. They can frustrate Alaves, slow the match down and feed off the emotion in the stadium. But asking them to win outright against a team fighting for survival feels aggressive. A draw is easier to picture than a clean Oviedo win.
Deportivo Alaves vs Real Oviedo Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is mostly about game state. Alaves need to push for the win, but they also cannot afford to get reckless. Their five-back structure should help them control risk, defend crosses and keep Oviedo from getting easy central chances. The challenge is turning territory into clear chances without Lucas Boye fully confirmed.
Oviedo should have moments through Cazorla, Colombatto and Hassan. The home side can still pass through midfield if Alaves allow them time, and the emotion around the match could give them a stronger first-half push than the standings suggest. But over 90 minutes, Alaves have the clearer incentive to keep asking questions.
The set-piece angle matters here too. In a tight relegation-style match, one corner, one second ball or one late free kick can decide the entire market. Alaves have enough size and defensive structure to make that part of the game uncomfortable for Oviedo, while the hosts will likely need those moments because open-play chance creation has not been reliable.
The total is not easy. Alaves need the win, but their away profile and the pressure attached to this spot point toward a careful match. Oviedo may play with more freedom, but they are still limited in attack. Bettors using a soccer betting strategy guide would probably come back to the same idea: motivation supports Alaves, but pressure supports a lower-scoring script.
Deportivo Alaves vs Real Oviedo Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Alaves on the moneyline. It is not the most comfortable road favorite spot, but the urgency gap is hard to ignore. Oviedo have pride and emotion, while Alaves have a real survival target. That usually matters more in Matchweek 37.
The handicap is basically tied to the same opinion. Alaves -0.5 at -114 is nearly the same as backing them to win outright, so there is not much need to overcomplicate the side. Oviedo +0.5 is tempting because the draw is live, but the home team’s lack of stakes makes it tough to build a full bet around them.
The total leans Under 2.5, but I do not like it more than the side. Alaves can play a compact match, and Oviedo are not explosive enough to force a track meet. Still, if Alaves score early, the game could open up in awkward ways because Oviedo have no reason to sit back and protect anything. That is why I would rather trust the team with the clearer objective.
This is also the kind of match where checking the broader best soccer bets this week board makes sense. Relegation motivation can be powerful, but it can also make prices a little inflated. Here, I still think Alaves are playable because the number is not too heavy.
Best Bet: Deportivo Alaves Moneyline -111.
La Liga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Late-season La Liga betting can get messy because motivation, lineup changes and relegation math all hit the market at once. Following today’s soccer picks helps bettors compare the full board instead of forcing one survival angle.
The value of top sports handicappers is that you can compare different styles across sides, totals, BTTS and handicap markets. Some experts are better with relegation pressure. Others are better at pricing totals or finding derivative value.
The handicapper leaderboard also helps with transparency because bettors can track records, volume and profit over time. For deeper cards, premium soccer picks can help separate real value from late-season noise.
