Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 5 2026

Nottingham Forest hosts Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 AM ET as both clubs look for their first Premier League victory of the new campaign. Forest enters after earning a 2-2 road draw against Liverpool, while Tottenham returns to the road after suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle. Current sportsbook pricing has Nottingham Forest around +155, Tottenham around +180 and the draw approximately +235. The total is set at 2.5 goals in another current market. Matchweek 3 is kicking off this week and you can find all the rest of the weeks with our free soccer picks.

The odds indicate how little separates these teams entering Matchweek 3. Forest has already shown it can compete with high-level opposition by leaving Anfield with a point, while Tottenham is trying to avoid an 0-0-3 Premier League start. Spurs have yet to score a league goal this season, putting considerable pressure on their attack heading into a difficult road environment.

Nottingham Forest Returns Home With Confidence

Nottingham Forest has experienced two very different matches to begin its Premier League campaign. Forest opened with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Leeds United, but the response at Anfield was considerably more encouraging. Nottingham Forest earned a 2-2 draw against Liverpool on August 29, giving the club its first point of the new season.

Taking a point away from Liverpool should provide a significant confidence boost heading back to the City Ground. Forest demonstrated that it can create scoring opportunities against one of the stronger teams in the league, and the two-goal performance was particularly important after being shut out in the opener. The next challenge is translating that improved attacking performance into three points at home.

Tottenham's current struggles make this an excellent opportunity. Spurs have lost both of their opening Premier League matches without scoring, while Forest has already shown it can punish defensive mistakes. The home side does not need to dominate possession to be dangerous. If Forest remains organized and attacks quickly when Tottenham commits numbers forward, the City Ground crowd could become increasingly influential as the match progresses.

Tottenham Already Facing Early Pressure

Tottenham enters Saturday in desperate need of a positive result. Spurs began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Brentford before returning home and losing 2-0 against Newcastle. That leaves Tottenham without a point or a league goal through its first two matches and already facing questions about whether its extensive summer changes will translate into improved results.

There was one positive result between those defeats, as Tottenham produced a convincing 5-1 Carabao Cup victory against Charlton. The problem is that the attacking success has not carried into Premier League competition. Tottenham has now gone 180 league minutes without scoring, and the 2-0 loss against Newcastle exposed continued problems at both ends of the field.

Saturday could therefore become an important early-season test of Tottenham's mentality. Forest should be energized after its draw at Liverpool and will have home-field advantage, while Spurs enter knowing another defeat would create an 0-0-3 league start. Tottenham possesses enough talent to reverse its form quickly, but until that potential translates into Premier League goals and points, backing Spurs on the road requires taking a significant leap of faith.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Picks and Prediction

Pick: Nottingham Forest Moneyline (+155)

I'm taking Nottingham Forest Moneyline at approximately +155. The market views this as nearly a toss-up, but Forest has provided more encouraging Premier League evidence through two matches. Taking a point from Liverpool at Anfield is the strongest result either side has produced so far, while Tottenham enters after losing consecutive league matches without scoring. Forest also gets the advantage of returning to the City Ground. At plus money, we do not need to lay an expensive price on a modest home favorite, and Tottenham's current offensive problems make Nottingham Forest +155 the preferred side.

Pick: Under 2.5 Goals (-104)

The Under 2.5 goals is my preferred total at approximately -104. Tottenham has failed to score in either Premier League match, while Forest's opener against Leeds produced only one goal. The 2-2 draw at Liverpool showed Forest can participate in a higher-scoring contest, but Saturday's circumstances are different. Tottenham desperately needs points and may prioritize defensive stability rather than risk falling behind early, while Forest does not need to turn this into an open game against an opponent lacking confidence. A 1-0 Forest victory or 1-1 draw fits the matchup profile, making Under 2.5 goals the total pick.

Final Picks: Nottingham Forest Moneyline (+155) and Under 2.5 Goals (-104)