Matt Holt, Paul King and their best bets for the weekend
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It’s full steam ahead for domestic football, with no international distractions until the spring. And that means Matt Holt and Paul King are back with their best tips for the weekend.
The top Twitter tipsters have scoured the leagues with a fine toothcombe to bring you their hottest punts for the weekend’s action.
Chelsea versus Tottenham steals the main focus, with a thriller in store as Spurs return to west London for the first time since the infamous Battle of the Bridge back in May.
So, let’s not beat about the bush any longer…
Matt Holt
Newcastle v Blackburn
The ‘Rafalution’ is well and truly underway on Tyneside and Newcastle are flying.
The Magpies have won nine games in a row, as well as topping the Championship form tables by a good six points. They also have the best offense in the league, scoring 36 times in 17 games (19 in eight at home) and bagging 3+ in four of their last five.
On the other hand, Blackburn have one of the worst defences in the Championship. They’ve conceded 13 goals in their eight away games and have only earned four points from those games (W1 D1 L6).
AFC Wimbledon v Fleetwood
This looks like a great bet given the stats. Both teams have scored in seven of Wimbledon’s nine home games and seven of Fleetwood’s nine away games.
Wimbledon have only failed to score once in their 12 games so far this season, whilst Fleetwood haven’t failed to score at all in League One – a run of 19 games.
The Cod Army have lost five of their last six away league games 2-1; so the correct score at 15/2 is definitely worth a punt.
Scunthorpe v Oxford
Scunthorpe are in brilliant form this season and are sitting pretty 6 points clear at the top of League One. They’re the second best home side in the division, picking up 21 points from their nine home games; whilst Oxford have picked up just five points on the road.
The Iron are the league’s top scorers with 40 goals in 19 games, whilst the U’s have conceded at least two goals in seven of their nine away games.
I like the look of Scunthorpe to get at least a couple at Glanford Park and think 10/11 is great odds.
Chelsea v Tottenham
Spurs, despite still being unbeaten in the Premier League, are struggling. They’ve won just one of their last NINE games, and haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 1990. Antonio Conte’s men have bagged two or more goals in five of their six home games this season; including 12 in their last three games.
Chelsea have been well amongst the goals, and so has Diego Costa. The controversial Spaniard leads the goalscoring charts with ten goals already this season and will probably enjoy playing against an Alderweireld-less Spurs.
As far as the bookings go, whilst I’m aware that there isn’t as much riding on this game, Spurs picked up a ridiculous NINE yellows at Stamford Bridge in May.
A lot were towards the end of the game as Spurs’ title hopes were slipping away but they picked up three in the first half when they were cruising to victory, so I expect at least a couple here.
They’ve also picked up 26 yellows in their 12 games this season, whilst Chelsea’s opponents have earned 22 in their games.
Paul King
Liverpool v Sunderland
Despite Sunderland’s brilliant form of late with two wins in their last two Premier League matches, I think this one will be a little bit too much for David Moyes’ men.
Liverpool looked a little bit short in their last game due to their star players playing a lot of minutes over the international break, but that shouldn’t be a problem this week. After a whole week off thanks to no European fixtures they have the potential to blow Sunderland away.
I think they will score a few and score early, so Liverpool to win the first half without Sunderland replying looks a reasonable shout at 8/11 in a match where there is little value to be found.
Newcastle v Blackburn
Blackburn have one of the worst defensive records in the league and Newcastle are on fire.
They have won and covered the -1 handicap in three of their last four home matches, as well as two of their last three away if you want to factor that in too.
I’m not sure I really need to say much more here, as I seem to tip Rafa Benitez’s men to score a couple of goals almost every week.
Hull v West Brom
Hull have had a less than impressive run in the Premier League so far this season and find themselves in 18th position after 12 games. And, to be honest, you’d have to say there is little evidence to suggest they will get out of that position.
West Brom on the other hand have looked fantastic recently, with a hard fought 2-1 win over reigning champions Leicester and a 4-0 thrashing of Burnley. Based on those two performances, I see no reason why they won’t score two goals again.
2/1 is an absolutely fantastic price on them finding the net twice before Hull do, so that will be my pick for this one.
Chelsea v Tottenham
My #WhatAreTheOdds pick for what is probably the biggest game of the weekend will be both teams to score, over 2.5 goals and each team to pick up four corners.
Chelsea have been in unreal form of late, scoring 17 goals with no response from any of their opponents. It isn’t just the defence who’ve stepped up though, as the likes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have been in excellent form going forward.
Spurs have been boosted by the return of Harry Kane and, like Costa, he seems to be in top form in front of goal at the moment, so I can see Spurs ending Chelsea’s clean sheet streak by scoring once at the very least.
Combined Best Bet
For our combined #WhatAreTheOdds best bet this week we have taken two selections from each of our individual best bets.
These are the four which we think are the most likely to land, so if you don’t like either of our individual bets for any reason, this is the one for you!
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
