FOOTBALL BETTING: Betrescue’s Football League writer Sam Tomlinson takes his weekly look at all the big games in the Championship, League One and League Two.
Newcastle are still unbeaten at home, have won 17 from 21 at St James’ Park where they have scored 50 goals and conceded just 10, so the statistics are in their favour ahead of the visit of play-off chasing Blackpool.
Accordingly then, the Magpies are odds-on at 4/6 (Ladbrokes) to send the Seasiders home empty-handed, however, now that Chris Hughton’s men have secured promotion, they may not have been as focused this week as perhaps they have been throughout the rest of the season.
Ian Holloway’s Blackpool need to keep amassing points in order to keep the pressure on faltering Leicester in sixth place and they therefore look huge at 5/1 with Stan James for a smash-and-grab at St James’ Park while William Hill’s 11/8 for them to avoid defeat on Tyneside also catches the eye.
Also in the Championship, Cardiff should get the better of Reading, a result Victor Chandler price at 6/5, Sheffield Wednesday are worth considering in Betfred’s handicap market at 6/5 with the benefit of a goal start at Middlesbrough while 888Sport’s 7/2 outsiders Peterborough have a new manager in Gary Johnson and could spring a surprise against Leicester at London Road.
In League One, a couple of home teams stand out at 2/1.
Bottom club Stockport are chalked up at that price by bet365 to get the better of Yeovil at Edgeley Park and Brentford have been underestimated to the same extent by Betdaq, ahead of the visit of Huddersfield.
Finally, Bury are an eye catching 17/10 with Ladbrokes to boost their play-off hopes by landing a maximum haul at struggling Cheltenham and Grimsby can profit from that result; Paddy Power pricing them at 3/1 to follow up their morale-boosting triumph at Accrington by securing all three points at Hereford.
To compare all the weekend’s match odds, click here