*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
What’s the only thing in the world better than football? I’ll tell you – lots of football.
For those of us suffering from the withdrawals of the multiple-game days during the Women’s Euros or the tail-end of the Premier League drama, our time has finally come to re-engage. Not to sound overtly hipster-ish here, but the EFL is kind of where it’s at.
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Genuinely, take a look at the price of the outside to win the Premier League and then compare it to the outside in each of the three divisions of the EFL. Now also have a quick glance at the stadia you get to visit when groundhopping. Yes, we all know the walk to Anfield and Old Trafford is close to a multitude of Nandos.
But have you ever had a kebab in Grimsby? Did you know that Barrow has its own registered dialect called Barrovian? You did not. It’s not just a cultural undertaking, it’s a chance to expand your horizons and ingest knowledge. Here’s the return of the big BTTS 3pm acca!
*An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 15/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right nowRotherham v Swansea
You will see a theme with this exercise, and it’s to do with newly-promoted sides. They will always, always try and impress on the opening day but ultimately find the defensive duties required in the league too taxing.
The holy grail is getting a newly-promoted side at home for the euphoria boost; playing a side who keep the ball and who have pace because that’s not division-specific. In this case, Chiedozie Ogbene at the New York stadium against Swansea is an absolute treat.
Wigan v Preston
Wigan at home – check. Against a side who play intricate football – check. And while there may not be tonnes of pace in this Latics unit, they do have a bona fide goalscorer to bridge the gap in Will Keane. The only issue with Preston is they just don’t score goals away from home. Their 19 away from Deepdale last year was the fourth-lowest figure in the Championship.
However, Wigan did at least concede as many goals at home as they did away last year in League One, suggesting that they’re no more difficult to break down at home as they are outside of Lancashire.
Bristol Rovers v Forest Green
Oh good god, yes. Two promoted sides battling it out, full of adrenaline, knowing that this game could genuinely be the biggest they play all season.
This pace will be relentless and I’d recommend you tune in to see these two rip each other apart.
Both sides possess an attacking identity with each netting over 70 times in League Two last year, while the hosts possessed just the eight-best defensive record in the division.
Lincoln v Exeter
Mark Kennedy has brought an influx of Irish talent in since he took over in May which naturally suggests they’ll win the league at a canter. It does also suggest, however, that they’re restructuring and that takes time.
Lincoln’s defensive frailty was pretty obvious last year as they pottered their way to 63 goals conceded – twelve more than 18th-placed Shrewsbury.
Exeter’s pre-season shape suggests that they’re going to far more attacking in their setup than the efficient defensive machine they were in League Two – and given the reshuffle at the back for Lincoln, this could be the game to exploit it.
Leyton Orient v Grimsby
Otis Khan going back to play his former club on the opening day of the season is the storyline you didn’t know you needed, but anyway. Only seven sides scored more home goals than Orient last term, while their home record was incredibly patchy.
They went eight straight home games without a win between December and March and are prone to absolutely collapsing when pressed. Grimsby will be like a wind-up toy on MD1.
Saturday’s BTTS Acca Tips
Rotherham v Swansea
Wigan v Preston
Bristol Rovers v Forest Green
Lincoln v Exeter
Leyton Orient v Grimsby
*An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 15/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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