EFL betting tips
Saturday 12.30pm: Norwich v Watford – Draw
Saturday 12.30pm: QPR v Millwall – Half time/full time draw/Millwall
Saturday 12.30pm: Lincoln v Wigan – Half time 0-0
Saturday 12.30pm: Chesterfield – Cheltenham – Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
Sunday 12pm: Preston v Blackburn – Blackburn to score in both halves
Saturday 12.30pm: Norwich v Watford – Draw
TV: Sky Sports+
It would be fair to say that Norwich are still adjusting to life under manager Johannes Hoff Thorup. The Canaries have recorded just the only league victory this season but the common theme in their league encounters is that they’ve generally been tight affairs.
Their Championship results read 2-0, 2-2, 1-1, 1-0 and 1-0, but they’re under-performing by around three on league Expected Goals and improving this is one way to dominate more games. Gabriel Sara is a big loss and practically all of the new signings are young and inexperienced in this league, so naturally they’ll need some time.
Watford blitzed the league in the early weeks of the campaign by earning five wins from their opening five fixtures in all competitions. Going winless in their last two is anything but a crisis, but they are now going to have to earn every point from now on, especially after seeing key forward Giorgi Chakvetadze off on a stretcher against Coventry.
Him missing out would mean a reshuffle in attack that that they wouldn’t have wanted to do, so could look to be more comfort off the ball to make up for this. Speaking of Norwich matches being close, the same is generally the same for The Hornets. Their league contests have been scores of 3-2, 3-0, 2-1, 1-0 and 1-1, so on that basis there should be little to separate the two teams on Saturday.
Saturday 12.30pm: QPR v Millwall – HT Draw/FT Millwall
TV: Sky Sports+
This London derby is typically a fiery affair but it hasn’t necessarily been one to feature goals in recent times. The two clubs have played in the same division since the 2017/18 campaign and five of the most recent six have featured two goals or less.
Last season, it was a 2-0 win apiece for the home team on those particular occasions and something similar would not surprise here. Rangers did have a midweek League Cup tie to negotiate with Crystal Palace, but they made changes there, meaning freshness is less of an issue.
Millwall did have a free week but hearing news of recent striker signing Josh Coburn potentially being out for up to two months is a huge blow and dents them offensively in a big way. They are already very light in the striker department, so may use defence as their best form of attack at Loftus Road on Saturday.
Therefore, the first-half could be quite a close and tight contest, particularly if Millwall come looking to be hard to break down first and foremost. A draw would suit them much more than the home side and the visitors will be more than aware that conceding the opening goal gives them a mountain to climb.
However, QPR are a side that do apply big pressure, especially in home fixtures, and the impression is they should make that count in the end. 71.43% of their Championship goals scored this season came within the second-half of games.
Also, two of Millwall’s four away league goals conceded came within the final 15 minutes, so there is plenty pointing towards a late flourish from Martí Cifuentes’ side.
Saturday 12.30pm: Lincoln v Wigan – Half Time 0-0
TV: Sky Sports+
A quick glance at the league table will show Lincoln sitting in the play-off places but they take on a forever-improving Wigan outfit that has won two of their previous three in league action, most recently when hammering Bristol Rovers 4-0 away from home last time out. The Imps earned a solid draw on the road at Peterborough but they’ll want to improve their normally strong home record, which currently reads one win and three defeats in all competitions at LNER Stadium.
However, this meeting is very likely to be a real tactical affair and it is going to take some winning if either side is to do so. As such, it may initially be a slow-burner whilst everything settles down, as there are big similarities between the two teams.
What stands out more than anything is that Lincoln and Wigan are more than comfortable not having long periods of possession. In fact, it could be argued they quite enjoy being hard to break down.
Michael Skubala’s side average 37.30% possession in League One this season, with Wigan sitting on 44.4% in that respective category, too. The key for Lincoln is playing at a high tempo, so they will put the opponents under pressure, but Athletic actually have a better defensive record compared to their weekend opposition, so will certainly look to quieten the crowd early on.
Saturday 12.30pm: Chesterfield v Cheltenham – BTTS & Over 2.5
TV: Sky Sports+
One worry for Chesterfield was seeing their main striker Will Grigg go off injured in their previous match and there are fears it could be serious. Although associated as being a goalscorer, he only has one to his name this season, so potentially they may not miss him as much as expected.
Still, they’d rather be with him than without him but they will be reassured knowing that others can contribute with goals. Seven different players have scored for Chesterfield this season in all competitions.
Also, six of their nine encounters in league and cup have featured both teams scoring, which highlights their offensive capabilities but they can switch off at the back, which affords some hope for Cheltenham. It has been all or nothing for Cheltenham this season given that across their eight fixtures so far it reads three wins, five defeats and zero draws.
Only twice have they failed to score, one being a cup tie away to Championship side Plymouth, so manager Michael Flynn will at least expect his team to find the back of the net on Saturday. Chesterfield have won both matches earlier this season which followed a loss, and after a setback to Port Vale last time out they’ll give their all here, particularly at home, which should make for an open contest on the day.
Cheltenham’s League Two battles are averaging 3.00 goals per game, so their presence should also contribute to an exciting encounter.
Sunday 12pm: Preston v Blackburn – Blackburn score in both halves
TV: Sky Sports Football
The Sunday showing from the Championship comes from Deepdale as Preston entertain Blackburn in a Lancashire derby. Although this is not necessarily the number one rival for each club, there will still be no love lost on the pitch or in the stands for this encounter.
Paul Heckingbottom settled nicely into the role as Preston boss when winning his first two in charge, whilst a draw away to Middlesbrough at the weekend was another solid result. Beating a local rival would further warm him to the supporters, but in Rovers they’re facing the surprise package of the season.
John Eustace’s men possess one of only three unbeaten records in the Championship and a big reason for this is their goal threat. Losing Sammie Szmodics to Ipswich before the transfer deadline closed felt like a final nail in the coffin in the eyes of many regards Blackburn’s prospect of avoiding relegation, but they look to be aiming much higher than this at their current rate.
Heading into the weekend they are the joint-highest scorers in the second-tier, again, despite losing their top scorer from last season. Noticeably, in four of their five league assignments so far, they’ve managed to net in both the first and second-half of the match.
PNE are still adjusting to the new manager and the tactics he wants them to play, plus they’ve claimed only one league clean sheet in 2024/25, so Blackburn will view this as a good chance to maintain their strong beginning to the campaign. The home team also had a midweek cup tie with Premier League Fulham to take care of, whereas their opponents have had a full and free week to prepare.
EFL betting tips
Saturday 12.30pm: Norwich v Watford – Draw
Saturday 12.30pm: QPR v Millwall – Half time/full time draw/Millwall
Saturday 12.30pm: Lincoln v Wigan – Half time 0-0
Saturday 12.30pm: Chesterfield – Cheltenham – Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
Sunday 12pm: Preston v Blackburn – Blackburn to score in both halves
*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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