Football League Preview

As excited as we all are to begin betting on regular season football it is best to resume with caution. Here are three things you need to consider when betting on the opening weekend.

1: Pre-season form is no real guide so do not take too much notice of this. A few seasons ago Newcastle were hammered 6-1 in pre-season by Leyton Orient only for the Magpies to win the league that season with ease.

2: Do not pay much attention to the stat about opening day records as these are more quirks of fates than hard and fast guides. The turnaround in football management is so fast that only nine of the 92 managers have been in their jobs longer than three years. This before we even get to player turnaround. Clubs are very different one season to another so this is not a guide.

3: Do not be backing sides at short prices on the opening weekend. Over the course of a 10,000 metre race you can be fairly confident that Mo Farrah will win the race though you not be confident that he will be leading after the first lap. It is the same with football, it makes no sense to back a team at very short odds when you have no real recent form to go on.

Before we start with the best bets here is the worst best of the weekend in the Championship, taking the 17/20 (BETVICTOR/william hill) on QPR to beat Sheffield Wednesday. Just one of the last six sides relegated to the Championship have won on the opening day of the season. Throw in the fact that QPR netted just 13 goals in 19 home games last season and that Wednesday lost just three of their last 13 away from home last season and you have all the makings of an early day shock. My advice is to stay clear of this game.

The best bet in the Championship is Charlton to get something from their visit to Bournemouth. The Addicks have been overlooked by bookmakers in the antepost markets this season despite finishing ninth last season and ending with an eight game unbeaten run. The signings of Marvin Sordell and Simon Church should give them added firepower and the 6/4 (GENERAL) on them in the draw no bet market looks fantastic value. Away from home Charlton had the joint best away record in the Championship (with Brighton) and they should be much shorter priced against a Cherries side who were in League One last season.

Portsmouth fans are being offered a free pizza by Papa John’s (other pizza firms are available) if they beat Oxford this weekend. I think they might have to settle for buying their own food as I think Oxford can spoil the party. The visitors are 3/1 (SKYBET/TOTESPORT/betfred) for victory and 11/13 (188 BET) with a 0.5 start on the Asian Handicap. Oxford have bought well and Dave Kitson and James Constable could be a great partnership at this level. Take the visitors to get something from ths game.

Also in this division I like the look of Plymouth to get something from Southend. Phil Brown has been scrambling around like a contestant on Bargain Hunt to fill his squad that only numbered 14 fit professionals a few days ago. The Pilgrims look value at 13/8 (SKYBET) in the draw no bet market against a side with no win in their last ten league home games.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Oxford on the Asian Handicap v Portsmouth with 0.5 start, 11/13 (188 BET)
SILVER: Charlton draw no bet v Bournemouth, 6/4 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Plymouth draw no bet v Southend, 13/8 (SKYBET)

Go To bet365

#Ad

03/08/2013     © Frixo 2026