EFL Tips: Gab Sutton's Championship, League 1 & League 2 Acca Tips for January 31
We're back with another five-fold from the EFL this weekend, as we take a look at each end of the three EFL tables.
Gab Sutton, our Free Bets EFL expert, has lined up his top EFL tips for the best of the action, as look at both ends of the three divisions.
EFL Betting Tips
Here are Gab's five betting tips for the weekend along with the best prices and latest odds from our top sports betting sites.
Blackburn vs Hull - Hull to win
The pricing of Saturday’s clash at Ewood Park is something of a rarity.
Hull are 4th in the Championship, level on points with 3rd, and five points off the automatic promotion spots with a game in hand, and whether or not it’s likely they’ll continue to challenge for the top two, for them to get into that position after 28 games is no accident.
And yet, as we approach the last weekend of January, a team with that record are 39/20 (nearly 2/1), to win at a team that’s in the bottom three.
The traders would argue that Sergej Jakirovic’s side are significantly outperforming their underlying numbers, conceding 40 goals with an xG Against of 50.73, which could yet prove unsustainable.
Conversely, hosts Blackburn are underperforming their own numbers, having scored 26 goals with an xG For of 38.28, as they’ve missed a clinical edge in the final third.
Compelling as that is, there’s no signs yet of either team’s results matching the data, and it could be that the traders have been so numbers-driven that they disregard other factors – that Hull have one of the best strikers in the division in Oli McBurnie, and Blackburn don’t.
The hosts are winless in seven, while the visitors have won their last three.
Mansfield vs Wycombe - Wycombe to win
Wycombe ground out an ugly 2-0 victory over Wigan in midweek.
The performance was far from mesmerising, but it emphasized the tougher exterior they now have under Michael Duff, who has overseen a collection of 34 points from his 20 games in charge, following a poor start.
The Northern Irishman’s organisational qualities have ensured the Chairboys have conceded just 20 goals in that period, with only Exeter and Stevenage shipping fewer.
They still sorely miss Richard Kone’s clinical presence up top, from last season, and the Buckinghamshire outfit are expected to be in the market for a striker in the last few days of the window.
Nonetheless, they’re an excellent out-of-possession side, which could help them to victory at midtable Mansfield; the Stags are in good form themselves, but they were fortunate to get a point at Plymouth Argyle in midweek, relying on heavily on an excellent performance from goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
Wigan vs Lincoln - Lincoln to win
Lincoln City moved six points clear in League One’s automatic promotion race, with a game in hand, after a statement performance against fellow contenders Bradford in a 3-0 win.
The attacking quartet of Reeco Hackett, Rob Street, Jack Moylan and Freddie Draper are rotating and interchanging superbly, handed freedom by a solid midfield pairing of Ivan Varfolomieiev and Conor McGrandles.
Michael Skubala has built a high energy pressing side capable of posing a real threat on turnovers, and a healthy blend of youth and experience.
With that in mind, it’s surprising that the Imps are as big as 7/5 for victory at Wigan, who have dropped just one point above the relegation zone following a run of one win in their last nine league games, which has supporters asking all the big questions.
Gillingham vs Bromley - Bromley to win
Bromley have won a whopping 12 of their last 15 league games, with only one defeat in that sequence for Andy Woodman’s side.
The Ravens need to adapt to life without key defender Deji Elerewe, who left for Lincoln last week, and their 2-2 draw with Crewe in midweek suggested they have some work to do in the transfer market.
However, there’s a real humility about the South Londoners; they know who they are, they know their limitations, and they’ve found an extremely efficient blueprint within those parameters.
Bromley are extremely well-organised without the ball, one of the best this level has seen in that regard, and they’re also a dangerous set piece side with aerial threats like Omar Sowunmi, players who can deliver like Mitch Pinnock, and a goalscorer in Michael Cheek.
Hosts Gillingham may be envious of that formula, having won just three of their last 17 league games, even if two of them have come back-to-back in previous games – but the three wins have come against Bristol Rovers, when they were on a 10-match losing streak, and the two worst sides in the division, Newport and Harrogate.
The Gills have tried to ignite some life into their season by signing striker Ronan Hale from Notts County, yet for Bromley to be as big as 8/5 for the victory in the Kent clash represents excellent value.
Tranmere vs Salford - Salford to win
After winning six of their last eight league games, Salford look great value to win at Tranmere, at odds-against quotes.
The Ammies lost 1-0 at home to Chesterfield in midweek, falling to a last-minute sucker-punch having limited their opponents to no chances all game up to that point, whilst having had openings of their own from set pieces.
Striker Ryan Graydon looks an excellent addition for Karl Robinson’s side, bringing height, physicality, mobility, an excellent work ethic and an eye for goal to the team.
Hosts Tranmere, on the other hand, come into the game off the back of four successive league defeats which, along with an injury crisis showing no signs of easing, have put pay to any hopes of a late Play-Off dart.
Missing key defender Lee O’Connor for most of the campaign, the Birkenhead outfit have conceded the joint-second most goals in League Two, with only Newport shipping more.
More Football Tips
Check out below for more football betting tips ahead of this weekend's football action.
