EFL Tips: Gab Sutton's Five EFL Bets November 22
After an exciting international break, the focus shifts back to domestic football with a packed weekend of action.
Free Bets' EFL expert Gab Sutton has lined up his top football tips and predictions for the best of this weekend's EFL fixtures.
EFL Betting Tips
Here's Gab's five EFL tips this weekend - perfect for a weekend EFL acca - plus the best prices and latest odds from our selection of best betting sites.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough - Under 1.5 Goals
A Gary Rowett team is never too far away from a clean sheet.
In fact, over a decade of his management tells us that when things look rockiest on paper for one of his sides, that tends to be when they’re closest to a shut-out, because he’s very good at hitting the reset button and stripping things back.
Especially, that is, during an international break: the Oxford boss has had a fortnight to work with most of his players on shape, in preparation for Saturday's game.
Rowett may make a change from the 2-1 loss at West Brom last time out, especially in midfield, where Will Vaulks is likely to come into the XI for an attacking player to solidify things, next to the cultured Brian de Keersmaecker and the dynamic Cameron Brannagan.
Plus, Middlesbrough have had their creative troubles this season, even before boss Rob Edwards controversially left for Wolves: they’ve got the 7th-worst xG For in the division.
So, Saturday’s game is likely to be a case of the hosts turning up somewhat bruised, but determined to steady the ship by avoiding defeat and keeping a clean sheet, and the visitors struggling to find the solutions to unlock their resolve.
Stevenage v Doncaster - Stevenage to win
There are two very surprising prices in the Football League’s weekend coupon, and one of them is Stevenage being odds-against, for Saturday’s hosting of Doncaster.
Alex Revell’s side might be 6th, on account of playing only 13 games, whereas some have played 16, but they actually have the best PPG record in League One.
If it was an ante-post promotion favourite in this position, and welcoming a Doncaster side winless in seven, they’d be priced around the 1/2 mark, or even 4/11.
Of course, there’s more jeopardy around Boro still being in the top six at the end of the season, in comparison with a Bolton or a Stockport, but not to the extent that they should be as big as 21/20 – the chances of them beating Donny are greater than 50%.
The Hertfordshire outfit have been impeccable at home, drawing 1-1 with fellow high-flyers Bradford last time out to end their 100% winning record from the first five games.
Mansfield v Huddersfield - Huddersfield (Draw no bet)
Mansfield are at the highest point of the table they’re likely to be at all season, Huddersfield, the lowest, and the visitors are still level on points with their hosts with a game in hand.
For that reason, too much weight may have been placed on home advantage, with the visitors available to back at an enormous 2/1 – despite being only four points off the Play-Offs with one of the best squads in the league.
After a nightmare October, the Terriers rediscovered that winning feeling last time out, with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle, as forward Dion Charles showed signs of getting to the form at this level that he’s proved capable of with Accrington Stanley and Bolton.
Full-backs Lasse Sorensen and Ruben Roosken are top players for this level in theory, the same with Ryan Ledson and Ben Wiles in midfield, who have both played Championship football with reasonable success in their careers.
Plus, the Stags come into this game off the back of a 2-1 loss at Northampton, before the international weekend.
Cheltenham v Bristol Rovers - Cheltenham to win
The second of two surprising prices across the Football League coupon, is Cheltenham to beat Bristol Rovers at 2/1.
The visitors have lost their last six league games, and are crashing down the table, with significant cultural question marks.
Meanwhile, the hosts have taken 10 points from six, since legendary former manager Steve Cotterill returned to Whaddon Road, bringing the feel-good factor back after a tough start.
Yes, that return includes back-to-back defeats, but they were competitive performances, a far cry from what was previously served up – and they have quality in Jordan Thomas, a direct wide forward who’s looked very dangerous since returning from injury.
For the hosts to be as big as 2/1, looks an extremely generous price.
Swindon v Grimsby - Both teams to score
Two of the three top goalscorers in League Two meet at the County Ground, so you can bet on goals in Wiltshire.
Swindon have a multitude of threats: forward-turned-midfielder Tom Nichols, midfielder-turned-forward Darren Oldaker, prodigious wing-back Finley Munroe, target man Ollie Palmer, and powerful forward Aaron Drinan to name a few.
Meanwhile, Grimsby have a top midfield controller in George McEachran, threats out wide in Jason Svanthorsson, Charles Vernam and Darragh Burns, an experienced front-man in Darragh Burns, up-and-coming poacher Jaze Kabia, creativity in midfield in Jamie Walker, and drive in Kieran Green.
With all that in mind, it should be an entertaining, end-to-end contest that could be a thriller, with both teams playing an open, expansive style.
More Football Tips
Check out below for more tips and predictions on this week's football action, with Premier League as well as EFL betting tips.
