Welcome to our Friday tipping round-up. Most of you know the drill by now, but for those that don't, every week I will post my betting suggestions for the weekend (which you may well wish to steer well clear of, though we were pleasantly two for two last week), as well as our predictions contest. The blog can also act as a talkboard for any Football League-related discussions over the weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday to beat Exeter at 6-4
As there's every chance that any match I make a prediction on will fall victim to the resurgent cold snap around England this weekend (here's the forecast), I'll keep this brief (which you'll probably be delighted to know), starting at St James's Park as these two meet for the first time in more than 30 years. After a sticky spot earlier in the season, Wednesday now lie second in League One after just three defeats in 12 and four wins in five. The last was a 6-2 smashing of Bristol Rovers that helped pre-empt Paul Trollope's sacking. On Saturday they travel south to tackle a Grecians side smarting from a dismal derby defeat at Plymouth (and, admittedly, a JPT penalty shoot-out win over the Pirates that also pre-empted Trollope's exit), their sixth reverse in 11. Take the Owls to prevail.
Bury to beat Stevenage at 6-5
Tempted as the 11-2 on offer for Barnet to upset Port Vale has been this week, the sickness bug sweeping through the Bees' squad has just turned me away to this game instead, when the Shakers bid to make Gigg Lane the fortress it needs to be if they're to win promotion this season. Twelve points from nine home games is a disappointing home return for a team in third place, but their overall record of five defeats in 19 (with 10 wins) has to be respected for the visit of Stevenage, who have done well in shutting up shop on the road this season (just six goals conceded in nine). Graham Westley's team are coming off a home defeat to Northampton, mind, and the identities of their five wins this season are enlightening: Burton (12th), then Stockport (21st), Lincoln (22nd), Barnet (23rd) and Hereford (24th). A good Bury team should have enough to see them home here.
NB: prices with Betfair and correct at the time of publication
Tipping contest
As you'll note from the scoring, late starters have been awarded one point for every week they have missed.
The top of the table so far (I'll post the full table in the comments section below) ...
markier 41
PiggyPingoPiglet 38
Thewalthamstowone 34
josedinho 34
Bobby142 33
fmgazette 32
MrMondypops 30
TheRealRingo 30
captainmorganrum 29
horne94 28
As for this week: make your result (not scoreline) prediction for each of the following games below, with one point per correct result. The deadline remains 3pm GMT on Saturday afternoon, and to ensure six results are achieved amid the continuing cold weather, the pools panel result will stand for those predicted matches that are postponed.
Leeds v QPR
Ipswich v Leicester
Brentford v Huddersfield
Exeter v Sheffield Wednesday
Bury v Stevenage
Port Vale v Barnet
I'm tipping Leeds, Leicester, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday, Bury and draw. You can also follow me on Twitter if you want more money-losing tips/predictions through the week. Good luck. Oh, and a festive note, there will be Boxing Day and New Year's Day predictions for the competition: have a very merry Christmas.
