Welcome to our weekly 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, as well as our predictions contest.
Derby to beat Millwall at 5-2
It's a toss-up as to the form team in the Championship right now: Derby are unbeaten in six, while Portsmouth have gone five games without defeat (both teams have picked up four wins in these runs). So, tempting as it is to back both this weekend, I still sense Derby offer the better betting option with Pompey 2-1 at Hull. Millwall's swift start to the season has tailed off equally sharply and they've now won just one league game in eight. Contrast with the reignited Rams, who have scored 15 in six and are arguably playing the best football of Nigel Clough's tenure. Again, more conservative pro-Derby punters can still get around even-money on the +0&+0.5 Asian handicap.
Burnley to beat Reading at Evens
Tipping any team managed by Brian Laws feels wrong. I'm sorry, it does. But that doesn't mean we should swerve them on Saturday, when their six-game unbeaten run (two wins, four draws) should be extended against a flailing Royals outfit. Last weekend, they were sunk at home by Swansea and this was followed up with a far more limp defeat at basement side Bristol City. And their away form line doesn't offer brilliant reading, given none of their opponents thus far currently reside in the top 11. Burnley aren't wanting for goals at the moment (11 in four) and in Chris Iwelumo they have the division's joint top scorer, whose eight league goals have all come at Turf Moor.
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 17
Thewalthamstowone 15
Bobby142 15
PiggyPingoPiglet 15
captainmorganrum 14
josedinho 13
richardw 13
zaragozaram 13
bakerian 12
glasscaseofemotion 12
Denofiniquity 12
MrMondypops 12
templetontherat 12
ranban 12
As for this week: make your result (not scoreline) prediction for each of the following games below, with one point per correct result:
Burnley v Reading
Millwall v Derby
Brentford v Peterborough
Sheffield Wednesday v Bournemouth
Barnet v Macclesfield
Bury v Southend
I'm tipping Burnley, Derby, draw, Sheffield Wednesday, draw, Bury.
