Football tips, predictions and best bets: Premier League and Sky Bet EFL for Saturday 11/11/23
Football betting tips: Saturday best bets
2pts Ross Barkley to have 2+ shots in Manchester United vs Luton at 15/8 (bet365)
1.5pts Colchester to beat Sutton at 21/20 (General)
1.5pts Barnsley or draw Double Chance in Derby vs Barnsley at 21/20 (General)
1pt Sam Byram to score anytime in Leeds vs Plymouth at 9/1 (General)
1pt Both Teams to Score 'No' in Tranmere vs Forest Green at 11/8 (General)
Manchester United vs Luton
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- Home 3/10 | Draw 9/2 | Away 8/1
James Cantrill (@JimmyThePunt)
The former Everton man was monumental in the Hatters draw with Liverpool last Sunday. Nobody ran further, attempted more tackles (5) or shot more (2) for the hosts then Barkley and it is the latter that is of interest here.
He has had 10 efforts in four appearances, hitting at least 2 SHOTS in all of those games. At odds against, it is worth a punt on Saturday.
Manchester United have shipped 14.4 shots per game this season, the 7th most in the Premier League, a figure that is only marginally better then basement boys Burnley (151).
Against similarly ranked sides, opposition midfielders have racked up the shots against the Red Devils. Copenhagen’s engine room combined to have seven, as did Fulham’s.
Gustavo Hamer (3) and Oliver Norwood (1) had four between them for Sheffield United and Aaron Ramsey and Josh Brownhill combined for three at Turf Moor.
Leeds vs Plymouth
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT
- Home 2/9 | Draw 11/2 | Away 10/1
Tom Carnduff (@TomCarnduff)
Leeds are a short price for success, with 2/9 available on Daniel Farke's men securing all three points on offer against Plymouth.
It's hardly a surprise given that they put in a superb performance away at Leicester last time out, and the attacking strength of this unit is too good for this division.
But rather than take the short prices on success, or indeed the near even money price on some of those forwards, I like the look of the 9/1 on SAM BYRAM TO SCORE ANYTIME.
A free signing in the summer, fitness is the only concern when it comes to Byram - performances certainly haven't been.
He's scored once this season but could easily have more based on his displays in both open play and from set-piece situations.
The left-back has had at least one shot in six of his last eight outings. A brilliant header from a corner against the Foxes on Friday was well saved but allowed Georginio Rutter to tap in for the winner.
Given that we're expecting Leeds to be on the front foot throughout, Byram should see some chances to strike.
Derby vs Barnsley
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT
- Home 10/11 | Draw 5/2 | Away 11/4
Michael Beardmore (@MickeyBeardmore)
Boss Paul Warne is under pressure at Derby, who are proving correct those (this writer included) who challenged their status as bookies' pre-season title favourites.
Hey, they're not having a nightmare, sitting seventh in Sky Bet League One and firmly in the promotion picture but they're way off the pace when it comes to the automatic places.
Their record against sides above them reads W1 D1 L3 and on Saturday they face the one top-six side they've not yet met in the shape of BARNSLEY who have W8 D3 L2 in all competitions since the start of September.
The Tykes are fifth and unbeaten on their travels, thus look an inviting price at odds-against to continue that run simply by avoiding defeat at Pride Park via the DOUBLE CHANCE bet on an away win or draw.
Tranmere vs Forest Green
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT
- Home 8/5 | Draw 5/2 | Away 29/20
Michael Beardmore (@MickeyBeardmore)
Two of Sky Bet League Two's lowest-scoring sides meet at Prenton Park in what has already the whiff of a relegation six-pointer, even at this third-way stage of the season.
Tranmere have failed to score in three of their past four league games while Forest Green might have struggled against the division's better sides but have kept three clean sheets in four meetings with fellow bottom-seven teams.
This should be a tight affair with each side knowing defeat would increase the gap that is opening up between the bottom four - Grimsby, FGR, Tranmere and Sutton - and the rest.
Considering the above, it's a surprise to see BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 'NO' at comfortably odds-against at 11/8 generally. It's the outsider against its 'yes' counterpart when the numbers suggest that should be the opposite way around.
Colchester vs Sutton
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT
- Home 19/20 | Draw 13/5 | Away 12/5
Tom Carnduff (@TomCarnduff)
There is still an element of the unknown with COLCHESTER given that they are under the caretaker charge of Matty Etherington and Scott Marshall currently.
Yet, what we've seen from them following their decision to sack Ben Garner has been positive, making their 21/20 general price TO BEAT SUTTON an interesting one.
The U's have played four games since Garner left and secured victory in three of them - with wins over Accrington and Grimsby in the league alongside home success against Swindon last time out.
In fact, the only loss was against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, a side that may be poor but are in the division above.
In Sutton, they take on a team who have lost every league away game this season - five of the seven have been by at least two goals.
Odds correct at 1430 GMT (10/11/23)
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.