Sporting Life
Jimmy's Punt hero

Jimmy's Punt: EFL tips, predictions and best bets for game week two

By Jimmy 'The Punt' Cantrill
Football
Sat August 17, 2024 · 3M ago

Football betting tips: Sky Bet League One

1pt Ben Wiles to score anytime in Huddersfield vs Stevenage at 13/2 (Sky Bet)

0.5pts Wiles to score 2+ goals at 80/1 (Sky Bet)

1pt Donovan Pines to score anytime in Lincoln vs Barnsley at 14/1 (bet365, Sky Bet)

2pts Hakeem Odoffin to score in Rotherham vs Bristol Rovers at 13/2 (bet365)

1pt Odoffin to score 2+ goals at 80/1 (bet365)

*All games kick off at 3pm Saturday

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair

It was a frustrating, albeit profitable opening weekend for the column.

My biggest fancy (Bristol City) took the lead at Hull six minutes from time, only for the hosts to equalise from the spot in stoppage time.

And to make it even more sickening, I greedily scoffed at the reduced odds on offer with Betfair and their 90 minutes promotion (if a team is winning when the clock hits 90, the bet is paid out) opting for the slightly enhanced odds which proved to be the bet's downfall.

I was fishing for big carp at the time so was following the action via radio from the banks of a 28-acre gravel pit and whilst I was painfully aware of the Robins' blunder, I was blissfully unaware of the chances Hakeem Odoffin was squandering for Rotherham.

All is forgiven though. He features again below along with another player from last week's edition. Call me lazy but I think the prices are still simply too big.

Huddersfield vs Stevenage

BEN WILES. The column’s savour on opening day weekend.

Exactly as predicted, he has started the season on fire. It was a difficult season for him last term but credit to the midfielder, he looks to have knuckled down over the summer (as he always does) and it has paid dividends.

Ben Wiles League One record now reads:

  • Apps: 80
  • Goals: 12
  • Assists: 11
  • Goals p90: 0.17

Ben Wiles Opening Day League One record now reads:

  • Apps: 3
  • Goals: 2
  • Assists: 2

I am aware we are now into the second game but at the prices available, Wiles TO SCORE ANYTIME has to be worth another go.

One game in and Huddersfield top the table after a dominant display against Peterborough, a second string Terriers side followed that up with a 3-0 win over Morecambe in the League Cup.

Michael Duff’s men are 7/10 to beat Stevenage on Saturday and odds on to multiple timesit would be a shame if Wiles grabbed both of them, so we are, once again, shooting at a big price and backing him to SCORE A BRACE…

Lincoln vs Barnsley

It might not be a tip for this weekend but one to bookmark for the future FOR SURE.

I am behind the curve but DONOVAN PINES is a set piece monster.

The American defender netted his third goal for Barnsley on Tuesday in just five appearances, an insane, albeit potentially unsustainable, goalscoring purple patch. Or is it?

A quick search reveals Pines to be 6ft 5. All three of those goals have come via corners but two have come from his right boot. He is clearly a handful who does not rely on his aerial threat; we might have a generational dead ball talent on our hands.

Although he is unlikely to start at Lincoln, he is 14/1 TO SCORE ANYTIME. We’ll just have to keep our eyes peeled for Barnsley team news this term but I could not resist putting him in the staking plan this weekend.

Rotherham vs Bristol Rovers

Tuesday night, around 21:40 I suddenly felt very sick.

It was through no fault of my own, it was around the time HAKEEM ODOFFIN scrambled home a sloppy cross from the second phase of a set piece in Rotherham’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Crewe.

Rotherham United v Crewe Alexandra highlights

This was the tree I was barking up in the Millers' season opener: Odoffin’s set piece threat. At Exeter, the midfielder had two shots, hit the post and notched up an xG of 0.51.

His failure to net simultaneously dashed bets at 15/2 and 67/1 on Saturday and then to rub salt in the wounds he comes off the bench and scores in the cup on Tuesday.

I am not bitter though, promise, and I have certainly not learned my lesson because here he is back in the staking plan TO SCORE ANYTIME.

Originally, bet365 had him at 15/2 but have clipped him in a point following his exploits in midweek, nevertheless, I think it is still a bet and will be taking him all the way down to 5/1.

The sweetener about the matchup on Saturday is Bristol Rovers were one of the worst sides at defending set pieces last season.

No doubt a weakness Steve Evans will look to exploit which is why we simply have to back ODOFFIN TO SCORE 2+ GOALS, you know, just in case.

Generational wealth

If you're going to do it, you may as well do it properly and combine the goalscorers in anytime and brace trixie (3x doubles, 1x treble) combinations.

This way, when they score six goals, equally split between them on Saturday, we will be able to retire. It must be said, these selections are only worth loose change.

Odds correct at 1500 BST (15/08/2024)

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