Free football betting tips and odds: Sky Bet EFL preview

Football

Fri March 30, 2018 · 7y ago

Nick Hext is backing Wolves to win at Middlesbrough as one of the selections for a busy Friday in the Sky Bet EFL.

Friday's first TV game

Oxford to draw with Scunthorpe, Sky Bet League One (Friday, 1245 BST, Sky Sports Football)

The first of three live Sky Bet EFL matches on Sky Sports on Friday is struggling Oxford's clash with play-off dwellers Scunthorpe in League One. This is Oxford's first home game under the management of Karl Robinson and Scunthorpe are taking to the field for the first time since the surprising decision to part company with boss Graham Alexander last weekend. The Iron still sit fifth despite an eight-match winless run at the end of Alexander's tenure, although five draws have kept the points tally ticking over. My inkling is this will be another draw for Scunthorpe. Oxford have improved in recent weeks and a win over Peterborough in their last home game shows that the U's are slowly getting back on track.

Friday's second TV game

Wolves to beat Middlesbrough, Sky Bet Championship (Friday, 1730 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

I'm very keen on Wolves at 9/5 to end Middlesbrough's recent resurgence with a three-point haul at the Riverside on Saturday evening. The Molineux men are clearly destined for Premier League football next season and back-to-back home wins have eased any worries created by a heavy defeat at Aston Villa in their last match on the road. Boro are right in the heart of the play-off race as they look to join Wolves in winning promotion to the top-flight. Tony Pulis' side are unbeaten in their previous six games but only one of those contests was against a side in the top half, a 1-1 draw with 11th-placed Brentford last time out. I'm more interested in Boro losing all four of their matches at home against the sides sitting alongside Wolves in the top five. The Riverside outfit couldn't even manage a goal in any of those four games so I'm backing Wolves to prove their superior class with a convincing win.

Friday's third TV game

Half-Time-Full-Time - Draw/Derby v Sunderland, Sky Bet Championship (Friday, 1945 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

Friday's busy programme of Sky Bet EFL matches ends with Derby as heavy favourites to get three points against bottom-of-the-table Sunderland in the Championship. There is plenty of pressure on the Rams to deliver. Gary Rowett's side are without a win in their last seven outings and aspirations of a top-two finish are now over. A play-off finish remains well within fifth-placed Derby's grasp but I'm expecting another nervy encounter at Pride Park. I reckon Derby will just about get over the line for the win but Sunderland can make it difficult. The Black Cats have been level at the break in their previous two matches before falling to defeat. That makes over 3/1 for Derby to win after being held at half-time worth a look.

Tom Lawrence celebrates

Friday afternoon's Sky Bet Championship selection

Cardiff to beat Burton by one goal, Sky Bet Championship (Friday, 1500 BST)

Cardiff are in sensational form as the final stretch of the season approaches and everything is pointing to promotion for Neil Warnock's men. The Bluebirds are hoping to claim their eighth win in a row when they host second-bottom Burton and five of those previous seven victories have arrived by one goal. Warnock is the expert at getting the job done in the second tier and I expect this to be another narrow success for his impressive side. Burton are battling for their Sky Bet Championship survival and this will be another decent showing in defeat after falling 3-1 at leaders Wolves last time out.

Friday afternoon's Sky Bet League One selection

Shrewsbury to beat Rochdale, Sky Bet League One (Friday, 1500 BST)

Shrewsbury's Sky Bet League One promotion charge continues and they are a very appealing bet at over 2/1 to win at second-bottom Rochdale on Friday afternoon. The Shrews are unbeaten in their last seven games and there's nothing to suggest their momentum is about to end. Wigan and Blackburn are also showing no signs of slowing down so everything is set for a fascinating sprint to the finish in the third tier. Rochdale claimed a decent draw at Scunthorpe last time out but the clock is ticking to climb out of the relegation zone. This looks too tough a task against one of the division's heavy-hitters, who can be backed for the win at tempting odds.

Friday afternoon's Sky Bet League Two selection

Accrington to beat Mansfield, Sky Bet League Two (Friday, 1500 BST)

Accrington make serious appeal at 11/5 to win on the road at Mansfield on Friday afternoon. Stanley have won eight and drawn one of their last nine outings and have only suffered one defeat in 14 games since winning 3-0 at Grimsby in their final match of 2017. Luton sit above Accrington at the top of the Sky Bet League Two table thanks to a superior goal difference but the great news for John Coleman's side is they have an eight-point advantage over Notts County, who sit one place outside the automatic promotion slots. Mansfield are 11 points behind Stanley in the final play-off place and the Stags are stuttering on a five-match winless run. They have drawn four of those matches but Accrington have to be backed at such an appealing price.