Free football betting tips and odds: Sky Bet EFL preview

Football

Sat December 23, 2017 · 7y ago

Our Sky Bet EFL expert Nick Hext makes Bradford his best bet on Saturday's coupon.

Saturday afternoon's Sky Bet Championship selection

Burton/Draw Double Chance v Reading, Sky Bet Championship (Saturday, 1500 GMT)

I expected Burton to keep it tight at Bolton last weekend and it wasn't a shock to see the Brewers secure a 1-0 victory over their fellow Sky Bet Championship strugglers. Next up for Nigel Clough's side is a trip south to Reading and I think they can avoid defeat once again. Burton's strength is on the road with only two defeats suffered in their previous eight away games. That makes odds-against in the Double Chance market for the Brewers to win or draw well worth taking. Reading have only won two of their last 10 home games so it has to be the visitors to the Madejski Stadium worth supporting on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's TV game

Aston Villa to beat Sheffield United by one goal, Sky Bet Championship (Saturday, 1730 GMT, Sky Sports Football)

Aston Villa host Sheffield United in the final Sky Bet EFL match to enjoy before Christmas Day. The Sky Sports cameras are at Villa Park for this clash between two promotion contenders who have stuttered in the last month. Villa have failed to claim victory in any of their three matches in December and United are looking back to November 17 for their previous three-point haul as they endure a five-game winless run. I'm going for Villa to get back on track but it will be close. Steve Bruce's men have claimed four of their previous five home wins by just one goal and the visiting Blades have fallen to the narrowest of defeats in three of their last five outings. Expect a tight contest but Villa will get the job done.

Steve Bruce

Saturday's Sky Bet League One selection

Bradford to beat AFC Wimbledon, Sky Bet League One (Saturday, 1500 GMT)

Bradford are right at the heart of the Sky Bet League One promotion scrap and they should be backed at odds-against to get three points at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon. The fourth-placed Bantams have a sensational away record with nine wins, two draws and just one defeat the return from their 12 matches on the road this season. Southend, second-placed Shrewsbury, table-toppers Wigan and Portsmouth have all been beaten in Bradford's previous four away games so this is a side worthy of serious respect. AFC Wimbledon are scrapping for survival at the other end of the table and they were thrashed 4-0 by Wigan last time out. Bradford are clearly the better team in this contest and the odds are appealing to take an interest.

Saturday's Sky Bet League Two selection

Stevenage to draw with Chesterfield, Sky Bet League Two (Saturday, 1500 GMT)

There isn't much that excites me on Saturday's Sky Bet League Two coupon but I reckon bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield are capable of avoiding defeat at Stevenage. The Spireites have improved since Jack Lester was appointed as manager with only one loss suffered in their last seven outings. Draws have been picked up at Mansfield and Swindon in the last six weeks and I think this will be another one-point haul for Chesterfield. Mid-table Stevenage have drawn three of their previous four matches on their own turf so don't expect a winner in this contest.