Punters Panel: Weekend football betting advice from our experts
A busy Easter weekend of football action is almost upon us – and after a successful debut last weekend, we’ve re-assembled a series of sharp minds to help mark your card in the form of our brand new Punters Panel here at Odds Now!
Introducing the Odds Now Football Punters Panel
Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the five men answering our key questions:
Matt Hill - Head of Content at Odds Now and an experienced football bettor with over a decade in the betting industry. Follow Matt on X HERE.
Felix Morson-Pate - Football trader at a leading bookmaker and our resident data expert – check out Felix’s latest weekly column HERE.
Gab Sutton - Leading EFL journalist, lower league expert and co-host of Odds Now’s EFL Betting Show – watch this week’s episode HERE.
Adam Drury - Odds Now’s primary football tipster, who is enjoying a stellar 2024-25 campaign.
Scott Redfearn - Veteran football punter and renowned value hunter. *Scott is a non-runner this week due to other commitments but will return next weekend!
Now, onto the fun stuff!
Punters Panel: Weekend football betting advice from our experts
Easter Friday offers up a full slate of action from England’s lower leagues. Can you give us your NAP from those fixtures?
MH - I think Bristol City look a really solid bet at around 7/5 at home to Sunderland. The Black Cats have already secured a play-off spot and are evidently making use of that luxury, rotating all their star players frequently and seemingly playing at a far more sedate pace than usual. I imagine the brief from Regis Le Bris has to conserve energy and avoid injuries where possible. You’d think the hosts – who can join Sunderland in the play-offs with a strong finish – will simply want the victory more, and that should translate into the scoreline.
FMP - Despite the recent form I do like Norwich to beat Portsmouth, currently floating at around the 4/5 mark on Betfair. I fear a lack of motivation has been priced too much into this one and there should be a quality gap between the sides which comes to the fore more often than not.
GS - My favourite is Northampton double chance away to Charlton at 13/10. The Cobblers have lost just seven times since Kevin Nolan took the reigns, and come into the trip to London off the back of successive clean sheets - including a 4-0 thumping of rivals Peterborough. Their hosts, meanwhile, could mathematically book a top six berth with a point. For what it's worth, the 0-0 draw is available at 10/1 best price for our more audacious punters.
AD - I’m backing goals when Rotherham take on Mansfield at the New York Stadium. The Millers have loosened up since Steve Evans was sacked and Nigel Cloiugh’s visitors are often involved in high-scoring affairs. BTTS & over 2.5 is 6/5 with Bet365 and looks a rock solid play at odds against.
Does anything catch your eye across Saturday and Sunday from a betting perspective?
MH - Wolves have had a torrid time of things for the bulk of 2024-25 but four straight wins has secured their Premier League safety. I see plenty of appeal in chancing them at Old Trafford, against a Manchester United side who will surely have all their focus on the Europa League now. 11/4 looks big for the visitors.
FMP - Anything around 6/4 on both teams to score in Monza vs Napoli looks a decent bet to my eye. I wouldn’t have the away side so short (currently no bigger than 2/7 across the board), given they’ve shown the odd frailty in recent weeks and you'd be brave banking on them to keep a clean sheet here.
GS - I think Ipswich might manage a point against Arsenal, who are out of the title race having dropped points in five of their last seven league games. It's all about the Champions League for the Gunners now. Plus, I'm a staunch McKenna fanboy! The double chance on Ipswich is just north of 2/1.
AD - It’s a bit boring, but Bet365 are offering 21/20 for Liverpool to beat Leicester and Mohamed Salah to score, which seems remarkably generous. The same bet is shorter than 1/2 elsewhere and sometimes you just have to keep it simple with these things.
Which favourite should punters be cautious of siding with this weekend?
MH - I'm on Lyon in a few antepost multiples for a top four finish but I must say, despite sneaking into fourth in recent weeks, it feels like the job is far from done. After Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg with Manchester United, an away trip to a St Etienne side battling for survival could be a banana skin. As short as 4/7 for victory, I'd give it a watching brief.
FMP - Aside from Napoli, who I mentioned above, I think Borussia Dortmund are such a tough side to call this season. 2/5 is plenty short enough to avoid them in any capacity, particularly against a side in Monchengladbach who enter the weekend above them in the Bundesliga standings.
GS - Favourites, in my case. Middlesbrough and Salford. They're quite similar in their respective leagues in that they've got plenty of quality and can really turn on the style, but they're also very streaky due to a soft underbelly. I feel hosting relegation candidates who still have a chance of staying up at the business end, Plymouth Argyle and Accrington Stanley respectively, could bring out the worst in both. Swerve.
AD - Walsall have won only two of their last 17, and none of their last 10, so the 4/9 available on them to beat Harrogate at home holds little appeal. I’ve been expecting them to rediscover form in recent weeks but it’s not happened and a promising season is in real danger of ending disastrously.
What is your best big-priced fancy of the weekend?
MH - Millwall did us a good turn last week beating Middlesbrough to land my 2/1 NAP. Now within three points of the Championship play-offs, I trust Alex Neil to set them up in similar fashion when they go to Blackburn on Friday. The wily Scot admitted this week that a small squad means his side must setup to stay in games early on, before making a late push for victory. As a result, let's chance two half-time/ full-time selections here. Draw HT/ Millwall FT is 6/1 across the board, while 50/1 about Blackburn HT/ Millwall FT is also worth a speculative try.
FMP - Let's stick in Germany here. Holstein Kiel to beat RB Leipzig at 8/1 with Betfair looks huge to me. Leipzig are another side with such inconsistencies, and Kiel will want to go down swinging. The basement club have at least been fairly competitive in recent weeks and could spring a big upset.
GS - Portsmouth are 18/5 at Norwich with Betfair. The Canaries have only won one of their last eight, and performances suggest a team that have mentally checked out on this season. Portsmouth have a great team spirit under John Mousinho, and while they've typically been much more of a home team, I think they'll take a big following to Norfolk and could rally to a big win.
AD - Manchester United’s eggs are very much in the Europa League basket this week and I fancy Wolves at Old Trafford on Sunday. I’m staying away from the result market, though, and backing Rayan Ait-Nouri for 2+ shots at 4/1 with 10bet. It’s won in two of his last four games.
Can you give us a goalscorer selection from any game across Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
MH - If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Carlisle striker Georgie Kelly did the business for us on this column last weekend at 10/3 anytime, heading home against Morecambe. The big Irish No9 now has three in two games and I can’t believe he’s up at 4/1 anytime to net in another must-win game for the Cumbrians at home to league leaders Port Vale. Also a 4/1 chance, I’d take a look at streaky Tranmere winger Omari Patrick, who scored a stunning brace at Accrington last weekend and will surely be in the thick of things again when his in-form side visit nervy promotion hopefuls Doncaster.
FMP - Jorge de Frutos against Valencia. The Rayo Vallecano forward has had a quiet campaign in terms of goals so far but he has been getting opportunities in recent weeks and at just shy of 6/1 anytime with Unibet and BetMGM, could be one to chance at a price.
GS - This is a fun one really but Oli Lynch for Luton at Derby. He's just been recalled from a loan spell at Hemel Hempstead Town, where he scored 11 goals in 18 games, and been given a new contract. Matt Bloomfield likes him as he's been training with the Hatters' first team. There's an outside chance he makes the bench, and you never know – he might get five minutes at the end. He's not on the betting list right now so you'd have to make a request to get him on the last goalscorer market – I reckon you could a really fancy quote. Everyone loves a fairytale!
AD - I'm expecting goals in Grimsby v Swindon, too, so I’ll take the visitor’s main man Harry Smith in the anytime goalscorer market at 10/3 with Bet365. He scored a brace last week and the Robins are just a fun team at the moment. There's bound to be some nerves in the home ranks too, given their play-off bid.
Is there one side you think can still cause a shock in the outright markets – be it surging to success or pulling off a great escape?
MH - I think the League Two play-off picture this season absolutely stinks of a seventh-placed winner. All of the current top six will feel they have blown an automatic spot to varying degrees, should they fall short. Meanwhile, the ‘outside’ contender will enter with a real spring in their step. We’re probably talking about one of Grimsby (7/1), Colchester (10/1), Salford (40/1) or Chesterfield (50/1) – so take your pick. I like a flyer on the Spierites (7/1 top seven finish), who if they have a good Easter, finish with games against strugglers Morecambe and Accrington.
FMP - Strasbourg could easily still sneak back into the top four of French Ligue 1, despite drifting out to 11/2. I like them more than Lyon and Lille who they’re battling with, and Liam Rosenior is continually proving himself to be an excellent coach who is destined for bigger things down the line.
GS - Millwall to finish in the top 6 Championship finish at 12/1. I advised them at 80/1 earlier in the season, which prompted some unenthusiastc replies. If you're not sold, check out my column for more!
AD - Keep an eye on Salford’s bid to reach the League Two play-offs. They are a streaky team under Karl Robinson but are on a good run at the right time, with all of the bottom three still to play. They need to catch up four points across their final four matches and are 7/1 with Betfair.