28th August - Sky Bet Weekend Preview

AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage 

AFC Wimbledon head into this clash as 5/4 favourites to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at home to Hartlepool by beating a Stevenage side who also lost last time out. The visitors are 9/4 to chalk up their second win of the Sky Bet League 2 campaign while the draw is available at 11/5. Both teams to score is priced at evens (8/11 they don’t) and over 2.5 goals in the match can be backed at 5/4 (under is 4/7).  Matt Tubbs is favourite to score the first goal at 7/2 (10/11 anytime) while Stevenage duo Adam Marriott and Darius Charles are both 7/1 and 12/5 in the respective markets.

Top tip: Both teams to score at evens

Bury are in form having won two and drawn one of their last three matches since an opening-day defeat so they are favourites at 8/13 to maintain the momentum with a win over winless Accrington, who sit second-bottom of the standings. Stanley are 9/2 to pull off a surprise win but could be content with a draw at 11/4.  Both teams to score is evens (8/11 they don’t) which is the same price that there’s over 2.5 goals in the match (8/11 under). Bury striker Danny Rose is 7/2 favourite to score first (10/11 anytime) while fellow Shakers players Danny Nardiello and Ryan Lowe are both 4/1 and evens in those markets. Accrington duo George Bowerman and James Gray are both 8/1 for the first goal (11/4 anytime).  

Top Tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in the match 16/1

Neither Cambridge nor Carlisle have made a flying start to the season but the hosts are rated 6/5 favourites to claim their second win of the Sky Bet League 2 season. The visitors, who also only have one win from their four games, are 9/4 while the draw can be backed at 23/10.  Cambridge have netted five times so far this term and Carlisle only twice so under 2.5 goals in this one is understandably 8/11 with over priced at evens. Tom Elliott and Kwesi Appiah are both priced at 5/1 to net the first goal and 11/8 to strike anytime while Billy Paynter is the shortest priced Carlisle player at 7/1 and 12/5 respectively. 

Top Tip: Cambridge to score first at 4/5 

High-flying Cheltenham will tempt several punters at even-money to see off a Hartlepool side who head into this clash with only one win to their name from four games. That solitary victory did come last time out at AFC Wimbledon so morale should be on the up and they are 11/4 to make it back-to-back wins (draw is 23/10). Cheltenham were involved in a five-goal thriller with Tranmere on Saturday and those expecting more of the same can get 5/2 about there being more than 3.5 in this clash. Cheltenham’s Terry Gornell is favourite at 5/1 to score the first goal and 11/8 to net anytime while Marlon Harewood and Charlie Wyke, who both netted during the win over AFC Wimbledon, are both available at 7/1 (12/5 anytime).

Top Tip: Over 3.5 goals at 5/2 

Burton are living up to their billing as one of Sky Bet League 2’s promotion favourites having won three of their opening four games and they are 13/10 favourites to make it a fourth at Mansfield this weekend. The hosts have won both of their two games on their own patch so look good value at 21/10 to make it three out of three while the draw is 11/5. If you think goals are on the menu here then take the 5/4 about more than 2.5 (under is 4/7) while both sides to find the net is available at 10/11 (4/5 they don’t). Burton’s Stuart Beavon is favourite to score first at 11/2 and 6/4 to strike anytime. For Mansfield, Matt Rhead is seen as the most likely opening goalscorer at 6/1 with his price to net anytime available at 7/4.

Top Tip: Over 2.5 goals at 5/4

Northampton are ¾ favourites to claim their second win of the Sky Bet League 2 campaign when they host winless Exeter, who have taken just two points so far. The visitors can therefore be backed at 15/4 to claim their first triumph while the draw is available at 5/2. Northampton’s two home games to date have seen just three goals in total so under 2.5 in this one appears likely at 8/13 (over is 6/5) while both teams to score is evens (8/11 they don’t). Northampton forward Marc Richards is 9/2 favourite to score first and 5/4 to net anytime while Exeter duo Graham Cummins and Jimmy Keohane are 8/1 and 11/4 in the respective markets.

Top Tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals at 11/4

Oxford sit bottom of Sky Bet League 2 without a point from their first four games but hopes will be high to get off the mark with victory over Dagenham. The U’s produced a magnificent performance to take Premier League side West Brom to penalties in their midweek Capital One Cup clash before falling to defeat on spot-kicks. Oxford are 6/5 favourites with Sky Bet to claim three points but Dagenham shouldn’t be underestimated on the back of two wins on the spin. Wayne Burnett’s side are 12/5 to win at the Kassam Stadium and the draw can be backed at 11/5. Dagenham have scored first in their last three League 2 games and look value at 5/4 to repeat the trick on Saturday. 

Top tip: Dagenham to score first at 5/4

There looks to be a tight clash in store at Home Park between two sides who have promotion ambitions. The only win of Plymouth’s season so far came against Devon rivals Exeter and they need another victory to prove their credentials. Argyle are priced up at 7/4 to win, Southend are 13/8 and the draw is 21/10.  There was a quick start to Southend’s 1-1 draw with Carlisle last weekend as both goals arrived before half-time. You can get 21/10 for the most goals to arrive in the first half on Saturday.

Top tip: Most goals in the first half at 21/10.

Portsmouth have enjoyed a great start to the season. Three victories and a draw see Andy Awford’s men second behind Morecambe in the standings. Newport provide the opposition at Fratton Park on Saturday and Pompey are odds-on favourites at 10/11 for the victory. Newport can be backed at 3/1 and the draw is 12/5. County scored twice in their 3-2 defeat at leaders Morecambe on the second weekend of the campaign. They can test Portsmouth and 5/6 is the price for both teams to score.

Top tip: Both teams to score at 5/6.

This is the match of the weekend in Sky Bet League 2. Both sides sit amongst the favourites in Sky Bet’s title betting – Shrewsbury at 13/2 and Luton are 4/1 – and this is a good indication of their prospects. Shrewsbury are on a high after winning 1-0 at Premier League side Leicester in the Capital One Cup and are 13/10 favourites for victory on Saturday. Luton are 21/10 to return south with three points and the draw is 23/10. Both sides drew last weekend and it doesn’t look like there will be much to choose between them at the Greenhous Meadow.

Top tip: Draw at 23/10

Tranmere are 6/5 to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Cheltenham with victory over Sky Bet League 2 leaders Morecambe. Rovers led 2-0 before the Robins battled back and will have to be on their toes against the travelling Shrimps. Morecambe are 11/5 to claim their fifth win from five games this season and the draw is priced up at 23/10. Tranmere’s two home games so far this term have seen both teams score and that bet looks on the cards again at Prenton Park.

Top tip: Both teams to score at 4/5

York have drawn all four of their Sky Bet League 2 matches so far this season – three games finished 1-1 and one 2-2. You can get 11/5 for another draw when Wycombe travel to Bootham Crescent on Saturday. The visiting Wanderers are a side enjoying the start of the new term with three wins from four games diminishing memories of last season’s relegation scrap. Wycombe are priced up at 11/5 to claim another victory at the weekend but York are the 5/4 favourites. Will the Minstermen finally be able to break their run of draws?

Top tip: A 1-1 draw at 9/2

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