Sky Bet League 2 - Weekend betting preview
AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley
AFC Wimbledon host Accrington on Saturday with the two sides separated by only goal difference in the Sky Bet League 2 table. It’s the Dons who sit one place higher in the standings in 13th and the hosts are even-money favourites for the win on Saturday. Accrington can be backed at 12/5 to return north with the three points and the draw is an option at 23/10. Stanley won 1-0 in the game between these teams earlier in the season and 9/1 is the price for a repeat of that scoreline. AFC Wimbledon have lost their last three games in a row but scored in all of their last four. It’s 8/11 for that run to extend to five matches and for both teams to find the back of the net here.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11.
Bury v Carlisle United
Bury are the odds-on favourites at 3/4 to beat Carlisle at the JD Stadium on Saturday. Visitors Carlisle can be backed for the win at 100/30 and the draw is priced up at 5/2. Bury have only won two of their previous 12 games though so victory looks a long way from certain. Carlisle won 3-1 at AFC Wimbledon last weekend but that’s the only game the Cumbrians have won on the road since the start of October. Two goals have been scored in three of Bury’s last four home matches and you can 5/2 with Sky Bet for exactly two goals to be scored again on Saturday.
Top tip: Exactly two goals to be scored at 5/2.
Cheltenham Town v Luton Town
Luton know that victory at Cheltenham on Saturday will see them climb into the Sky Bet League 2 play-off places but only if Shrewsbury lose at home to Stevenage. The Hatters have been priced up as the 13/10 favourites for three points at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham are on offer at 2/1 and the draw is available at the same price. You can get 11/2 for Luton to secure a repeat of their 1-0 win over the Robins earlier in the season. There have been under 2.5 goals in four of Luton’s last five games and eight of Cheltenham’s previous nine contests, making the 4/7 about that happening again quite appealing.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/7.
Mansfield Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Sky Bet League 2 leaders Wycombe hope to keep their position at the top of the standings by claiming three points from their trip to Mansfield on Saturday. The table-toppers are the 23/20 favourites for victory, Mansfield can be backed at 23/10 and the draw is on offer at 2/1. Wycombe are unbeaten in their last seven games but that run does include four draws, three of which have come in their previous three away contests. Mansfield enter this clash on the back of three defeats in a row and they haven’t won a home game since the end of November. Wycombe are rightfully favourites but don’t be surprised to see the leaders make it a fourth draw in a row on the road.
Top tip: The draw at 2/1.
Northampton Town v Newport County
Promotion chasers Newport hope to bounce back from last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Cambridge by taking three points against Northampton. County are the 7/4 outsiders for the win, hosts Northampton can be supported at 7/5 and the draw has been made available at 9/4. Newport had won seven out of their previous eight games before the crushing defeat last Saturday so don’t write off the hopes of the fifth-placed Exiles. Northampton have eased some of their relegation worries by claiming two wins on the spin to jump up to 15th. The Cobblers’ last three games have seen under 2.5 goals scored and you can get 4/5 for below that mark in this contest.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Oxford United v Exeter City
Oxford are the 5/4 favourites to bounce back from three games without a win by beating Exeter at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. Exeter, who sit just one point and one place outside the play-offs, can be backed at 2/1 for the victory and the draw is priced up at 11/5. The Grecians won 3-2 at Mansfield to end a three-match run of their own without a victory and both of their last two away games have contained five goals. Oxford lost 3-2 at home to Southend last time out so it has to be the 11/1 for exactly five goals to be scored as the top tip in this match.
Top tip: Exactly five goals to be scored at 11/1.
Plymouth Argyle v Morecambe
Plymouth hope to end a five-match run without a win when they host Morecambe on Saturday to get their promotion hopes back on track. The Pilgrims have been made the odds-on favourites for victory at 5/6, Morecambe can be supported at 100/30 and the draw is a 23/10 option. There has only been one goal scored in Plymouth’s last three games – by Luton in last weekend’s 1-0 win for the Hatters at Home Park – and two of Morecambe’s last three matches have finished 0-0. Back a third 0-0 draw in the last four contests for both of these sides at 13/2.
Top tip: A 0-0 draw at 13/2.
Portsmouth v Southend United
minute. Portsmouth can be backed at 15/8 for the win as they bid to end a seven-match run without a three-point haul. There was an improved performance from Pompey last weekend though as they drew 1-1 with promotion chasers Burton and the draw on Saturday can be found at 2/1. All five of Portsmouth’s last five games have contained under 2.5 goals and you can get 8/15 for under that mark this time out at Fratton Park.rdSouthend are the 7/5 favourites to consolidate their place in the Sky Bet League 2 play-offs with victory at Portsmouth on Saturday. The sixth-placed Shrimpers are on a six-match unbeaten run and produced a battling performance last weekend to beat Oxford 3-2 despite playing with 10 men after Gary Deegan’s red card in the 33
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 8/15.
Shrewsbury Town v Stevenage
Stevenage can be backed at 4/1 to become the first team in Sky Bet League 2 to beat Shrewsbury at Greenhous Meadow this season. The Shrews have won 11 and drawn two of their 13 league matches at home so far this term so it’s no surprise to see them as the 8/13 favourites for victory on Saturday. The draw can be backed at 5/2. Stevenage though will provide a tough test as they have won five and drawn one of their previous six matches. Don’t expect there to be too much in this contest and it’s worth keeping in mind that seven of Shrewsbury’s last nine games have contained one goal or less. You can get 2/1 for under 1.5 goals on Saturday.
Top tip: Under 1.5 goals at 2/1.
Tranmere Rovers v Hartlepool United
This is a huge game at the wrong end of the Sky Bet League 2 standings as Tranmere, who sit outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference, host bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool. Tranmere are the odds-on favourites for the win at 3/4, Hartlepool can be picked at 7/2 and the draw is on offer at 23/10. Rovers are on a good run at home with Barclays Premier League side Swansea the only side to beat them in their last seven games at Prenton Park. Hartlepool don’t have as much to shout about from their results on the road with no away win claimed since the start of October. Tranmere scored twice in the first half of last weekend’s 3-0 win over Accrington and there’s 5/1 on offer for Rovers to net two or more goals in the opening period of this clash.
Top tip: Tranmere to score two or more goals in the first half at 5/1.
York City v Burton Albion
Second-placed Burton are the 7/5 favourites to boost their Sky Bet League 2 promotion charge with victory at York on Saturday. You can back the Minstermen at 15/8 and the draw is on offer at 2/1. Burton beat York 2-0 at the Pirelli Stadium earlier in the season and 10/1 is the price for a repeat of that scoreline this weekend. The visiting Brewers are unbeaten in their last seven games and will be hopeful of adding to that run against a York side with only one home win to their name this term. Burton have scored the first goal in five of their last seven games and you can get evens for the Brewers to net the opener this weekend.
Top tip: Burton to score the first goal at evens.
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