football | Friday, December 23, 2022 10:14 AM

Championship Best Bets Dec 26th: 3 Value Picks this Boxing Day

Sam Ingram

Championship Best Bets Best Bets: Monday, December 26th

Boxing Day brings a footballing schedule to dust off any World Cup blues. Forget Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé; it’s Viktor Györkes and Brandon Thomas-Asante where bettingexpert’s focus lies with the return of Championship Best Bets. Three bets for your consideration are coming right up.

In this article:

Cardiff vs QPR Preview & Best Bet
Bristol City vs West Brom Preview & Best Bet
Sheffield United vs Coventry Preview & Best Bet

Cardiff vs QPR Preview

Monday, December 26th, 17:15 (UK)

The poor run at the end of Mick Beale’s reign as QPR boss was compounded by a 0-3 Burnley whitewash on home soil. You’d be forgiven for thinking the wheels may be starting to come off this R’s side after a highly impressive start to the campaign.

The Burnley showing and the upheaval that came with the managerial turnover will have, of course, fed into QPR’s price on Saturday. But fear not, Neil Critchley now has his feet snugly under his new desk in Shepherd’s Bush, following a perfect start to life against Preston last weekend.

The new manager bounce is in full flow. Again. It’s a whirlwind altering of circumstances that often lifts player performance just enough to overcome opposition, something which may threaten to continue against Cardiff at a lofty price. At the time of writing, QPR presents as 3.00 underdogs against the Welsh outfit.

Cardiff have a new-ish gaffer themselves. However, Mark Hudson’s stint in the dugout has been less than inspiring. The two recent draws in as many games arrive after six losses in the previous eight matches before the break for World Cup football. Last time out, despite the 22 shots to Blackpool’s nine, the Bluebirds lacked any sort of conviction in the final third.

Cardiff vs QPR Best Bet

In fact, across the last six matches, Cardiff worked their way into the lead on four occasions against Watford, Hull, Stoke and Blackpool – three of which were played at home – and have gone on to lose all four fixtures.

Although QPR under Critchley is clearly a work in progress, and there are plenty of question marks in the away camp, there’s no chance I’d pencil in Cardiff as 2.40 favourites here. The Asian Handicap pays us out if QPR avoids defeat, returning half returns in the event of a draw – I’ll take that.

Selection: QPR +0.25 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.80 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Cardiff vs QPR Tips

Bristol City vs West Brom Preview

Monday, December 26th, 15:00 (UK)

Championship Best Bets returns to bettingexpert as the Qatari dust settles on the footballing landscape. And still, like before, Bristol City wrestles our attention from the other ten Boxing Day fixtures in the division with the offering of goals.

For either side to find the net is usually a favoured occurrence at Ashton Gate at a price-threatening Evens. West Brom’s visit is no different. Carlos Corberán has breathed new life into the Baggies, though the Coventry visit during the week brought a halt to the five-game winning streak for the Midlands outfit.

The proposed selection has landed just once in Corberán’s opening seven matches – a 90-minute comeback period in Sunderland. Regardless, with Bristol City participating, similarly to the 2021/22 campaign, it’s a pick that has banked in 61% of Robins fixtures – #4 in the division.

One match where BTTS didn’t romp home was at The Hawthorns just over two months ago with the hosts under caretaker charge. Okay, there was no Corberán, but the same group of players were downed 0-2 by two first-half Bristol City goals. Nigel Pearson’s men should take confidence from the October Midlands jaunt.

Bristol City vs West Brom Best Bet

Despite the Baggies looking more comfortable in forward areas with the Spaniard at the helm as Rogic, Dyke’s injury return, and an improving Thomas-Asante all aid the Baggies on the goals front, there’s undoubtedly still a susceptibility at the back, as Coventry showed. The 17 shots in Coventry colours prove the Baggies can be got at, as does the 9.4 shots conceded per90 average total since the new gaffer strolled into town.

If Bristol City can make one of their chances count, the 1.80 price could ultimately appear good value amidst the abundance of leftover Boxing Day turkey.

Selection: Yes on BTTS
Best Odds: 1.80 (William Hill)
Stakes: 7.5/10

More Bristol City vs West Brom Tips

Sheffield United vs Coventry Preview

Monday, December 26th, 15:00 (UK)

We’ve just touched on Coventry shots, which leads us nicely onto the next pick. During West Brom’s visit, Viktor Györkes played the entire 90 minutes, got himself the winning goal, and produced five shots in the process, with three finding the target. What more do you want from your centre forward?

Next up is an arduous trip to Bramall Lane, so we can expect fewer chances for the Swede operating up top for the Sky Blues. However, the strike during the week takes Györkes up to 11 for the season, more than any other player, with a two-goal cushion to the army of players lagging behind on nine.

Sheffield United vs Coventry Best Bet

Here we have a player in form, no doubt about that. The six goals in his last six appearances suggest as much, as does his 1.45 Shots on Target per90 average in 2022/23. Only Oliver McBurnie (2.45), the Blades’ very own, pips the Coventry striker, having played nearly half of the minutes Györkes has so far.

So, at 1.72, the stats suggest it’s an inviting price into the match. At 3.00 shots per90 and a 48.4% SOT conversion rate from his total shots output, the 1.72 price isn’t a bad one.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Sheffield United’s 2.57 SOT per90 conceded rate is the lowest in the Championship, prompting the larger-than-usual price around Györkes’ neck.

Selection: Viktor Györkes 1+ SOT
Best Odds: 1.72 (bet365)
Stakes: 7.5/10

Odds via bet365 and William Hill as at 08:00, December 23rd, 2022. Odds may now differ.

More Sheffield United vs Coventry Tips

What are Football Best Bets?

Our best bets are posted by some of the best tipsters around. These are our tipsters best value bets. A best bet can be placed on any number of different markets. The most common of which are 1X2, the Asian handicap, BTTS, and the goals markets. Value can be found in matches from leagues across the world. Be sure to follow bettingexpert for the latest best bets.