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Mixed martial arts Championship Best Bets: March 18th - Best Bets for Three Matches
Championship Best Bets: Saturday, March 18th
We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of this weekend’s action. A full round of midweek games saw the top two win again. Burnley have moved a massive 13 points clear of Sheffield United in 2nd place. With the Blades now enjoying a six-point cushion from Middlesbrough in 3rd after Boro could only draw with Stoke.
The bottom four all picked up at least a point although Blackpool were the only winners. Thrashing QPR 6-1 at Bloomfield Road to leave Rangers looking nervously over their shoulders.
Three games go under the microscope, with a best bet in each.
In this article:
- Blackpool vs Coventry Preview & Best Bet
- Millwall vs Huddersfield Preview & Best Bet
- QPR vs Birmingham Preview & Best Bet
Blackpool vs Coventry Preview
Saturday, March 18th, 15:00 (UK)
King of the understatement Mick McCarthy declared his side’s 6-1 demolition of QPR as not the kind of result that happens very often. It was in fact only the second win in 20 league games for the Tangerines. With a final goal tally over 90 minutes which matched the total haul of their prior 10 fixtures. Given their lowly position it may come as a surprise to learn the Seasiders are yet to taste defeat in any of their seven home games in 2023.
Looking to end that record will be a Sky Blues side who appeared set to close the gap on the top six to four points in midweek. However, a late Kyle McFadzean own goal cost them the win at Wigan. That 1-1 draw leaves Mark Robins’ side in 9th place in the Championship. They will be looking to keep their promotion dreams alive with a second visit to a team in the relegation zone in a matter of days.
Blackpool vs Coventry Best Bet
It is hard to ascertain if the 6-1 scoreline came as a result of Blackpool being very good or QPR being shockingly bad. Possibly a combination of both. However a six-game unbeaten run at home in the Championship isn’t to be scoffed at. Especially with a visit from Burnley within that sequence. Coventry themselves have shown their strong backbone. Having not tasted defeat in any of their last eight league games. I am questioning the home sides ability to go again after such an exhilarating performance but rather than fully favour the Sky Blues I will keep the draw onside.
Viktor Gyökeres once again was responsible for his side’s midweek goal. His 18th of the season, with only Chuba Akpom plundering more. He should get more chances to add to that tally here given Blackpool concede a league-high average of 14.6 shots per game. The 24-Year-Old Swede has had the joint-highest number of attempts at goal in the league. His total of 111 shots equating to one every 29 minutes. He has had three or more in seven of his last nine outings and fired off two in a 17-minute cameo in the reverse.
- Selection: Coventry or Draw double chance and Viktor Gyökeres over 2.5 shots
- Best Odds: 2.20 (bet365)
- Stakes: 6/10
More Blackpool vs Coventry Tips
Millwall vs Huddersfield Preview
Saturday, March 18th, 15:00 (UK)
Millwall made the most of home comforts on Tuesday night. Consolidating their hold on 6th place with a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Swansea. But with results going favourably elsewhere, they now have a four-point buffer to 7th. The Lions only had 24% of the ball against the Swans and were dominated in every stat apart from the most important one. Proof once again that it’s about what you do with the ball that really counts. This will certainly be a completely different test and one which will much better suit Gary Rowett’s team.
After a wretched first-half performance, Huddersfield produced a much more spirited display after the interval against Norwich on Wednesday. A Grant Hanley own goal gifted the Terriers an equaliser and a share of the spoils. That point was enough to lift Neil Warnock’s side off the foot of the table although still six points adrift of Cardiff in the first position of safety.
Millwall vs Huddersfield Best Bet
Millwall know they will be a top-six side going into the international break regardless as a result of the midweek action. However, they will want to make full use of home advantage against the league’s worst travellers on Saturday. Only Middlesbrough and Burnley have lost fewer Championship games on home soil than the Lions. While Huddersfield haven’t seen one of their own players score a goal in five games. Failing to have so much as a shot on target despite the 1-1 scoreline against Norwich.
- Selection: Millwall to win to nil
- Best Odds: 2.20 (bet365)
- Stakes: 7/10
More Millwall vs Huddersfield Tips
QPR vs Birmingham Preview
Saturday, March 18th, 15:00 (UK)
QPR’s once-promising campaign continues to unravel. The butt of jokes this week for the onfield 6-1 hammering at relegation rivals Blackpool. Coupled with The Office-esque motivational video doing the rounds on social media. Rangers hold an ever-shrinking seven-point cushion to the relegation zone. The introduction of Gareth Ainsworth as their third permanent manager of the season has had little positive impact. After apologising to their fans for his side’s “nervous and weak” performance, the former Wycombe boss will expect a reaction back at Loftus Road.
John Eustace was another manager disappointed in his side’s midweek surrender. Labelling them “passive” as they were swept aside 3-0 at Watford. The Blues have picked up just 10 points from the last 42 on offer. Losing 10 of those 14 games. While just one win from their last eight road trips tells its own story. If there is to be one, the opening goal could be crucial in a game between two sides so low on both form and confidence. Therefore it is interesting and surprising to note no side in the division has scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes than Birmingham’s 13.
QPR vs Birmingham Best Bet
QPR’s fans will demand a response from their players in the wake of that pitiful performance at Blackpool. With Eustace expecting similar from his men. Both sides are locked together on 42 points and know a win here would all but guarantee Championship football for another season. As a result we should be in for a fiery encounter.
Who better to be in charge than Keith Stroud? Brandisher of a league-high 128 yellow cards and fresh from flourishing his fourth red card in the second tier on Wednesday night. He has taken three R’s games so far this term showing their players at least two cards in each of those. His only time officiating a Blues league game this campaign saw them have an equal share of eight cards with Norwich at St Andrew’s.
Rangers have picked up 12 cautions in Ainsworth’s four games in charge with a minimum of two in each fixture. Birmingham have had at least one player carded in all 21 away games in all competitions.
- Selection: 20+ QPR booking points, 10+ booking points each team & Over 0.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 1.83 (SkyBet)
- Stakes: 8/10
Odds via bet365 and SkyBet as at 01:50 March 17th 2023. Odds may now differ.
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