football | Friday, March 3, 2023 2:34 PM (Revised at: Friday, March 3, 2023 3:21 PM)

Championship Best Bets: March 4th - Six Value Picks in Bumper Best Bets Preview

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: Saturday, March 4th

We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of this weekend’s action. With the only two midweek games both ending in a stalemate, not much was done to change the landscape of the second tier. The bottom four all tasted defeat last weekend. In fact of the current bottom nine, only Rotherham added to their points tally. The Millers played out a 1-1 draw at Swansea on Monday night. That was their first point claimed from a losing position this season.

At the top, leaders Burnley cruised to a 4-0 victory over Huddersfield. Sheffield United got back to winning ways courtesy of a Ryan Porteous own goal. The Blades re-establishing their seven-point gap to Middlesbrough in 3rd. Michael Carrick’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat at West Brom.

Once again, six games go under the microscope, with a best bet in each.

In this article:

Blackburn vs Sheffield United Preview & Best Bet
Blackpool vs Burnley Preview & Best Bet
Luton vs Swansea Preview & Best Bet
Middlesbrough vs Reading Preview & Best Bet
Rotherham vs QPR Preview & Best Bet
Watford vs Preston Preview & Best Bet

Blackburn vs Sheffield United Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 12:30 (UK)

It’s been a great week for Blackburn. Sam Gallagher scored either side of half time in a 3-1 win at QPR to secure a third successive league win for his team. While a goal in each half helped Rovers dump Leicester out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night. Up to 4th in the Championship, through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup and on a run of 10 games undefeated. A win over their visitors here would close the gap on the 2nd-placed Blades to six points.

Sheffield United backed up their return to winning ways in the league with a Cup success of their own in midweek. An Iliman Ndiaye strike was enough to claim the scalp of Premier League giants Tottenham on Wednesday. That followed a hard-earned but vital three points from their clash with Watford last weekend.

Blackburn vs Sheffield United Best Bet

Despite Burnley and Sheffield United stretching clear at the top of the Championship table it is Blackburn who are the best starters in the second tier. Leading in nine of their 16 home games so far and in 17 of 34 overall. Of course, to be leading at the interval you need to score at least one goal. We can get odds of 2.50 on Rovers hitting the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes. Implying a 40% probability.

Selection: Blackburn to score in the first half
Best Odds: 2.50 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Blackburn vs Sheffield United Tips

Blackpool vs Burnley Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 15:00 (UK)

After seeing his side slump to a 3-1 defeat to Reading, a reporter asked Mick McCarthy: “In terms of results Mick, one win 17, it can’t go on like this, can it?” The response of “it can” will do little to encourage home fans ahead of the visit from the runaway league leaders. The Seasiders are firmly entrenched in the relegation zone and four points from safety. It will be seen as a huge shock if Blackpool can extend their current four-game unbeaten run at home.

Another week, another two victories for Burnley. Such is the Clarets’ dominance of the second tier the record points haul of 106 remains a realistic target. Vincent Kompany made five changes for the FA Cup win over Fleetwood in midweek. He will be grateful for Connor Roberts’ 90th-minute winner to avoid extra time. Having had 77% of the ball and faced only one shot the tie shouldn’t have taken too much out of those who were on duty and will also be in the starting lineup here.

Blackpool vs Burnley Best Bet

Burnley were 3-0 up after half an hour before cruising to a 4-0 dismissal of Blackpool’s relegation rivals Huddersfield last weekend. That stretched their unbeaten run in the league to 14 games, winning 12. Roared on by a sold-out away end at Bloomfield Road the Clarets will look to put on a show with a convincing win in this Lancastrian derby.

Selection: Burnley -1 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.07 (bet365)
Stakes: 8/10

More Blackpool vs Burnley Tips

Luton vs Swansea Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 15:00 (UK)

Luton’s “come from behind” draw against Millwall in midweek will feel like a huge point gained. The Hatters were 2-0 down with little more than half an hour remaining. Substitute Luke Berry scored an 87th-minute equaliser and prevented their promotion rivals from leaving Kenilworth Road with all three points. Following on from a weekend win at Birmingham, a four-point haul keeps Rob Edwards’ men firmly in the play-off mix.

For the second game running Swansea failed to hold onto a lead. At least this time Russell Martin saw his side pick up a point following the 1-1 draw with Rotherham on Monday night. The Swans manager opened up after the final whistle to admit his young team are currently very low on confidence and full of anxiety. This promises to be a contrast of styles with the physical, energetic and aggressive hosts keen to exploit any frailties in the visitors.

Luton vs Swansea Best Bet

It’s just two defeats in 15 games on home soil for Luton. The midweek comeback also illustrates the resilience and never-say-die spirit within the squad. Hosting a side with just one win on the road from their last 12 attempts will hold no fear. Especially one with a suspected soft underbelly.

The Hatters’ direct style will also see them win their usual share of flag kicks. Having taken at least five in each of their last five home games. They have only failed to cross that line once in their last 13 Kenilworth Road fixtures. Only West Brom have taken more than their 127 corners when playing in front of their own fans. An average of 7.47 per game.

Selection: Luton or Draw double chance and over 4 Luton corners.
Best Odds: 1.95 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Luton vs Swansea Tips

Middlesbrough vs Reading Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 15:00 (UK)

Middlesbrough will be looking to bounce back from a rare blip. A Daryl Dike double inside the opening 10 minutes was enough to end a run of five successive league wins last weekend. The Teesiders have only tasted defeat four times in the Championship under Michael Carrick. Winning the next game on the previous three occasions. Seven points adrift of 2nd placed Sheffield United having played a game more, Boro know that nothing other than a win here will do.

Reading clinched a vital win last weekend at home to Blackpool. With a pending points deduction hanging over them their current position 13 points clear of the drop is not as comfortable as it may appear. The Royals may have won the reverse 1-0 in August – pre-Carrick – but their results at home compared to away are polar opposites. Paul Ince’s side have the 4th highest points tally in the league on home soil.

Middlesbrough vs Reading Best Bet

Boro have won each of their last six fixtures at the Riverside. Scoring 15 goals in the process whilst only conceding three. In Chuba Akpom they have the league’s top scorer. He has bagged a brace in each of his last two home outings and six of his last seven strikes have come on home soil. They are worthy red-hot favourites against a Reading side that have the 2nd worst away record in the Championship. The Royals have collected just 11 points from 17 road trips, losing all of the last four. Tasting defeat in nine of their last 12 away games.

With Keith Stroud in the middle it is worth getting cards onside. The official has shown 121 yellow and three red cards in his 23 appearances in the second tier this season. Averaging over 5.50 cards per game he has shown at least four in each of his last eight competitive fixtures. Overall this season he has cautioned at least four players in 23 of 27 appointments.

Selection: Middldesbrough to win and over 3 cards in the match
Best Odds: 2.10 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

Rotherham vs QPR Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 15:00 (UK)

I was impressed with Rotherham when watching them draw at Swansea on Monday. Chiedozie Ogbene hit the post with less than a minute on the clock before grabbing a second half equaliser. Although having chances to win the game, Matt Taylor’s side have taken four points from their last two games. Giving the Millers a six-point buffer to the drop zone with 12 games to play. The home side know a win here will see them leapfrog the visitors.

Club legend Gareth Ainsworth’s first game in charge of QPR ended in defeat. The 3-1 loss at home to Blackburn was compounded by the sight of star player Ilias Chair limping off with a hamstring strain. Although not as bad as first feared, his absence from what is now a relegation battle would be a hammer blow. It will also be interesting to see how quick the R’s can adapt to their new manager’s more robust playing style and philosophies.

Rotherham vs QPR Best Bet

Rotherham have lost just once in their last five outings at the Aesseal New York Stadium. Impressive wins over play-off chasing duo Sunderland and Blackburn caught the eye in that sequence. The Millers will be confident of banking more points here against a QPR side who have not won any of their last 11 Championship fixtures. Losing each of the last four.

This could be a war of attrition and referee Darren Bond may have his hands full keeping a lid on things. There were five cards shared in the reverse fixture. Rotherham have had a player cautioned in 15 of their 16 home games so far this term and in all of the last 14. Ainsworth saw four of his new players have their names taken in his opening clash last weekend.

Selection: Rotherham or Draw double chance and both teams to receive a card.
Best Odds: 1.97 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Rotherham vs QPR Tips

Watford vs Preston Preview

Saturday, March 4th, 15:00 (UK)

A late Ryan Porteous own goal condemned Watford to defeat at Bramall Lane last weekend. A loss which sees the Hornets slip to 8th in the table with a four-point gap to bridge to the playoff places. Slaven Bilic cannot afford to fall further off the pace. The Croatian has overseen just one win in the last seven league games. He will be all too aware he is testing the patience of his owner’s notoriously itchy trigger finger.

Preston locked in another 0-0 draw in midweek. A league-high eighth of the campaign so far. The stalemate also lengthened the Lillywhites’ unbeaten run to four games and followed finally securing a home win at the weekend. Just eight points off the play-off places if Ryan Lowe’s side could turn some of those draws into wins they have an outside chance of extending their season beyond 46 games.

Both sides will be desperate to claim all three points here.

Watford vs Preston Best Bet

This promises to be a tough, tight and cagey battle at Vicarage Road. Watford have only lost one of their last seven home games. While only Burnley and Luton have picked up more points on their travels than North End. Given the visitors’ high number of goalless draws and that 14 of the Hornets’ last 17 games have seen under 2.5 goals. There will not be a lot between the sides.

Both teams also find themselves in the top five of the poor discipline table. Collecting a combined 147 yellow and 5 red cards between them. SkyBet uses a booking points system of 10 for a yellow and 25 for a red. There has been a minimum of 20 points for each team in 12 of Watford’s last 13 games. Preston have also collected a minimum of 20 points in 12 of their 16 league road trips this term.

The reverse ended 0-0 with 20 booking points for each side and I envisage something similar here.

Selection: 20+ booking points for each team
Best Odds: 2.00 (SkyBet)
Stakes: 5/10

Odds via bet365 and SkyBet as at 00:45 March 3rd 2023. Odds may now differ.

More Watford vs Preston 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.