football | Friday, October 7, 2022 1:06 PM (Revised at: Friday, October 7, 2022 1:07 PM)

Championship Best Bets Oct 8th: 3 Best Bets this Saturday

Sam Ingram

Championship Best Bets: Saturday, October, 8th

Goals – or a lack of them in Norwich, shots in the Midlands, and plenty of action expected in Wales. It should be another thrilling instalment in the second tier. Here at bettingexpert, we have three shouts to bolster your bet slips for Saturday afternoon.

In this article:

Norwich v Preston Preview & Best Bet
Birmingham v Bristol City Preview & Best Bet
Swansea v Sunderland Preview & Best Bet

Norwich v Preston Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, October 8th, 15:00 (UK)

The lack of goals following Preston around the country is somewhat bizarre. Only four goals scored and four conceded has their overall goal tally thirteen strikes shy of Coventry and Birmingham, who have both witnessed 21 this season.

Freddie Woodman has produced 34 saves and nine clean sheets in 12 matches in the Preston net, conceding four goals from 13.10xGA. That’s a bonkers statistic with no chance of real longevity. Interestingly, Ryan Lowe’s Preston are averaging 4.00 points per goal scored – the highest total in the top four tiers of English football. Gillingham gets close with 3.33, whilst Wolves are the next highest with 2.00.

Switching focus to the home team, Norwich doesn’t quite present with the same lack of goals in Norfolk. In fact, The Canaries have only failed to score once from 14 games in all competitions in 2022/23. However, despite their capabilities in front of goal, the three recent Championship matches against Reading, Blackpool, and West Brom have all returned under 2.5 goals.

Norwich v Preston Best Bet

Delving a little deeper regarding the Double Chance selection, Dean Smith’s men haven’t tasted defeat in nine league outings. Now at home and up against a Preston side devoid of too much goalscoring threat at present, it doesn’t appear like that stretch will falter any time soon.

Selection: Norwich or Draw and Under 3 Goals
Best Odds: 2.10 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Norwich v Preston Tips

Birmingham v Bristol City Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, October 8th, 15:00 (UK)

Only a stingy ten-shot Preston side, a ten-man Wigan from the tenth minute, and a poor Huddersfield Town outfit two games into the season have failed to hit 11 shots against Birmingham City this season.

The Brummies’ shots conceded per90 average is the seventh highest in the Championship at 13.42. So, Boylesports’ offering of 11+ shots at 1.70 and 12+ at 2.15 is intriguing, especially as it has landed in 9/12 fixtures for their opponents.

Bristol City aren’t just any old side, either. Nigel Pearson’s Robins are a front-foot, full-throttle type of proposition. They’ll cause the best teams in this division plenty of headaches this year – we’ve seen as much in the season’s early stages. Yet, admittedly, Bristol City have hit a sticky patch in the last four. They may be without a win, but that’s no disgrace. Norwich City, Burnley, and QPR on the bounce before meeting a Coventry side slowly clicking into gear is a tough stretch. In said four games, 11+ shots haven’t been reached once, which is, of course, a concern here.

Birmingham v Bristol City Best Bet

Before the recent four outings, Bristol City was winning games and scoring at will, casting Cardiff, Huddersfield, and Blackpool aside in their stride. Attempts totals of 16, 12, 13, and 15 came prior to the four-game stutter. Birmingham will afford chances to City, and with their leaky nature in terms of shots this season, 11+ should go close.

Selection: 11+ Bristol City Shots
Best Odds: 1.70 (Boylesports)
Stakes: 7.5/10

More Birmingham v Bristol City Tips

Swansea v Sunderland Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, October 8th, 15:00 (UK)

The two 0-0 results for Sunderland would have skewed the price of the goals markets in Saturday’s match-up with an in-form Swansea. However, the two ‘bore’ draws weren’t for want of trying. Sunderland recorded 16 shots versus both Blackpool and Preston, hitting a 0.92xG total against The Seasiders and 0.73xG for Preston’s visit.

In an attempt to get a lower goal angle on side, William Hill’s offering of Swansea to win or draw and over 1.5 goals brings us to 1.80. That seems like a decent price, considering the place Swansea finds themselves.

There have been two or more goals in 9/12 Swansea matches and 7/12 since The Black Cats gained promotion to the second tier. On average, the underlying metrics propose over 1.0xG at either end for both sides, as Swansea enter the match-up with 16.6xG and 15.9xGA. In the away corner, Sunderland’s totals have them at about mid-point in the Championship’s expected standings: 14.0xG and 14.4xGA.

Swansea v Sunderland Best Bet

The Swans’ last three matches ensure they’re in an imperious, buoyant mood heading into Saturday afternoon. A routine 3-0 win versus Hull in Wales was added to by two magnificent away victories against West Brom (2-3) and Watford (1-2). Now back home, expect Swansea to cause Sunderland similar concerns but also be susceptible to Sunderland’s keenness to work the keeper. The 13.17 shots per90 average in Sunderland’s camp is the fifth most in the league – not bad for a newly-promoted team.

Selection: Swansea or Draw and O1.5 Goals
Best Odds: 1.80 (William Hill)
Stakes: 10/10

Best odds available as at 08:00, October 7th, 2022. Odds may now differ.

More Swansea v Sunderland 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.