football | Monday, January 9, 2023 11:12 AM (Revised at: Monday, January 9, 2023 1:47 PM)

Early Bird Best Bets Jan 14th: 5 Early Picks for the Weekend

Sam Ingram

Early Bird Best Bets: Saturday, January 14th

Looking ahead to next weekend after a profitable few days, Sam Ingram picks out five Early Bird selections to consider here at bettingexpert. The aim of the Early Bird? To get on before the masses, lock in value, and beat the closing line.

In this article:

Rotherham vs Blackburn Preview & Best Bet
Girona vs Sevilla Preview & Best Bet
Sunderland vs Swansea Preview & Best Bet
Burnley vs Coventry Preview & Best Bet
Brighton vs Liverpool Preview & Best Bet

Rotherham vs Blackburn Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, January 14th, 12:30 (UK)

Paul Warne is nothing but a distant memory in Rotherham, with the club’s Championship status dissipating as quickly as the former gaffer’s imprint on this limp Millers outfit.

Elsewhere, in one of the season’s more extraordinary trends, Rovers are still yet to draw a league game. As you’d have probably guessed, after 26 matches, no other team can boast similar. The closest side to Blackburn in the draws stakes? Huddersfield with four. Yet, with the proposed selection, if the honours-even oddity is to come to a halt in Rotherham, full stakes would be returned with the 0.0 handicap.

3rd in the table and rubbing shoulders with the league’s best, Blackburn will be a difficult test for Rotherham. Unfortunately, the Millers’ performances have gone from bad to worse in recent months, with the unexpected 0-1 victory at Bramall Lane, remarkably, coming as their solitary victory from ten matches.

The FA Cup third round could have come as a welcome distraction for Matt Taylor’s ensemble. Perhaps a chance to bleed some confidence into the group. However, with four goals downing Rotherham to the tune of 4-1 against League One promotion hopefuls Ipswich, the potential of a welcome distraction soon morphed into further despair for the spiralling Championship club.

Gasping for air, seeking form, and attempting to cling onto any slim hope of survival – a Rovers side capable of turning over teams at the top end of the table is something Rotherham would’ve wished to have avoided right now.

The magic of the FA Cup was kind to those of a Blackburn persuasion. A 0-1 win at Carrow Road not only granted safe passage to the next round but also underlined their top six credentials versus a strong Norwich eleven.

Rotherham vs Blackburn Best Bet

The Home/Away Championship standings will tell you Rovers’ away form will need to be improved to guarantee playoffs in Lancashire. The eight losses in 13 matches appear to be a real worry on the face of things, though two away wins against Norwich, and victories against West Ham, Boro, and Hull since mid-October suggest a fundamental change in fortunes somewhere along the line.

Approach Rotherham with the same vigour as they did against the Hammers or Middlesbrough, for example, and the hosts will struggle.

Selection: Blackburn 0.0 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.72 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Rotherham vs Blackburn Tips

Girona vs Sevilla Preview

Spain, La Liga, Saturday, January 14th, 15:15 (UK)

Girona’s 2-2 draw away at Espanyol on the weekend ticked off 13 consecutive La Liga matches on the bounce where BTTS has paid out for punters. Girona’s home form has encouraged 11 strikes in six matches at the heart of this goal-laden stretch.

The 13 goals conceded in front of their own fanbase is ‘bettered’ only by a Cadiz defensive unit unable to shut out top-tier opponents with any regularity this season.

Venturing into the underlying metrics, Girona ranks sixth in La Liga for xG. The 22.0xG sum pips Atleti, Real Sociedad, and Real Betis, with the five sides with plumper totals likely to be right amongst the Champions League conversation. At the other end, 20.1xGA showcases just how busy the newly-promoted side has been in their defensive third.

In short, what Girona brings to the table encapsulates the perfect recipe for goals.

Girona vs Sevilla Best Bet

Sevilla’s inclusion isn’t a put-off, either. Each of their last four La Liga games have seen BTTS. Interestingly, throughout the season, two sides in La Liga stand head and shoulders above the rest regarding the recommended pick when playing away from home.

The two teams in question? Girona and Sevilla – both of which brag an 88% (7/8) of matches returning BTTS profits on the road.

Selection: BTTS – Yes (TRACKED SELECTION)
Best Odds: 1.80 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Girona vs Sevilla Tips

Sunderland vs Swansea Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, January 14th, 15:00 (UK)

Middlesbrough (65%) are the only Championship team to have witnessed three or more goals as regularly as Swansea City (58%). When playing away from the Liberty City Stadium, the Welsh side has crossed off Over 2.5 Goals in 7 of 13.

What about Sunderland at the Stadium of Light? Well, it’s a similar tale to Saturday’s visitors with over 2.5 goals in 7 of 12.

Seven-goal Ellis Simms may have returned to Everton to chip in with the fight of swerving the very league he had just put to the sword on several occasions, but Ross Stewart (9) and Amad Diallo (6) remain in red and white.

The Sunderland hierarchy will want to replace Simms and take some of the burdens from a free-scoring Stewart up top. Yet, until that happens, the ‘Lochness Drogba’ proved points can be wrestled into the Black Cats’ grip without Simms last time out in Blackpool.

Joël Piroe’s four goals in five matches in Swansea City colours prompt flashbacks to the imperious form we saw from the Dutchman last season. If that type of prolonged purple patch can be harnessed, The Swans will transform into a team threatening the playoffs rather than mid-table obscurity.

Sunderland vs Swansea Best Bet

So, here we have two teams that are no strangers to forcing the net to rustle, accompanied by attacking players capable of unlocking opposing defences. Not only that, but the two goal-getters at the business end of the pitch are doing what they do best.

On paper, goals are on the agenda. At 2.00 for three strikes to find their way into the game, it is a rather attractive offering up North.

Selection: Over 2.5 Goals
Best Odds: 2.00 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Sunderland vs Swansea Tips

Burnley vs Coventry Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, January 14th, 15:00 (UK)

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley goes from strength to strength by the seaside. It’s the kind of headline-worthy of donning a local paper or two after the wonders of the FA Cup blessed the Clarets against Premier League opposition.

It wasn’t a giant killing or a David vs Goliath scenario. Instead, if given the FA Cup third-round schedule in advance and asked to pluck out a lower league opposition to trump the riches of the Premier League, Bournemouth vs Burnley would have been near the top of many a list.

Put simply, that’s because this Burnley side is operating at a similar level to those occupying the bottom half of the Premier League. What is the main difference between Kompany’s men and the aforementioned top-flight strugglers? Confidence. Winning games surrounds a group with the confidence needed to play out of their skins and lock in victories after victories, with Gary O’Neil and his men now forced to focus on league competition for the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking of focus moving back to the bread and butter of the domestic marathon, Coventry provides Burnley’s subsequent league opposition. The Sky Blues have conceded three or more goals to Wrexham (4), Sheffield United (3) and Swansea (3) in the last three weeks.

Burnley vs Coventry Best Bet

With Burnley building up a head of steam with six Championship wins in a row, a Premier League scalp in the cup, and nine out of ten league wins dating back to the end of October, perhaps this may not be the best time for Coventry to visit.

In terms of the selection, Burnley’s most recent five matches at Turf Moor have all paid out a Burnley Win and Over 1.5 Goals.

On the back of four goals shipped by National League outfit Wrexham in Coventry, could more upset be on the cards for the travelling Coventry faithful?

Selection: Burnley & Over 1.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.15 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Burnley vs Coventry Tips

Brighton vs Liverpool Preview

England, Premier League, January 14th, 15:00 (UK)

Jürgen Klopp’s Reds are proving unable to keep opposing Premier League sides off the scoresheet. It’s a worrying trend that sees their BTTS return away from home as the second-highest behind Fulham in the division. In 12 of 17 matches, either side has done enough to get the ball across the line.

Brighton (11 out of 17) are just behind a leaky Liverpool in 3rd. Roberto De Zerbi’s approach to life on the south coast breeds goals at both ends, with seven consecutive league matches overseeing three or more goals.

Cody Gakpo’s arrival adds to a chaotic Liverpool front line more than capable of scoring, situated in front of a somewhat disjointed midfield three and a defence nowhere near as robust as they need to be if Premier League glory is the aim. Furthermore, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate should line up as competent deputies, with fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk out with an injury.

However, the 2-2 draw on Saturday evening, one that could’ve potentially ensured an exit from the FA Cup if VAR bore witness to another angle of the struck-off Wolves third, showed Liverpool’s incompetent nature very much still exists.

Brighton vs Liverpool Best Bet

Looking ahead at the proposed selection, only Manchester City (1.29) holds a loftier first-half goals average than Liverpool’s 1.06 in the Premier League this term. After the break, that decreases a little to 0.94. That’s the exact figure – 0.94 – which outlines Brighton’s goalscoring credentials. The Seagulls have averaged 0.94 goals scored in both the first and second half after 17 matches and 32 goals scored.

Following the season’s trends, one of these sides should be working a successful goalscoring opportunity in either half. If that happens, and both find the net, it’ll be a profitable excursion to Brighton next weekend.

Selection: Goal Each Half & BTTS – Yes (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.86 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

Odds via bet365 as at 10:00, January 9th, 2023 Odds may now differ.

More Brighton vs Liverpool 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.