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Football | Monday, March 13, 2023 12:20 PM

Early Bird Best Bets: March 14th-18th - Early Value Picks for Six Matches this Week

Early Bird Best Bets: March 14th-18th - Early Value Picks for Six Matches this Week
Zuma Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Early Bird Best Bets: Tuesday 14th – Saturday 18th March

It’s a bumper edition of the Early Bird this week. Six picks follow the last two articles where we’ve successfully navigated 7/7 selections without a single loser. For transparency’s sake, one of those bets was a half-win, but let’s not get bogged down in the specifics.

For the week ahead, we’ve got midweek EFL football, Champions League, and old trustees in Boro, the Owls, and whoever Angers are playing in France.

In this article:


Sutton United vs Grimsby Preview

England, League Two, Tuesday, March 14th, 19:45 (UK)

Sutton United find themselves undefeated in nine fixtures in League Two, ushering a playoff spot to within just one point. Constgrastingly, Grimsby sits thirteen points away from Tuesday night’s hosts with one eye wandering away from league football. And who can blame them?

Premier League outfit Brighton, 1.16 favourites, await in the quarter-final of the FA Cup on Sunday. So, one would assume that the players and the club’s primary focus, even if they won’t admit it, is Sunday’s trip to the South Coast.

Sutton United vs Grimsby Best Bet

I’d expect players to be rested in the Grimsby dressing room – whether that be early substitutions or starting this match on the bench. Whereas for Sutton, as cliché as it may be, they’ve got ten cup finals of their own if playoffs are to be a reality.

With the Asian handicap offering a level of security in the event of a draw, I’ve decided on that over the straight win. The home side has succumbed to a share of the points in 4/9 of their unbeaten run, making my steps into this 90 somewhat tentative.

  • Selection: Sutton United -0.25 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
  • Best Odds: 1.73 (bet365)
  • Stakes: 12.5/10

More Sutton United vs Grimsby Tips


Man City vs RB Leipzig Preview

Champions League, Tuesday, March 14th, 20:00 (UK)

Man City are capable of almost anything on their day. I’d be shocked if this was the end of the road for them in the Champions League, and the 1.33 price for them to get the job done in 90 minutes says the bookmakers are of the same thought process.

RB Leipzig caused this City eleven problems in Germany after a sterile first half where they offered up extremely little. But, when they got into their stride and chances came, they looked like a match for Pep’s men. Of course, it’ll be difficult to replicate something similar now away from home, but I imagine it’ll get to a stage in the tie where they have to chuck the kitchen sink at it or go out with a whimper.

If we see an early goal from either side, then this could be fantastic viewing. If City opens the scoring, RB Leipzig will look to revert from their counter-attacking ideals and attempt to get on the front foot. Do that, and the subsequent spaces vacated will aid City in transition. An early RB Leipzig goal? Well, they’d need to batten down the hatches for the foreseeable.

Man City vs RB Leipzig Best Bet

In the end, though, I’d guess that City have too much here without running away to the tune of a 4+ goal margin. If we see more than one goal, I’m confident this pick will get over the line on William Hill.

Here’s hoping for a throwback to last season’s 6-3 scoreline between these sides at the Etihad Stadium. Notably, it was an early Nathan Aké goal that kicked proceedings off in the 16th minute.

  • Selection: City Win, O1.5 Goals & 1-3 Winning Margin
  • Best Odds: 1.95 (William Hill)
  • Stakes: 10/10

More Man City vs RB Leipzig Tips


Porto vs Inter Milan Preview

Champions League, Tuesday, March 12th, 20:00 (UK)

Porto and a potential Champions League exit often spell one thing; bookings. Portugal’s capital club saw a red card and three yellows in the first leg, while their Italian counterparts received one caution.

The proposed pick would’ve fallen just short in the initial meeting, but now there’s more on the line, and we have a referee who’s no stranger to a booking. Szymon Marciniak, fresh from tackling the World Cup final head-on, has brandished 30, 30, 50, 75 & 80 Booking Points in the Champions League this season.

With Porto involved in front of feverish home support, this will likely be a high-tempo, full-throttle match-up with a sprinkling of the dark arts for additional measure.

Only Club Brugge(27), who have played one game more than Porto(20), come into the round of 16 second-legs with more yellow cards in this year’s instalment of the competition. Moreover, Inter’s 14 in from 7.0 90s suggests they aren’t exactly clean as a whistle, either.

Porto vs Inter Milan Best Bet

I think the cards will come. The main concern here is whether they’ll be distributed evenly – something which would’ve stung card punters in the first leg.

The Early Bird often misses out on the card markets. However, with Betfred releasing their European helpings ahead of the curve, I’ll take that 1.83 for the purpose of the article and look to locate a similar price on a book not as soft as the week goes on.

  • Selection: 20+ Booking Points Each (TRACKED BET)
  • Best Odds: 1.83 (Betfred)
  • Stakes: 10/10

More Porto vs Inter Milan Tips


Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Preview

England, League One, Friday, March 17th, 19:45 (UK)

Another week, another Owls win chalked up on the League One standings.

Will Darren Moore’s men be caught at the summit? Probably not. Will Sheffield Wednesday drop many more points en route to Championship football? Probably not.

Reduced to ten men with 12 minutes plus added time on the clock would’ve concerned a fraction of Wednesday-backers on the weekend. At Fratton Park and having missed several chances to put the game to bed, there are few teams you’d fancy in League One to hold on and see the 90 out. But Sheffield Wednesday is one of them, and so they did.

Wednesday have lost just three games all campaign, one of which was at Hillsborough, winning 13/18. Next up, Friday night’s football helping sees Bolton travel to Sheffield.

Wanderers couldn’t live with 3rd-placed Ipswich on the weekend. A fluffed Dion Charles penalty all but ensured Bolton’s five-game form return has just one solitary win amongst the rest. A 2-1 win at home to Port Vale four games ago was followed by a 3-1 loss in Portsmouth – Wednesday’s recent victims – a 0-2 defeat to Ipswich, and a below-par bore draw on the road in Morecambe.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Best Bet

Playoff-chasing Bolton have clearly fallen off results-wise, but they’ve got more than enough to clinch a top-six finish after 46 games. Whether they can turn over Sheffield Wednesday on their own patch? That’s a monstrous ask at the best of times.

Right now, the only occasion I’d have Wednesday priced at 1.80-2.00 at home would be against an Ipswich side in full flow, not a stuttering Wanderers. That 1.80 should be shorter come kick-off.

  • Selection: Sheffield Wednesday to Win (TRACKED BET)
  • Best Odds: 1.80 (bet365)
  • Stakes: 10/10

More Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Tips


Middlesbrough vs Preston Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, March 18th, 15:00 (UK)

Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough have won seven of their eight outings at The Riverside Stadium ahead of back-to-back home matches in the next six days. It’s Stoke up first before Preston falls in line at the weekend.

Deepdale was the scene of Carrick’s first game as Boro boss – one that ended in defeat. You’d have been forgiven for thinking that this ex-pro was going to struggle for a period of time in Middlesbrough, but that couldn’t be further from reality.

Since the Deepdale loss, it’s 15 wins in 19 subsequent Championship performances. The stats are head-turning, granted, though it’s the manner of said victories and the rich vein of form of certain playing staff that stands Boro as Sheffield United’s primary threat.

A resurgent Stoke will be a testing hurdle on Tuesday. However, 1.83 looks like value.

Middlesborough vs Preston Best Bet

It’s currently 1.66 for the hosts to overcome Preston on the 1X2 markets which will be a touch short for most. Yet, considering 6/7 of Carrick’s Riverside wins have seen more than two or more goals, perhaps the Boro -0.75 Asian Handicap is the best way to go.

With this on our side, we’ll get half returns if the hosts win by one goal and full returns if they win by two or more at a touch under evens.

  • Selection: Boro -0.75 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
  • Best Odds: 1.95 (bet365)
  • Stakes: 15/10

More Middlesborough vs Preston Tips


RC Lens vs Angers Preview

France, Ligue 1, Saturday, March 18th, 20:00 (UK)

It wasn’t necessarily the plan, but the Early Birds are starting to turn into anti-Angers write-ups. Every week there’s a different angle to oppose Angers. You’ll know why if you’ve watched them turn out in recent months.

In an attempt to get ahead of the crowd, let’s take a look at the following weekend’s schedule. For me, Lens vs Angers is the go-to where you’re thinking – yeah, that’s a straightforward win for X or Y in Ligue1.

Angers have conceded 30 goals in 13 matches as it stands – five of which came in their previous Ligue1 game, as already mentioned (more than once!). For Lens, it hasn’t been the most fruitful of spells in 2023.

Considering they were neck and neck with PSG at Ligue1’s summit for a period, there has undoubtedly been a drop-off, with them now occupying 4th spot. However, similarly to Toulouse this weekend, there’s no better fixture in the whole division than Angers on home soil.

RC Lens vs Angers Best Bet

If RC Lens turn up as they often do at home, this could get messy. It’s worth monitoring how Angers cope without their head coach against Toulouse – if there’s a miraculous upturn in performance, then this may be a position to reconsider.

  • Selection: RC Lens -1.5 Asian Handicap
  • Best Odds: 2.00 (bet365)
  • Stakes: 10/10

More RC Lens vs Angers Tips

Odds via bet365, William Hill and Betfred as at 08:00, March 13th 2023. Odds may now differ.


What are Football Best Bets?

Best bets are our best value football picks. Our tipsters employ their knowledge and identify the best value bets. Our best bets span a wide range of markets, ranging from 1X2, goals over/under to the Asian handicap. Stay up to date with bettingexpert to follow up on the latest best bets.


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