football | Monday, November 7, 2022 4:34 PM

Early Bird Best Bets: November 8th-13th

Sam Ingram

Early Bird Best Bets: November 8th-13th

There’s plenty of work to be done in dressing rooms across Europe as the footballing schedule ramps up towards the World Cup. For many in the lower leagues, it’ll be business as usual over the next two months. However, for some, including those involved in the three games below, the week ahead is a perfect opportunity to ensure a positive trajectory pre-Qatar.

In this article:

Napoli vs Empoli Preview & Best Bet
Ipswich vs Cheltenham Preview & Best Bet
Strasbourg vs Lorient Preview & Best Bet
Brighton vs Aston Villa Preview & Best Bet

Napoli vs Empoli Preview

Italy, Serie A Tuesday, November 8th, 17:30 (UK)

The temptation to side with a Napoli outfit in full swing is too much to disregard. The win-to-nil market was pencilled in as a potential play, with offerings of odds-against for Spalletti’s men seeming generous enough. However, in the hope of avoiding any possible Empoli magic in the final third, there’s a selection on William Hill’s bet builder that may come in handy.

With Empoli expected to struggle to find the net, Napoli, as the first team to score, works for the first pick. It’s much safer than the win to nil, of course, but it harbours a much worse price. In an attempt to create something worth backing in the match on Tuesday evening, Napoli’s winning margin of 2-4 goals can drag the price up to 2.00.

Not one Serie A fixture this season has seen Napoli register a 5+ winning margin. With games coming thick and fast with the need to rest and rotate players, I’m hanging my hat on Napoli easing to victory in the final stages if they are in front, rather than a gung-ho nature to reach a lofty margin.

Napoli vs Empoli Best Bet

Against the big boys in 2022/23, Empoli have laboured. Overlooking the 1-2 Roma loss at home, Empoli has ticked off losing by a 2-4 goal margin against Atalanta (0-2), Juventus (4-0), and AC Milan (1-3). The 1-0 win on home soil against Sassuolo on the weekend may have breathed new life into camp, but this is a much different test.

Spalletti’s Napoli is proving too good for Europe’s best, and Empoli may be unable to keep pace.

Selection: Napoli to Score First and 2-4 Goal Winning Margin (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.00 (William Hill)
Stakes: 10/10

More Napoli vs Empoli Tips

Ipswich vs Cheltenham Preview

England, League One, Saturday, November 12th, 15:00 (UK)

Alvechurch FC made the trip to Cheltenham Town as a welcome distraction to domestic form that stood them 19th in the seventh tier of English football. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few days, the amateur side ended up doing a number on a gutless Robins eleven. Regardless of who was professional and who wasn’t, the better team won, despite the supposed gulf in class.

Cheltenham Town’s manager, Wade Elliot, is under all kinds of scrutiny from the fanbase. And rightly so. The majority wants him gone, assuming that to be compounded by the FA Cup disaster that played out on Saturday. The result was billed as one of the biggest shocks of the first round. Yet, in reality, there would have been a section of Robins fans fully anticipating disappointment in some way, shape or form.

Life doesn’t get any easier for Wade Elliot, as is usually the way in football. Now, Ipswich away from home acts as a digestif to the FA Cup horror. The Tractor Boys will be dusting themselves down from the improbable injury time period they subjected their fanbase to last time out against Charlton. With the home side intent on reverting to winning ways and keeping pace with Plymouth Argyle, Cheltenham’s visit feels like a tall order for Elliot. Priced at 1.28 for an Ipswich victory, the bookies think so, too.

So, we’ll need to get creative and put together another bet builder to get something onside. First up, corners. Ipswich rank as the best team in League One for corners registered at home. The 8.25 corners forced per90 average has Ipswich head and shoulder above most of the division. In the first half of games, 4.38 Ipswich flags per90 is the average figure we’ve got to work with for Cheltenham’s visit.

Ipswich vs Cheltenham Best Bet

In the away corner, Cheltenham ranks as the second-worst League One team for first-half corners conceded. The Robins’ 3.86-conceded per90 away from home proposes there may be early pressure to face in and around their eighteen-yard box.

Taking a home win alongside three or more Ipswich corners in the first half gets us to 1.95 on bet365. I can get on board with that.

Selection: Ipswich Win and Over 2.5 Ipswich First Half Corners (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.95 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Ipswich vs Cheltenham Tips

Strasbourg vs Lorient Preview

France, Ligue 1, Sunday, November 13th, 16:05 (UK)

In a peculiar season trend for Strasbourg, the home side witnessed over 2.5 goals in their curtain-raiser against Monaco (1-2) before overseeing six games on the bounce with two or fewer goals.

Then, in a stretch that brings us to Lorient’s visit on Sunday, the hosts have taken their supporters on a goal-fuelled seven-game journey where each and every fixture banked over 2.5 goals. In said seven matches, 27 goals followed at an average of 3.85 goals per90.

Conceding four goals at AC Ajaccio on the weekend is a damning indictment of the type of task Strasbourg’s backline may pose to a rampant Lorient. Before Strasbourg’s visit to Stade Francois Coty, Ajaccio had scored eight goals all season, providing 50% of their goal return in the 4-2 victory.

We’ve got a team in the away dressing room that’ll play ball when seeking a goal haul. Lorient’s 11/14 matches where three or more goals have landed is the highest percentage (71%) in France’s top tier. PSG, Lille, and RC Lens away from home – Lorient are proving capable of finding the net against France’s best, so we should fancy them to do so here.

BTTS at 1.75 is expectedly a little short. Yet, there’s enough in either camp at present to encourage the goal line to nudge above 2.5. I wouldn’t put anyone off the Over 2.5 Asian goal line at 1.92 on bet365, though the value has to be with Lorient here.

Strasbourg vs Lorient Best Bet

Lorient have scored two or more in 9/14 matches this season – the most in Ligue 1. Yet, on Boylesports, we can get behind them at 2.80 to find the net twice. The prices on offer don’t quite make sense. Strasbourg have conceded 2+ in the last seven games but heads into next weekend as 2.15 favourites, suggesting they’re a solid match for Lorient (3.20).

Anticipate Lorient’s odds to shorten ahead of kick-off on Sunday. Whilst they’re like this, I’ll have a punt on over 1.5 goals for the visitors and siding with an Asian handicap (Lorient +0.25 @ 2.00 on bet365) that pays half profits in the event of a draw.

Selection: Lorient 2+ Goals (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.80 (Boylesports)
Stakes: 10/10

More Strasbourg vs Lorient Tips

Brighton vs Aston Villa Preview

England, Premier League, Sunday, November 13th, 14:00 (UK)

Unai Emery’s first scalp as Aston Villa manager came at Villa Park on the weekend as Manchester United made their way down to get turned over 3-1 under the Spaniard’s gaze. Not the worst start to life in the hot seat, as the former Villereal head honcho selected a narrow 4-2-2-2 with Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins offering bags of energy in the two forward positions.

Aston Villa won the midfield battle, outnumbering United in the middle at times with their box midfield four vs United’s three. The Red Devils missed Bruno Fernandes’ link play in critical areas, though the jury is out whether he would have made much difference to the final scoreline. Under a new tactically astute gaffer with refreshing ideas and tactically occupying a more fluid approach, Aston Villa should start looking ahead of them in the table.

Brighton vs Aston Villa Best Bet

Brighton are next up, and although three points may be too much of an ask, we saw enough on the weekend to assume Aston Villa can find the net.

The Seagulls will give as good as they get, scoring in the last three consecutive matches (+ landing BTTS) against tough opposition in Manchester City, Chelsea, and Wolves.

Selection: BTTS – Yes (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.85 (William Hill)
Stakes: 10/10

More Brighton vs Aston Villa Tips

Best odds available as at 16:00 on 7th November 2022. 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.