Carabao Cup betting tips: Four picks for Tuesday's Round One action
While we still have three more days until the new Premier League season kicks off, football punters have a full slate of Carabao Cup first round ties to get stuck into on Tuesday evening.
Our football tipster Matt Hill (@Matt_Hill93) marks your card with four quickfire selections.
Some would call this one a Lancashire derby, depending on your definition of exactly where Barrow lies on the map. Mind you, it’ll still take Championship outfit Preston nearly two hours to make their way up to Holker Street for this clash with the League Two Bluebirds
Barrow have made an unsatisfactory start to the season, with boss Andy Whing coming in for a bit of criticism from fans after defeats to Chesterfield and MK Dons. That’s probably a tad harsh, given that pair top the outright betting in the basement tier.
Still, mustering just one shot on target in 180 minutes doesn’t bode well and things are unlikely to improve against a Preston side who outperformed opening day expectations when earning a point away to QPR.
Many are tipping Paul Heckingbottom’s men to struggle in the league this term but they have a strong recent record in cups against lower-league opposition and look generously priced to come out on top here.
While Wrexham understandably dominate headlines when it comes to flying through the English leagues in recent times, Stockport have also enjoyed an impressively rapid upward trajectory under Dave Challinor.
County were still plying their trade in the National League North as recently as 2019 and yet came within a whisker of promotion to the Championship last term – with many tipping them to go close again this season.
This should be an entertaining fixture as they welcome Lee Bell’s Crewe, who find themselves the early pace setters in League Two after 3-1 and 2-0 wins over Salford and Accrington respectively.
Bell’s men play good football and will look to go toe-to-toe with a home side who may rotate a little. Add in the nature of knockout football and goals certainly appear on the cards at Edgeley Park this evening.
Saints nearly left me with egg on my face last weekend after I bullishly backed them to beat Wrexham on my Friday column and the EFL Betting Show. It took goals in the 90th and 96th minute for them to complete a dramatic turnaround – but who cares, it’s in the books!
Normally, I’d approach this kind of fixture with a bit of trepidation as you could see a promotion-chasing Championship outfit not being too worried about a cup run in comparison to a League One opponent. But Will Still is probably too early into his reign to take such decisions and I’m expecting a fairly strong away side here at Sixfields.
Kevin Nolan’s Cobblers survived with relative comfort last term but are favourites for the drop in League One this time around – a status that looks a fair assessment at this early stage having been thumped by Wigan away and held to a goalless draw at home to Bradford.
They’ve not won a home fixture in any competition since February and I don’t see that trend reversing this evening. Saints should progress and it should be with an element of comfort.
Two sides still searching for their first league win of 2025-26 meet here as League Two Accrington host League One Peterborough – and there may be some value in the away side as a result of their pointless start.
Admittedly, Posh have been fairly comfortably beaten in their two League One games but context is required, given they have opened up against two relegated Championship sides from last season in Cardiff and Luton.
Their hosts this evening represent a serious drop in quality, with Stanley having mustered only half a goal’s worth of xG in a disappointing defeat at Crewe last time out and a similar total during an opening-day home draw with Gillingham.
Despite their obvious flaws, this youthful Peterborough side do have plenty of goal threats and look worth siding with at odds-against quotes.
1pt - Preston to beat Barrow - 10/11 (various)
1pt - Stockport vs Crewe over 2.5 goals - 7/10 (William Hill)
1pt - Southampton to beat Northampton and over 2.5 goals - 5/4 (Sky/ Paddy/ Betfair)
1pt - Peterborough to beat Accrington - 21/20 (various)
0.5pts - Four-fold accumulator - 13/1 (Betfred)
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.
Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.
He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.
When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.
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