Punters Panel: Expert football betting tips ahead of the weekend
Fri, 15 Aug 2025
Fri, 15 Aug 2025
The Premier League is back this weekend, and the football season both domestically and internationally is well and truly underway. There is a lot of action coming our way this weekend for punters to get stuck into.
We've lit the beacons to summon the Odds Now Punters Panel. Four expert football tipsters with the knowledge and understanding to offer the best football betting tips for the upcoming action.
Before we get stuck into the nitty-gritty, let's take a look and see who is providing their thoughts this week.
Matt Hill - As well as being Odds Now’s Head of Content, Matt is a vastly experienced tipster specialising in football and darts. His betting on the beautiful game has a strong lean towards the lower leagues.
Adam Drury - A regular football tipster for Odds Now, Adam enjoyed a hugely successful campaign in 2024-25, including landing three 50/1+ winners on his weekly EFL accumulator column alongside countless other top tips.
Gab Sutton - Widely renowned as one of the best football journalists around, Gab’s encyclopedic knowledge of the EFL makes him well-equipped to offer up unique betting angles for punters.
Scott Redfearn - Veteran punter and value hunter. Scott runs a paid Telegram service dedicated to outright betting markets, but also offers some of his nuggets to Odds Now readers.
MH: I think Lincoln are rock solid at just north of even money to get the better of Plymouth.
The Imps ranked seventh in League One’s home table last term for both goals scored and conceded, showing they are effectively play-off material on their own patch, while the Pilgrims have not been at the races in their first two league outings and have work to do.
AD: I had some success backing MK Dons in the draw no bet market at a shade of odds-on last Saturday, and I'm going to take a similar bet this week.
Shrewsbury have started the season looking like a relegation candidate, and Colchester should be good enough to at least avoid defeat when they travel to New Meadow. Danny Cowley's side are 19/20 with Unibet with the insurance of money back if it ends as a draw.
GS: My nap is Huddersfield to win at Blackpool at 7/4.
They look to have recruited superbly on early evidence, while the Tangerines look miles off the play-off outsiders we saw last season. If I were pricing this up, I'd have them favourites.
SR: Nice and simple this week. Millwall to get another positive result this weekend and beat Middlesbrough at 23/20 with Bet365 is my NAP.
MH: I normally have a long list to choose from in this section, but I’ll be honest, most of the odds-on favs in England this weekend (and there aren’t that many) look to have good claims. It might prove to be a good weekend for favourite backers!
AD: I don't much like Salford at around 4/6 against Accrington.
Karl Robinson's side have already been beaten at home by Crewe on the opening weekend and have won two of their last 13 matches on their own turf in total. Accrington have played four times this season and have only been beaten once.
GS: I'd possibly look to oppose Luton at Bradford. One or two of their early performances haven't been entirely convincing.
The Bantams have some momentum behind them right now, so I'd rather back them via the double chance at 4/6 than the visitors at 23/20 best price.
SR: In the Netherlands, I wouldn’t be backing Ajax at a best-priced 3/4, where a tricky Sunday morning clash awaits with KNVB holders Go Ahead Eagles.
Go Ahead held Ajax in the same fixture last year and beat PSV at home. So +1 on the handicap for the underdogs appeals at 11/10 with Unibet.
MH: Let's go a bit bigger picture here. I tried to point a few towards Luke Armstrong in the National League top goalscorer market at 66/1 three weeks ago. That is now 16/1 – but I’m going to urge any readers to swallow your pride if you’ve missed the big price, and just get on at 16s now.
The Carlisle striker is a man reborn in terms of confidence, playing No. 9 in a side that will create plenty of chances every game. His opening-day goal was clinical in the extreme, and there’s plenty more to follow. I’ll be shocked (providing he stays fit) if he’s out of the top three come May – and he might well top the charts.
AD: The 4/1 available for Iliman Ndiaye to score for Everton at Leeds on Monday night caught my eye. I fancy the Senegalese forward for a big season.
He's a really clever player, likes a shot and is usually on penalties, so a game against newly-promoted opposition is a good chance for him to get off the mark nice and early.
GS: Let’s stick with Jaze Kabia at 7/5 for Grimsby at home to Newport. He did the business last week at a chunkier price, but this does look a more attractive fixture.
The traders have cottoned onto him a bit more following his prolific start. However, I'm a big believer in momentum and confidence when it comes to forwards, and I think he'll enjoy a productive August and September.
SR: Despite Sheffield Wednesday’s ongoing troubles, they are still able to put out a competitive 11 at the moment – just!
Jamal Lowe will likely start again this weekend, and 6/1 for an anytime scorer is just too big with Unibet. Ike Ugbo scored midweek at 5/1 in the cup, showing there is value with this depleted Wednesday team.
MH: I made the case on this week’s EFL Betting Show for Callum O’Hare to be in the thick of the action this weekend as Sheffield United look to recover from an embarrassing 4-1 opening day home loss to Bristol City when they visit Swansea.
The dynamic attacking midfielder looks tailor-made for Ruben Selles’ style of football, and in his preferred position, could be a menace in this system. He’s 6/1 for an assist, while the 20/1 first goalscorer also looks chunky – both with Unibet and skins.
AD: I promise not to just put up Watford midfielders all season – particularly as last week's Moussa Sissoko shout didn't land (though I still reckon it was a great price).
Anyway, Hector Kyprianou has really caught my eye so far, largely for the way he's crashing the box and looking to get on the end of crosses. He is a massive 10/1 to score with Unibet at home to QPR on Saturday, who also have him at evens just for a shot.
GS: I think there could be some value in backing against Sheffield Wednesday via the half-time/full-time route in the coming weeks, predicting the score to be level at the interval before their opponents win.
They've found a real spirit in adversity under Henrik Pedersen, which means they might be competitive in the first half of games, before having a lack of options from their youthful-looking bench proves their undoing later on.
SR: We’re probably still one week away from a prop bet for me!
MH: Clearly, Liverpool are deserved favourites, having won last year at a canter before doing some serious strengthening this summer. But Manchester City are the bet for me.
Pep Guardiola’s achievements require no explaining, and I think talk of him being finished at City is premature. The irreplaceable Rodri is back in training, they’ve added another outstanding midfielder in Tijjani Reijnders (potentially a Kevin De Bruyne replacement), and I think Omar Marmoush is ready for a huge campaign.
I do respect Arsenal too, but I’d personally rather take 7/2 about a squad and coaching staff of proven winners than 5/2 about three-time bridesmaids.
AD: I have Arsenal as my title-winners. I think they've made the signings they needed last season, particularly Martin Zubimendi in midfield.
A left-sided forward would be the final piece of the jigsaw, but the Gunners are defensively rock solid, have reliable cover for Bukayo Saka, more attacking options – and it just feels like their turn after three straight second-place finishes.
GS: I'm backing Arsenal. I actually don't think Mikel Arteta gets the credit he deserves.
When he took charge, they were miles off the elite and had some deep-rooted issues. The thought that they'd be regular title contenders three years into his reign felt fanciful at best.
For me, Liverpool could concede a lot of goals as a result of their cavalier approach, and Pep is coming to that stage where he needs a sabbatical - so I reckon with Viktor Gyokeres in the building, the Gunners are ready to make that next step.
SR: I’d edge towards Liverpool for the title again - but it will be closer this time around!
I would expect Arsenal and Man City to be much more competitive and would expect a small drop-off from the champions.
The Odds Now Editorial team are the people who make OddsNow.com tick, publishing all the crucial content that helps you become a better bettor.
The Odds Now Editorial team are the people who make OddsNow.com tick, publishing all the crucial content that helps you become a better bettor.
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