Expert football betting tips for Saturday, January 31st 2026

The winter grind has well and truly set in for clubs up and down the country as we head into another weekend of thrilling football action. It's time, once again, to browse through the fixtures coming away across the Premier League, Football League, non-league, and beyond to see where we can find value.

We've lit the beacons to grab the attention of the Odds Now Punters Panel. Expert football tipsters with the knowledge and experience to provide the best football betting tips for the upcoming weekend's action.

Before we start this week's panel, let's take a look and see who is giving their thoughts this week.

Introducing the Odds Now Punters Panel

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.

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.

Steve Day - Experienced punter and football tipster. Steve has 15 years of experience writing football betting previews covering competitions both domestically and abroad.

Adam Drury - A seasoned football journalist who has worked for various national outlets and has tipped successfully as part of Odds Now's football team for two seasons.

Felix Morson-Pate - Odds Now's resident football data expert, who also contributes a weekly global football picks column, World Of Wagers.

Now, let's get into the good stuff!

What is your best bet across this weekend's football slate?

GS: Hull to win at Blackburn at 21/10 is wild. If they were odds-on, or perhaps evens, I might be making the data argument, that Blackburn have been unfortunate not to earn more points and Hull have maybe rode their luck, but because the price is bigger than 2/1 for a promotion contender away to a team in the bottom three, in the last weekend of January, I think you have to go with it.

SD: Lincoln is the team that just seems to keep on picking up the wins in the Football League. I look at their price of 23/20 with Bet365 to win away against Wigan, and I'm on it. The Latics are hovering precariously above the relegation zone in 19th place. Ryan Lowe's tactics have come under criticism for being too negative. It's no surprise they've not won in their last 5 league games.

AD: Wrexham have to be well fancied at Sheffield Wednesday, who have lost their last five games without scoring. The visitors are in decent nick, inside the top six after winning five of their last seven.

FMP: Bradford to beat Doncaster at 13/10. Some may say the wheels are starting to fall off at Valley Parade, whilst Donny have shown signs of life of late. That said, I still think their form at Valley Parade will be crucial if the Bantams are to maintain a play-off spot and what better way to arrest the recent slide than beating a local rival.

Is there a favourite you would advise punters against backing?

GS: Stockport. Plymouth Argyle have taken a whopping 24 points from their last 13 games, with only rivals Exeter shipping fewer goals in that sequence. I connect their reorganisation to former manager Derek Adams' return to the club as DoF and the wisdom he's imparted to Tom Cleverley. County are a good side, but no way am I backing against Argyle at odds-on.

SD: I'm wary about this game for Cardiff this week, away to Burton. The Brewers stole a 1-0 win at our place earlier in the season, and they've taken points off a few teams at the top end of the table this season, including the Bluebirds, Huddersfield, Bolton, and Stevenage. It also seems to be the teams lower down that Brian Barry-Murphy's side have issues with on their travels, having dropped points away to Port Vale, Blackpool, and Leyton Orient this season.

AD: I want to take on Arsenal at Leeds. I still fancy the Gunners to lift the Premier League title this season, but they are three without a win and take on a side I've been really impressed with. Daniel Farke's side were outstanding in the first half at Everton last time out, eventually drawing a game they should have won, and have lost once in 11.

FMP: 8/11 for Bristol Rovers hosting Newport makes no appeal whatsoever. It’s 22nd hosting 23rd with just a point between them, and arguably it’s Newport who are playing ever so slightly less poorly at present. No, thank you.

Give us a game that screams goals, please!

GS: Peterborough against Huddersfield. Posh have a manager in Luke Williams who is very attack-minded, and their visitors have quality across the park.

SD: Middlesbrough vs Norwich stands out for me. Both teams are in decent form right now, so they'll both think they can take something from this game. Kim Hellberg's side have scored 13 goals in their last 4 league games. Philippe Clement's men have bagged 9 goals in their previous 3 league games. Both clubs have seen over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of their last 5 respective league matches.

AD: Middlesbrough v Norwich in the Championship jumps out. Boro's last five have gone over 2.5 goals, with BTTS landing in three of them and the other two finishing 4-0. Norwich's last four matches have finished 5-1, 2-1, 5-0 and 2-1. BTTS & over 2.5 goals is evens with Sky Bet.

FMP: I’m hoping Leeds’ strong home form draws Arsenal into a bit of a shootout at Elland Road on Saturday. Let’s face it, despite being strong favourites still for the title, the critical media eyes are lurking to pounce on any Gunners slip-ups now, so an entertaining win here would be a very welcome tonic. Expect Leeds to contribute to this one too, O3.5 goals is 12/5.

Any goalscorer or prop bets taking your eye this weekend?

GS: Tommy Conway to score anytime at 13/10 or score first at 9/2. There's a lot of talk about Middlesbrough going for a clinical finisher in the last few days of the window, linked with Adam Armstrong, and I think there's an incentive for Conway to prove that he can be that man. Boss Kim Hellberg loves his selflessness, but he's also scored three goals in his last two games.

SD: After going two league games without scoring, Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard will be unleashed against bottom-placed Port Vale. Ballard to score first at 5/1 is very appealing. His price of 8/5 to score anytime is available if you're a little more cautious. The fact Jon Brady's side have conceded 3 goals in each of their last two league games suggests the Vale defence is there for the taking.

AD: Leo Scienza has scored in his last couple of games for Southampton and puts up fantastic shot numbers: 14 in his last four games. I'll take him at 11/4 against a Stoke side struggling with injuries.

FMP: Let’s try to stick to what I (should) know as we head to Türkiye, where Goztepe host Karagumruk. The home side are flying, the away side are anything but, and I like the price about Junior Olaitan (9/4) to find the net. Playing as the 10 in a 3-4-1-2 system, he is usually good value for a SOT or two in nearly every appearance and against an opposition likely to sit in, he should get plenty of chances to pull the trigger.

Is there a side not currently pulling up trees in their division that you think punters may want to start getting on side in the coming weeks?

GS: I'd say Derby in the Championship, Plymouth Argyle in League One, and Grimsby in League Two.

SD: Huddersfield are the ones to watch for me. The appointment of Lee Grant didn't work out for them, but the decision to replace him with Liam Manning could be a stroke of genius. It didn't work out for Manning at Norwich either, but he's done well with both MK Dons and Oxford in League One before. The depth of talent at the Terriers is up there with the best in the league, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them put pressure on the automatic promotion spots over the coming months.

AD: Portsmouth are due an improvement in the Championship, I reckon. I was impressed by them at Watford last week and again in the south coast derby against Southampton. They're down near the bottom of the Championship, but I expect them to start winning a few games – so it could be worth taking advantage of their bigger prices, starting with 19/10 at home to West Brom.

FMP: Probably too late to make a playoff push, but I really like how Mansfield are playing of late. 11 points and unbeaten in their last 5 and some kind enough fixtures coming up, deffo one to keep an eye on.