Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Steve Davies

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's EFL matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Grimsby
3pts 6-5 general

Walsall
2pts Evs bet365, Hills

Burton or draw double chance
2pts 8-5 Betfair

AFC Wimbledon
2pts 11-10 Coral, Hills

Burnley -1 on Asian handicap
2pts 27-25 bet365

Hartlepool v Grimsby

Grimsby Town suffered a rare breakdown on the road on Tuesday night but can put it right when they visit League Two backmarkers Hartlepool.

Only Leyton Orient have amassed more away points than the Mariners, so it was something of a surprise when they slipped up at Barrow, losing 1-0.

Hartlepool should be more to their liking, however. Pools have lost five in a row in all competitions, won only once in the league all season and are blighted by injuries and – by all accounts – illnesses, too.

Grimsby have won five times on their travels already and boast the third-best defence in the section. Hartlepool's, meanwhile, is the worst by some distance.

Walsall v Rochdale

Walsall have picked up under Michael Flynn – one defeat in six in League Two, and that was only 2-1 at Mansfield – and they can make it four straight home wins against Rochdale.

The Saddlers produced their best 45 minutes of the season as they raced into a 3-0 lead over Harrogate on Tuesday night, running out 3-1 winners.

Injured players are beginning to return for Walsall, as is midfielder Brandon Comley, who was sent off in a 1-1 draw at Sutton.

Sheffield Wednesday v Burton

There have been definite signs of life at Burton since Dino Maamria replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The League One table shows the Brewers are still in bother but they've lost only three of their last ten in all competitions and a loan signing of the calibre of Jamaica international Adrian Mariappa is bound to make a positive difference.

In their last ten outings Burton have gone to Exeter and won, visited Peterborough and drawn and beaten Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the Football League Trophy. And they are back in South Yorkshire again to take on Wednesday, who have been held by both Lincoln and Bristol Rovers over the past week and may well find Albion a tough challenge.

The Owls are also without a trio of central defenders after Michael Ihiekwe earned a ban courtesy of a fifth booking against the Gas.

AFC Wimbledon v Harrogate

Harrogate's injury woes show no sign of easing and that leaves them vulnerable at improving Wimbledon.

The Yorkshire side have lost seven out of nine on their travels this season and Simon Weaver is missing at least seven first-teamers for the trip to south London.

Wimbledon have enjoyed a good week, winning at Rochdale and drawing 1-1 with Crewe, and can take that confidence into this winnable home assignment.

Burnley v Reading

There's a sense that clubs are finding their right level in the Championship, which means at the top for Burnley and fading fast for Reading.

The Royals are poor travellers – they boast the worst away goal difference in the second tier – and Burnley are unbeaten at home.

Vincent Kompany's Clarets have battered only one team at Turf Moor – they smashed Swansea 4-0 – but confidence continues to soar and they can see off Reading with something to spare.