James Milton: Football predictions & free betting accumulator tips

Free football tips, bets and analysis for this weekend's Premier League, EFL and European action.

Best bets

Cardiff
1pt 7-5 bet365
Exeter draw no bet
2pts Evs general
Rochdale
2pts Evs Betfred, Hills

Blackpool v Cardiff

3pm Saturday

Blackpool hammered a youthful Middlesbrough side 3-0 in the EFL Cup first round on Wednesday but the Tangerines are up against far more streetwise opponents in the Championship this weekend.

Cardiff suffered just three defeats in 22 league matches last season after Mick McCarthy took charge in January and they are aiming to improve on their eighth-placed finish this term.

The Bluebirds started the new season with a 1-1 draw in a high-quality contest with Barnsley, who made the playoffs in 2020-21, and they should be too strong for promoted Blackpool.

A much-changed Cardiff side saw off Sutton 3-2 in the League Cup on Tuesday, when new signing Marley Watkins scored twice on his debut, while Blackpool were fortunate to avoid defeat in their Championship opener at Bristol City.

The Robins had chances to put the game to bed before Shayne Lavery's 93rd-minute equaliser for the Tangerines, who are unlikely to find Cardiff in such generous mood.

Leyton Orient v Exeter

3pm Saturday

Leyton Orient drew 1-1 at home to a strong Tottenham side in a pre-season friendly in July and their first two competitive games, against League Two title favourites Salford and Championship side QPR in the EFL Cup, also finished one apiece.

Orient lost on penalties to QPR and they may be worth opposing when they host a solid Exeter side who have finished fifth, ninth, fourth and fifth in the last four League Two campaigns.

The Grecians kicked off 2021-22 with an entertaining 0-0 draw at home to promotion rivals Bradford in which both sides had 13 attempts on goal.

They had another stalemate in the EFL Cup, losing on penalties to Wycombe despite the League One side having only one shot on target in the 90 minutes.

That sound defence makes Exeter an appealing draw-no-bet selection in east London, especially as they have held on to Matt Jay, their 18-goal top scorer last season.

Rochdale v Scunthorpe

3pm Saturday

Scunthorpe finished just one place above the League Two relegation zone last season and another tough campaign looks likely for the Iron.

They were beaten 3-1 at home by Swindon, relegated from League One in 2020-21, on the opening weekend and it could be a similar story when they face another of the teams who came down from the third division.

No team in the bottom ten of League One scored more goals than Rochdale's 61 as they ended up just one point from safety and they put on a decent show in last Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Harrogate.

This weekend's opponents Scunny pose less of a threat, having lost 1-0 to last term's fellow strugglers Barrow in the EFL Cup, and Dale have a great chance to put three points on the board.

Weekend accumulators

Banker
Marseille
After coming from 2-0 down to beat Montpellier 3-2 last weekend, Marseille should claim a more straightforward win over Bordeaux, who were beaten at home by promoted Clermont in their Ligue 1 opener.

Blowout
Everton
The Toffees won only six of their 19 home league matches last season, losing to five of the ten teams who finished below them, and even a limited Southampton side are capable of spoiling Rafa Benitez's Goodison Park debut.

Accumulator
Mansfield 21-20, Rochdale Evs, Liverpool 3-10, Marseille 6-10. £1 accumulator returns £8.53 with Hills.

Both teams to score
Games at Watford 4-5, AFC Wimbledon 10-11, Bradford 7-10. £1 treble returns £5.84 with Hills.

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