It was a pretty poor effort from this column last week, and while we weren’t exactly aided by a much-reduced fixture list it is fair to say that last weekend’s matches did not quite pan out as we might have expected.
But the return of the Premier League, the Championship and the top flights across the continent mean we have a full set of games to work with, and we eagerly anticipate returning back to the form that saw us correctly predict 18 out of 20 teams to score up until last week’s debacle.
So who features in this week’s both teams to score betting tips?
- Tottenham vs Bournemouth: Both Teams to Score – No
- Watford vs Arsenal: Both Teams to Score – Yes
- Bristol Rovers vs Oxford: Both Teams to Score – Yes
- Forest Green vs Newport County: Both Teams to Score – Yes
- Wycombe vs Exeter: Both Teams to Score – Yes
Tottenham vs Bournemouth – No (4/5)
There’s a surprisingly generous price available here, and we have no hesitation to get stuck in even though it’s a BTTS: No option that we are generally cynical about.
Spurs have kept three clean sheets in their last four Premier League starts, and the absolute comfort of Belgium’s World Cup 2018 qualification means that central defensive dup Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld should return to London in great nick.
Contrast that with Bournemouth, who remain toothless in attack and who will be without Callum Wilson and probably Josh King for this one.
The Cherries have managed to find the net once in three league outings thus far, and we fully expect that paltry record to continue on Saturday.
Watford vs Arsenal – Yes (4/7)
There is an interesting injury situation to keep an eye on at Arsenal, and it is one that feeds right into Watford’s hands.
Both Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi are struggling with injuries, which means the Gunners’ back three could be made up of Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal and either Saed Kolasinac or Hector Bellerin.
That will warm the hearts of Watford fans no end, who are having to watch their own side struggle with defensive injuries. But they will create a raucous atmosphere on Saturday evening at Vicarage Road, and that will put a buzz into a Watford side that has netted two or more goals in five of their seven Premier League dates so far this term.
Bristol Rovers vs Oxford – Yes (4/7)
Over 2.5 Goals has landed in each of Bristol Rovers’ last eleven outings, with BTTS hitting the spot in eight of those.
The same 2.5 line has been breached in each of Oxford’s last seven as well, with both teams netting in four of those, so the numbers are on the side of this becoming another goal-laden encounter.
Oxford’s last three away games have finished 1-3, 0-3, 4-1, while at home the Gas have smoked Plymouth and Blackpool 2-1 and 3-1 respectively and lost 2-3 to Oldham.
Forest Green vs Newport County – Yes (4/5)
Anybody that follows the Expected Goals (xG) data will already know about Newport’s extraordinary record when playing away from home.
Yes, they have played more matches on the road than anyone else in League 2, but nevertheless their status as the best away attacking side in the division – and second worst defensively – is remarkable. No wonder they have shipped in 6/7 on their travels, with BTTS landing in five of those.
Forest Green haven’t scored in three home matches – so they are surely due one! – and to be honest their xG data is not too bad on home soil.
Wycombe vs Exeter – Yes (4/6)
If the Expected Goals data is our guide the this one has BTTS written all over it.
Those xG tallies from each of these sides’ last three games is outstanding from a punter’s perspective: Wycombe are at 5.9 for, 4.4 against, with Exeter at 6.1-4.5. Those are well above the League 2 average.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Wycombe’s last five have witnessed BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals, while five of Exeter’s last seven have breached the 2.5 mark.