You’d like to think that with the fat lady clearing her throat and preparing to call time on the 2017/18 campaign, the goals would be flying in as teams at both ends of league tables start to get a bit frantic.
It hasn’t quite panned out like that; certainly not four both teams to score betting tips anyway. We recorded 3/5 last week, with a couple of handsome 5/6 selections landing, so it’s a decent foundation for hopefully a stellar showing for the rest of the campaign.
So who makes up our BTTS betting tips this week?
| Match | Both Teams to Score Yes/No | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Watford vs Crystal Palace | Yes | 3/4 |
| Leeds United vs Barnsley | Yes | 4/6 |
| Derby County vs Middlesbrough | Yes | 10/11 |
| Crewe Alexandra vs Morecambe | Yes | 8/11 |
| Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen | Yes | 1/2 |
| All Five Results as an Accumulator | 14.26/1 | |
Watford vs Crystal Palace – Yes (3/4)
It has not been a stellar 2018 for Watford by ay means, but at least they are solid at their Vicarage Road home (W3 D2 L1). Indeed, they have scored in ever Premier League outing in front of their own fans since October, with 9/12 of those yielding BTTS verdicts.
That suggests the Hornets play with an openness and a certain swagger on their own turf; which plays into Crystal Palace’s hands very nicely.
Both teams have scored in eight of the Eagles’ last ten matches, with Roy Hodgson’s men scoring two or more in four of their last half-dozen. Wilf Zaha, with three goals in his last pair of outings, is quite clearly playing for a summer move away from Selhurst Park, and that makes him a dangerous proposition here.
Leeds United vs Barnsley – Yes (4/6)
These are dark times for Leeds United; even darker than what has gone before. They have won just one of their last nine games, and there is already talk of Paul Heckingbottom – who only took over as manager in February – being given the elbow.
At least the Yorkshiremen have a habit of finding the net on home soil, having scored in seven of their last eight at Elland Road (and the blank coming against leaders Wolves). Keeping a clean sheet? Well, that’s another matter entirely; they’ve failed to prevent any opponent scoring since February, which coincides with Heckingbottom’s arrival at the club.
His former employer, Barnsley, are in dire straits near the foot of the Championship table, but they clearly haven’t given up hope of avoiding the drop. They are attacking with gusto at the moment, and despite their lowly status they have scored in 10 of their last 12.
Derby County vs Middlesbrough – Yes (10/11)
We’re getting to that time of the year where Derby County traditionally get a bit nervous. With a play-off place in their own hands, the Rams were demolished 1-3 by the hapless Burton Albion last week, and that comes barely a fortnight since they were turned over 1-4 by Sunderland.
Derby are notorious for ‘bottling it’ at this time of the season, and it looks as if the jitters are starting to set in once again.
With their lively attacking options they should at least be good value for a goal against Middlesbrough; a side who have conceded at least once in 11 of their last 14 matches.
On the flipside, Tony Pulis’ men have notched in each of their last eleven matches, and so BTTS looks far more likely here than those odds of 10/11 suggest.
Crewe Alexandra vs Morecambe – Yes (8/11)
With their League Two status preserved for another year, Crewe are having some fun. Over 2.5 Goals and BTTS has landed in each of their last ten matches, with six of those seeing four or more goals netted.
It seems that the Railwaymen’s defenders have abdicated their duties, while their attackers strut their stuff ahead of the summer transfer window.
Morecambe aren’t assured of safety quite yet, but they will enjoy counter-attacking against Crewe’s front foot style as they did in their outstanding 4-2 win at Wycombe.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen – Yes (1/2)
When Dortmund take to the pitch goals tend to follow: 10 of their last 12 has witnessed either BTTS or Over 2.5 Goals.
The key is that when they take on teams willing to attack them, that’s where their opponents have the most joy. That was evident in recent 0-2 and 0-6 defeats to Schalke and Bayern, and outfits like Leipzig and Hoffenheim have cut them open with ease in recent weeks.
Bayer Leverkusen aren’t backward in coming forward. They’ve scored eight in their last two and, bizarrely, are better on their travels than on home soil; netting 29 in 15 away dates.
Oh, and don’t forget that this is a shootout for third place, too.