Pools tips for weekend of January 25-26

Ten draws: Motherwell v Aberdeen, Falkirk v Dundee, East Fife v Forfar, Albion v Berwick, Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao, Livorno v Sassuolo, Sampdoria v Bologna, Verona v Roma, Bordeaux v St Etienne, Montpellier v Nice.

Best draws: Motherwell v Aberdeen, Falkirk v Dundee, Albion v Berwick, Sampdoria v Bologna, Verona v Roma.

Best weekend away bets: Cardiff, Reading, Portsmouth, Inverness, Queen of South, Dunfermline.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Port Vale, Wigan, Blackpool, Swindon, Ross, Raith, Rangers, Peterhead, Stirling.

Pick of the draws: Motherwell have not drawn at home in the Scottish Premiership this season but that statistic may well change when Aberdeen come visiting. Motherwell, who are third, and Aberdeen, who are second, have no chance of catching Celtic and will probably be even further behind after Saturday. Third-placed Falkirk have moved into the Scottish Championship promotion reckoning and look capable of sharing the spoils with leaders Dundee, who are only three points better off. Berwick's big victory over Stirling in Scottish League Two last weekend came out of nowhere but if they play as well at Albion they will come away with a point. Struggling Bologna held high-flying Napoli in the Italian League last weekend and they can do the same against Sampdoria.  Roma can do little wrong at the moment but Verona almost got a draw at AC Milan and they can frustrate the second-placed team.

Away days: It's FA Cup fourth-round weekend and I expect Cardiff to go through at the expense of demoralised Bolton, who conceded seven at Reading last Saturday. Talking of Reading, they are well worth a punt at Ipswich in a Championship fixture at Portman Road. Ipswich have gone off the boil after occupying the play-off positions and free-scoring Reading are confident enough to cash in. Portsmouth, languishing at the wrong end of League Two, are long overdue a change of luck and they might get it at Morecambe, whose home record is indifferent. Inverness gained a notable away victory against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership last Saturday, so they should take care of lowly Kilmarnock. Queen of the South have hit a rich vein of form in the Scottish Championship and must be fancied to inflict more misery on bottom club Morton. Dunfermline's fine away record in Scottish League One ought to serve them well at Brechin.

Homes sweet homes: If you are looking for FA Cup upsets, you could do worse than backing League One Port Vale against Championship side Brighton. Port Vale, lying just outside the play-off places, will be well supported against Brighton, who tend to blow hot and cold. Crystal Palace's chief concern is to stay in the Premier League, so they may take their eye off the ball at Wigan, who are capable of beating most sides on their day. Wigan are also the FA Cup holders and they are not prepared to surrender the trophy easily. Stirling's 4-0 defeat at Berwick in Scottish League Two last Saturday looked like a freak result and I believe they will resume winning ways against second-placed Annan.

Pools info: Celta Vigo v Real Betis (match No 24) and Lille v Rennes (45) are void.