Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 17-18

Ten draws: Brighton v Brentford, Leeds v Birmingham, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Notts County v Crewe, Bury v Wycombe, Mansfield v Exeter, Oxford v Southend, Portsmouth v Burton, Dundee United v Inverness, Ross v St Mirren.

Best draws: MK Dons v Sheffield United, Mansfield v Exeter, Oxford v Southend, Portsmouth v Burton, Ross v St Mirren.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Bournemouth, Bristol City, Bradford City, Luton, Morton.

Best weekend home bets: Tottenham, West Ham, Norwich, Watford, Wigan, Wolves, Colchester, Rochdale, Cambridge, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: Sheffield United could be distracted by their upcoming League Cup semi-final tie against Tottenham but they are still playing well enough to gain a point at MK Dons, who have lost their past two home games and are experiencing a mini slump. This is a match-up between two of the most attractive sides in League One. Mansfield are slipping dangerously close to the League Two relegation zone but they should get something from the visit of Exeter, who have also gone off the boil. Southend's promotion hopes are being hindered by injuries, which gives 15th-placed Oxford the chance of parity. Portsmouth are much stronger at Fratton Park than on the road and I'm taking them to halt Burton's promotion charge. Ross and St Mirren are locked together at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, same points, same goal difference and six points away from the nearest club, Motherwell. Stalemate is the likeliest outcome.

Away days: Liverpool are in good nick and eager to challenge for a top-four Premier League place. They are strongly fancied to make further progress at Aston Villa, who have managed only 11 league goals this season and are only three points clear of the relegation zone. Liverpool should benefit from the unrest at Villa Park. Championship leaders Bournemouth lost at home to Norwich last Saturday but I believe they'll bounce straight back by winning at Rotherham, who are being dragged into a relegation fight. Despite being toppled from the League One leadership by Swindon, Bristol City are in great form. A 4-0 victory over Notts County and a 2-0 FA Cup win against Doncaster (both at home) sets them up nicely for a trip to Scunthorpe, who went out of the cup after extra time in midweek. Bradford City are doing better on their travels than on their own ground and must be backed at bottom-of-the-table Yeovil. Plymouth, seventh in League Two, have failed to score in their past two matches and may also struggle to do so against Luton, who give little away on their travels and are well worth a punt. Scottish League One promotion challengers Morton are recommended at lowly Ayr.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan's decline has been astonishing. Lying 23rd in the Championship, they are in desperate need of three points. However, they may well get them against Blackburn, whose promotion push seems to be fading. Colchester's surprising 2-0 success at Peterborough last Saturday improved their prospects of avoiding relegation from League One. Colchester host Walsall, who lost 4-1 at home to Scunthorpe last Saturday and could be on the slide. There is a buzz around Cambridge, who have drawn Manchester United at home in the FA Cup fourth round. Consecutive triumphs over Luton (FA Cup) and Carlisle have put them in the mood to dish out similar treatment to League Two promotion contenders Newport.

Pools info: Everton v West Brom (match No 3 on the coupon) is being played on Monday and will be decided by the pools panel. Preston v Leyton Orient (29) will take place on Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: I scored eight out of 10 with my home selections last weekend. The successful teams were Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester, Birmingham, Brentford, Crewe, Burton and Brechin.