Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 7-8

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Leicester, Newcastle v Southampton, Luton v Wigan, Queens Park Rangers v Preston, Coventry v Ipswich, Gillingham v Sunderland, Tranmere v Accrington, Mansfield v Cheltenham, Morecambe v Carlisle, Inverness v Ayr.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Leicester, Newcastle v Southampton, Luton v Wigan, Tranmere v Accrington, Morecambe v Carlisle.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Plymouth, Swindon, Crewe, Annan.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Blackburn, Reading, Oxford, Portsmouth, Rotherham, Port Vale, Stevenage, Dunfermline, Barrow.

Pick of the draws: Leicester are playing better than when they won the Premier League title three years ago but Aston Villa have perked up lately and can halt Leicester's eight-match winning run. Southampton have six points from their past two matches and were unlucky not to win at Arsenal two weeks ago. A draw is well within their grasp at Newcastle. Luton, fourth from bottom of the Championship, must still be reeling from their 7-0 thrashing at Brentford last weekend and are not guaranteed to beat Wigan, who sit one place below them. Accrington are fresh from a 7-1 home victory over Bolton in League One and can share the spoils at Tranmere, who are just above the relegation places. Although Morecambe are at the foot of League Two, they can get something from the visit of Carlisle, who are also struggling.

Away days: Promoted Sheffield United are unbeaten away in the Premier League this season - a remarkable achievement. Their success has been no fluke and I believe they'll be three points better off after visiting lowly Norwich on Sunday. Crystal Palace must be on cloud nine after winning 2-0 at Burnley last Saturday and then defeating Bournemouth 1-0 with only 10 men in midweek. They are in the mood to pile more misery on relegation-haunted Watford. Plymouth have arrested their slump in League Two and will be quietly confident of prevailing at mid-table Cambridge. Leaders Swindon look a sound bet at ailing Grimsby and third-placed Crewe will start favourites in their Cheshire clash at Macclesfield. Annan, 6-1 home winners over Scottish League Two leaders Cove last Saturday, will fancy their chances at lowly Stenhousemuir.

Homes sweet homes: Reading, surprise 3-1 victors at Wigan last weekend after going behind, can claim another three Championship points at Birmingham's expense. Portsmouth are getting into their stride after a rocky start to their League One season and are now only two points off the play-off places. I think they'll defeat fellow promotion contenders Peterborough. I'm also tipping Stevenage, second from bottom in League Two, to upset Crawley, who are poor travellers.