Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 14-15

Ten draws: Burnley v Newcastle, Manchester United v Everton, Wolves v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke v Reading, Wigan v Huddersfield, Shrewsbury v Coventry, Sunderland v Blackpool, Leyton Orient v Bradford City, Scunthorpe v Colchester.

Best draws: Burnley v Newcastle, Wolves v Tottenham, Wigan v Huddersfield, Shrewsbury v Coventry, Sunderland v Blackpool.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, Oxford, Rotherham, Livingston.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Leicester, Sheffield United, Southampton, Preston, Wimbledon, Peterborough, Wycombe, Carlisle, Crewe.

Pick of the draws: Manager Steve Bruce is gaining favour with Newcastle fans after their climb up the Premier League and move away from the drop zone. Newcastle look good for at least a point at Burnley, who are travelling in the opposite direction. Tottenham are revitalised under Jose Mourinho but they'll have their work cut out at Wolves, who have lost only two league matches this season. Of all the Championship relegation candidates, Huddersfield look the most likely to escape. Having beaten Charlton 1-0 away in midweek, they can share the honours at Wigan. Shrewsbury have surprised many with their impressive League One form and they can deny victory to Coventry, who sit in the play-off positions and knocked Ipswich out of the FA Cup in midweek. Sunderland, who were among those fancied for promotion, languish in mid-table and won't be confident of seeing off an in-form Blackpool, who lie fourth.

Away days: Queens Park Rangers halted their Championship slump by defeating Preston 2-0 at home last Saturday. If they play as well at bottom club Barnsley they will surely gain three more points. West Brom, with just one league defeat all season, look too strong for Birmingham. Portsmouth are edging nearer the League One play-off places and will be confident of prevailing at Accrington. Oxford and Rotherham seem away bankers at MK Dons and Southend respectively and Livingston, convincing 3-0 home winners over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, are recommended at St Mirren.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton have started winning at St Mary's recently and should be backed against West Ham, who are slipping ever nearer the Premier League relegation zone. Wimbledon's knack of avoiding the drop is coming the fore again and they are well worth a punt against Doncaster, who are losing touch with the League One promotion contenders. Carlisle and Grimsby are on the same number of points (20) in League Two but Carlisle are in better form and I believe they'll make ground advantage pay.

Pools info: Charlton v Hull (No 13 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.