Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 30-31

 Ten draws: Aston Villa v West Ham, Tottenham v Manchester United, Watford v Southampton, Preston v Luton, Sheffield United v Blackpool, Cambridge v Wimbledon, Cheltenham v Sheffield Wednesday, Gillingham v Accrington, Bradford City v Forest Green, St Mirren v Dundee.

Best draws: Watford v Southampton, Sheffield United v Blackpool, Cambridge v Wimbledon, Bradford City v Forest Green, St Mirren v Dundee.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Coventry, Bournemouth, Port Vale, Hibernian, Stockport.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Liverpool, Manchester City, Bristol City, Derby, Stoke, Charlton, Rotherham, Harrogate, Newport, Boreham Wood.

Pick of the draws: What is one to make of Claudio Ranieri's Watford? They followed a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool by winning 5-2 away at Everton. Such extremes could be balanced by a mundane draw and that's what I think they'll get against Southampton, who gave a good account of themselves in their midweek League Cup loss at Chelsea. Few people thought that promoted Blackpool would be higher than relegated Sheffield United at this stage in the Championship. However, Blackpool's away record stands up well and they can leave Bramall Road with a point. Cambridge, of League One, will be anxious to get back on track after crashing 4-1 at Shrewsbury last Saturday but mid-table Wimbledon won't make it easy for them. Forest Green, five points clear at the top of League Two, may be happy to settle for a draw at Bradford City, who achieved one of the best results of the weekend, beating Swindon 3-1 away. Lowly Dundee's recent Scottish Premiership results include a 2-1 home victory over Aberdeen and a 1-1 draw at high-flying Hearts. Don't be surprised if they share the spoils at St Mirren.

Away days: Newcastle have yet to win in the Premier League this season and I can't see that sequence ending against Chelsea, the formidable leaders. Coventry, in the Championship play-off positions on merit, are a credit to their manager Mark Robins and must be fancied against relegation-fearing Hull. Bournemouth, the clear Championship leaders, are the only unbeaten side in the Football League and will approach their match at Reading with confidence. It's inadvisable to bet against Port Vale these days and the League Two's second-placed team travel to Crawley. Despite recent setbacks in the Scottish Premiership, Hibernian are recommended at bottom club Ross. Ditto mid-table Stockport, who visit  Dover, who look doomed, in the National League on Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Derby, bottom of the Championship, have had some good results lately but it's time to turn those draws into wins. They have an excellent opportunity to do that against Blackburn, who are erratic. Charlton are showing signs of escaping the League One relegation zone. Their 1-0 win at promotion contenders Sunderland last weekend was one of the upsets of the season and I'm tipping them to gain another three points when they host Doncaster, who are just below them. Fifth-placed Rotherham were very impressive when winning 3-0 at Milton Keynes Dons last Saturday and can get the better of Sunderland.

Pools tips and best bets for the weekend of October 23-24

Ten draws: West Ham v Tottenham, Blackpool v Preston, Nottingham Forest v Fulham, Wimbledon v Wigan, Doncaster v Cheltenham, Shrewsbury v Cambridge, Bristol Rovers v Newport, Hartlepool v Harrogate, Rochdale v Sutton, Aberdeen v Hibernian.

Best draws: West Ham v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Fulham, Wimbledon v Wigan, Hartlepool v Harrogate, Rochdale v Sutton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Wolves, Swansea, Plymouth, Livingston, Rangers.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal (Friday), Crystal Palace, Everton, Bournemouth, Coventry, Accrington, Ipswich, Sunderland, Wycombe, Walsall.

Pick of the draws: West Ham were worthy 1-0 winners at Everton last weekend but Tottenham have recovered well from their dispiriting 3-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal and can take a point from this London derby on Sunday. The appointment of Steve Cooper to manage Nottingham Forest seems an inspired one. Since he's been in charge, Forest have shot up the Championship table. Victories over Blackpool (home) last Saturday and Bristol City (away) in midweek have put them in the mood to face high-flying Fulham. Wimbledon, in League One, are showing that familiar fighting spirit and I reckon they'll hold promotion contenders Wigan. Hartlepool have adapted well to League Two after last season's promotion and won't be overawed by the visit of Harrogate, who have stumbled recently. Although Sutton's climb up the division was halted by a midweek home loss to Swindon, they should get something from their trip to Rochdale.

Away days: Manchester City, 5-1 winners at Club Bruges in the Champions League, look full of menace and goals and it's hard to see Brighton halting their progress. Wolves are still on a high after fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 away last Saturday. They've already won three Premier League away matches and a fourth, at Leeds on Saturday, is a real possibility. Swansea's 3-0 home win over Cardiff last Sunday was their best display this season and I fancy them to prevail at goal-shy Birmingham. Plymouth's first place in League One is no fluke and they are highly recommended at Morecambe. In the Scottish Premiership, Livingston's 3-0 win at St Johnstone last Saturday was impressive and they'll be confident of success at bottom club Ross. Leaders Rangers will be annoyed at failing to beat Hearts at home last weekend. Expect them to take it out on St Mirren on Sunday.

Homes sweet homes: Arsenal will be smarting at being held to a home draw by Crystal Palace last Monday and will be eager to make amends against Aston Villa, who are one place below them in the Premier League. Accrington, of League One, had another good result in midweek, defeating Charlton 3-2 away. They will probably relish playing Portsmouth, for whom the wheels have come off. Pompey have conceded eight goals in their past two fixtures. League Two Walsall, having taken four points from their last two away games against Leyton Orient (0-0) and Oldham (3-1), will be approaching their match v Barrow with confidence.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 16-17

Ten draws: Leicester v Manchester United, Blackburn v Coventry, Nottingham Forest v Blackpool, Sheffield United v Stoke, Bolton v Wigan, Cheltenham v Accrington, Lincoln v Charlton, Crawley v Sutton, Oldham v Stevenage, Dundee v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Leicester v Manchester United, Nottingham Forest v Blackpool, Sheffield United v Stoke, Lincoln v Charlton, Crawley v Sutton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Wycombe, Tranmere, Harrogate, Forest Green, Kilmarnock.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Reading, West Bromwich Albion (Friday), Oxford, Leyton Orient, Swindon, Rangers, Inverness.

Pick of the draws: Leicester have underperformed so far this season but Manchester United look the most vulnerable of the top four Premier League sides and I can see this one ending all square. Nottingham Forest, although improving, have still to win at home in the Championship. They could have a further wait after playing Blackpool, who are adapting well to a higher division. Relegated Sheffield United are not doing as well as expected whereas Stoke, their opponents, have exceeded expectations and look good for a point at Bramall Lane. Charlton's low position in League One is probably a false one and they are showing signs of stirring. They defeated Fleetwood away last time out and can share the spoils with Lincoln. Sutton's rise from a dismal start in League Two has been remarkable. They beat high-riding Port Vale in a 4-3 thriller last Saturday and I think they'll avoid defeat at Crawley.

Away days: Away wins could be plentiful this weekend and Liverpool, who have rediscovered their mojo, are a confident selection at Watford, who may be in for a long, hard winter. Wycombe, relegated last season, fancy their chances of making an instant return to the Championship and will surely confirm their superiority over Doncaster, who are bottom of League One. Tranmere, fifth in League Two, are recommended at ailing Carlisle. Second-placed Harrogate, who scored six last weekend, will start firm favourites at lowly Colchester and leaders Forest Green, beaten 2-0 at home by Swindon last Saturday, will be anxious to return to winning ways at bottom club Scunthorpe. In the Scottish Championship, Kilmarnock, who lie second, will expect to return from bottom club Dunfermline with three points.

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that the Saudi takeover will inspire struggling Newcastle to raise their game on Sunday and their fans to turn up the volume. I believe mid-table Tottenham will be the victims. Plymouth may be top of League One but Oxford are capable of beating anybody on their day and are worth a wager. Hearts, second in the Scottish Premiership, have done remarkably well on their return to the top flight but I'm tipping leaders Rangers, their hosts on Saturday, to make ground advantage count.

Betting info: I scored nine home wins out of ten last weekend with Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Mexico, Bristol Rovers, Harrogate, Altrincham, Halifax and Stockport all prevailing. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 9-10

Ten draws: Faroe Islands v Austria, Finland v Ukraine, Hungary v Albania, Chile v Paraguay, Hartlepool v Northampton, Newport v Bradford City, Sutton v Port Vale, Walsall v Salford, Woking v Grimsby, Yeovil v Notts County.

Best draws: Faroe Islands v Austria, Hungary v Albania, Sutton v Port Vale, Walsall v Salford, Woking v Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: England, Ecuador, Canada, Leyton Orient, Barnet, Chesterfield.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Mexico, Bristol Rovers, Harrogate, Mansfield, Altrincham, Halifax, Stockport.

Pick of the draws: Austria have fallen away to such an extent in their World Cup qualifying group that I reckon the unfancied Faroe Islands will share the spoils with them. Hungary were so bad when beaten 4-0 at home by England that I believe they'll struggle to defeat Albania, who lie second in Group I. In League Two there is no more improved side than newcomers Sutton and I'm taking them to hold third-placed Port Vale, who scored twice in added time to beat Leyton Orient 3-2 last Saturday. Walsall's creditable 2-2 draw at Exeter last weekend was matched by Salford's 2-0 win at Colchester and this clash looks like ending with honours even. Grimsby, nine goals in their past two games, are setting a hot pace at the top of the National League but Woking's recent results have been just as good and I can see this one finishing all square.

Away days: Manager Gareth Southgate will be hugely disappointed not to take three points from England's trip to fifth-placed Andorra on Saturday. Ecuador, fourth in their South American qualifying group, will start firm favourites against Venezuela, who are bottom, while Canada, second in their group, are expected to assert their superiority over lowly Jamaica. I think League Two promotion contenders Leyton Orient will shake off the disappointment of their last-gasp loss at Port Vale and gain maximum points at Barrow. In the National League, Barnet will never have a better chance to record their first away win of the season against bottom club Dover and high-flying Chesterfield look a sound proposition at struggling Southend.

Homes sweet homes: Scotland have recovered well from an unimpressive start in European Group F and I'm tipping them to get the better of  Israel, who are just below them and one point worse off. Bristol Rovers have little going for them at the wrong end of League Two but perhaps Carlisle, their visitors on Saturday, and one place above them, are in even worse form. Mansfield, third from last, are another team terribly out of sorts but my feeling is that they'll make ground advantage count against Oldham, who are second from bottom.

Pools info: I scored eight out of ten homes last weekend thanks to Chelsea, Wolves, Bolton, Wycombe, Newport, Dundee United, Rangers and Grimsby.