Ten draws: Bournemouth v Burnley, Middlesbrough v Brighton, Norwich v Blackburn, Preston v Huddersfield, Bolton v Plymouth, Cambridge v Bristol Rovers, Rochdale v Newport, Salford v Northampton, Tranmere v Sutton, Arbroath v Inverness.
Best draws: Middlesbrough v Brighton, Preston v Huddersfield, Salford v Northampton, Tranmere v Sutton, Arbroath v Inverness.
Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Leeds, Birmingham, Stoke, Newcastle, Sunderland, Notts County.
Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Brentford, Coventry, Fleetwood, Ipswich, Luton, Reading, Leyton Orient, Ayr, Queen's Park, Barnet.
Pick of the draws: It's the FA Cup third round this weekend and there are few more enticing ties than Middlesbrough v Brighton. Manager Michael Carrick has worked wonders at Championship side Middlesbrough, who are now in the promotion frame. They face Brighton, who deserve their place in the top half of the Premier League. It looks as if this one will need a replay. Still in the FA Cup, Preston have scored only eight home goals in the Championship this season. That will encourage their lowly opponents Huddersfield, especially as Huddersfield won 2-1 at Preston last month. Northampton, seeking automatic promotion from League Two, beat leaders Leyton Orient at home last weekend, so they should at least share the spoils at Salford, who are more effective away. Home wins over Gillingham and Wimbledon (both by 2-1) have helped Sutton climb into the top half of League Two and their game at Tranmere has a point apiece written all over it. Inverness hit Cove Rangers for six at home on Monday but Arbroath, their struggling hosts in the Scottish Championship, trumped that by beating promotion favourites Dundee 4-2 away. Don't be surprised if this one ends in stalemate.
Away days: Leeds obtained a gutsy goalless draw at Newcastle over Christmas and will probably be too strong for Cardiff, in the bottom half of the Championship. Although Birmingham, of the Championship, have been weakened by a spate of injuries, they will surely prevail over Forest Green, who prop up League One. Stoke have done nothing special in the Championship this season but it's hard to ignore their claims at ailing Hartlepool, of League Two. Newcastle, desperate to win their first domestic trophy since 1955, could have picked easier FA Cup opponents than Sheffield Wednesday, second in League One, but I'm confident they'll surmount this hurdle. Sunderland, steadily improving in the Championship, should take care of Shrewsbury, mid-table in League One, and Notts County, the National League leaders, are warmly recommended at Aldershot.
Homes sweet homes: There's a fair chance of an FA Cup upset at League One Fleetwood, where the woefully off-form Queens Park Rangers are the visitors from the Championship. Promotion candidates Ipswich, from League One, will also fancy their chances against Rotherham, who are going backwards in the Championship. In one of the Cup's all-Championship clashes I believe Reading will take advantage of Watford's injury problems and proceed to the next round.
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