Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 2-3

 Ten draws: Chelsea v Brighton, Newcastle v Manchester United, West Ham v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Norwich, Leeds v Middlesbrough, Millwall v Sunderland, Aldershot v Stockport, Gillingham v Charlton, Kilmarnock v Hearts, Motherwell v Dundee.

Best draws: Chelsea v Brighton, West Ham v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Norwich, Aldershot v Stockport, Gillingham v Charlton.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Blackburn, Reading, Barrow, Raith, Dundee United, Gateshead.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Birmingham, Hull, Ipswich, Notts County (Friday), Blackpool, Chesterfield, Crewe.

Pick of the draws: Brighton emerged from a sticky patch with a creditable 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest last Saturday and won't have an inferiority complex playing at Chelsea. Crystal Palace's 2-1 defeat at Luton last weekend was an unexpected lapse and they will probably be better prepared for Sunday's visit to West Ham. Bristol City v Norwich is a clash between two mid-table sides in the Championship and I don't believe either will have the upper hand. Stockport's long winning run in League Two was ended by a 2-1 loss at Newport and a goalless draw at home to Salford. Despite these last two results, they'll be favourites to win their FA Cup second-round tie at non-League Aldershot but the in-form National League team could surprise them. I also rate the chances of League Two's Gillingham in taking Charlton, of League One, to a replay.

Away days: Blackburn, emphatic 3-0 winners at Stoke in the Championship last Saturday, will be confident of another away success at rock bottom Sheffield Wednesday. Two consecutive victories have lifted crisis club Reading off the foot of League One. They'll be feeling much better about themselves and will fancy their chances of making the FA Cup third round at National League Eastleigh. A 2-0 midweek home victory over Walsall has lifted Barrow into the automatic promotion places in League Two. They are in fine form and have no reason to fear a visit to Maidstone, of the National League South. Scottish Championship high-flyers Raith are recommended at Inverness, as are leaders Dundee United, playing Morton, who prop up the table. Gateshead's away record is better than their home form in the National League and they will start favourites at Woking, who are dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Homes sweet homes: There has never been an FA Cup weekend without an upset and I'm predicting three in the second round. Promotion-chasing and high-scoring Notts County, of League Two, to see off League One Shrewsbury on Friday; runaway National League leaders Chesterfield to knock out Leyton Orient on Sunday and Crewe, League Two promotion contenders, to get the better of Bristol Rovers, who sit mid-table in League One.

Pools info: Match No.35 on the coupon - an FA Cup second-round tie - should read Sutton v Horsham and not Sutton v Barnsley.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 25-26

 Ten draws: Sheffield United v Bournemouth, Tottenham v Aston Villa, Stoke v Blackburn, West Bromwich v Ipswich, Derby v Bristol Rovers, Lincoln v Barnsley, Shrewsbury v Port Vale, Bradford City v Accrington, Crawley v Harrogate, Tranmere v Gillingham.

Best draws: Sheffield United v Bournemouth, Tottenham v Aston Villa, Derby v Bristol Rovers, Bradford City v Accrington, Crawley v Harrogate.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Southampton, Charlton, Oxford, Barrow, Mansfield.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Burnley, Everton, Birmingham, Leicester, Bolton, Peterborough, Wycombe, Crewe, Wrexham, St Mirren.

Pick of the draws: Premier League strugglers Sheffield United and Bournemouth probably won't be satisfied with anything less than three points from Saturday's fixture but I think both will be disappointed. Tottenham's climb to the top of the table was followed by consecutive losses to Chelsea (4-1, home) and Wolves (2-1, away). They have also been weakened by injuries, which will encourage fifth-placed Aston Villa to believe they can avoid defeat on Sunday. In League One, Derby will  be licking their wounds after going out of the FA Cup to Crewe, of League Two. Derby host Bristol Rovers, who have perked up since the departure of manager Joe Barton. Bradford City fans will be dismayed to find their team in the lower half of League Two when so much was expected of them. However, City had a 5-1 midweek home win against League One Barnsley in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy and I'm tipping them to hold Accrington, who beat Wrexham 2-0 at home last Saturday. Harrogate's fine away record - five victories from nine games - should help them at Crawley, who are sliding down the table.

Away days: Arsenal will be eager to return to winning ways away from home after a 2-2 draw at Chelsea and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle and a repeat of the form they showed when beating Saturday's hosts Brentford 3-0 away last season should do the trick. Southampton look genuine promotion candidates in the Championship and are fancied to come away from lowly Huddersfield with three points. Charlton, with nine goals from their past two matches, will be confident of winning their League One fixture at Carlisle, who are in the relegation zone. Oxford, in second place, should have little to fear from a trip to goal-shy Cheltenham. In League Two, I'm taking an on-form Barrow to prevail at an off-form Colchester and Mansfield, still unbeaten in the league, to improve their chances of promotion by winning at Swindon.

Homes sweet homes: Although relegation-threatened Burnley have lost all seven of their Premier League home games this season, I've a hunch they will buck the trend on Saturday and beat West Ham. Everton will be seething at their 10-point deduction for falling foul of the financial fair play rules. That puts them second bottom and they may take it on Manchester United, who are vulnerable to upsets. I regard Wrexham's 2-0 loss at Accrington in League Two last weekend as a rare lapse and I'm backing them to make a quick recovery against Morecambe, who have lost their manager Derek Adams.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 18-19

Ten draws: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Slovakia, Accrington v Wrexham, Gillingham v Salford, Harrogate v Swindon, Sutton v Tranmere, Queen of the South v Kelty Hearts, Spartans v Peterhead, Eastleigh v Altrincham, Ebbsfleet v Oxford City, Rochdale v Aldershot.

Best draws: Gillingham v Salford, Sutton v Tranmere, Spartans v Peterhead, Eastleigh v Altrincham, Rochdale v Aldershot.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Croatia, Peterborough, Grimsby, Alloa, Dagenham & Redbridge, Chesterfield.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Hungary, Netherlands, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Stevenage, Barrow, Mansfield, Notts County, York.

Pick of the draws: Gillingham are going the wrong way in League Two and could be held by Salford, who came agonisingly close to knocking League One Peterborough out of the FA Cup in midweek. League Two strugglers Sutton and Tranmere had good results last weekend - Sutton drawing 1-1 at Colchester and Tranmere beating Forest Green 3-0 at home - and stalemate is the likeliest outcome. Peterhead, the Scottish League Two leaders, lost 2-0 at Stenhousemuir in midweek and may drop more points at promoted Spartans, who are adapting well to a higher division. Altrincham are one of the surprise packets of the National League and are my tip to share the spoils at Eastleigh. Aldershot, who defeated League Two Swindon 7-4 away in a remarkable FA Cup first-round tie, should have the confidence to at least get a point at Rochdale.

Away days: It will be surprising if Croatia don't assert their authority over Latvia in Saturday's European Championship qualifying fixture. Peterborough, having come through a titanic tussle with Salford in a midweek FA Cup first-round replay, should be in the mood to prevail at Exeter, who are sinking fast in League One. League Two relegation strugglers Forest Green and Grimsby face each other. Both had emphatic victories against non-League opponents in the FA Cup in midweek but I'm going for Grimsby, who are in slightly better form. In Scottish League One, Alloa are recommended at bottom team Edinburgh City and mid-table Dagenham & Redbridge also get my vote at Kidderminster, who prop up the National League. At the other end of the table, Chesterfield are looking good for automatic promotion and will rate their chances at Southend.

Homes sweet homes: Scotland, having already qualified for next year's European Championship finals, will want to put on a show for their supporters and Norway, their visitors, could be on the receiving end. Barrow climbed into the League Two play-off places after winning 2-1 at Bradford City last Saturday and I don't think they'll be found wanting against Crawley. In the National League I suggest having a punt on York, who have moved out of the relegation zone, reached the second round of the FA Cup and entertain Hartlepool, who are under-achieving.

Pools info: Doncaster v Walsall (No.21 on coupon) and MK Dons v Wimbledon (26) have been postponed because of international call-ups and will be assessed by the pools panel.  

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 11-12

 Ten draws: West Ham v Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough v Leicester, Carlisle v Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient v Oxford, Wycombe v Stevenage, Bradford City v Barrow, Crewe v Notts County, Salford v Mansfield, Walsall v Harrogate, Motherwell v Hearts.

Best draws: Middlesbrough v Leicester, Leyton Orient v Oxford, Wycombe v Stevenage, Crewe v Notts County, Walsall v Harrogate.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Wigan, Morecambe, Stockport, Rangers, Dumbarton.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton, Coventry, Leeds, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Portsmouth, Tranmere, Aldershot.

Pick of the draws: Leicester, the Championship leaders, have maximum points from seven away matches but I've a hunch that remarkable sequence will end at Middlesbrough, who have recovered well from a terrible start to the season and are moving upwards. Oxford, among the early front-runners in League One, have stumbled recently and I can see them being held at Leyton Orient, who are improving. Stevenage have arrested their slide and are resilient enough to gain a point at Wycombe. Both teams won their FA Cup ties last weekend. In League Two, I believe Crewe's injury problems will stop them beating Notts County, who are second, three places above them. Harrogate's away form has kept them out of the relegation zone and it gives them a chance of coming away from Walsall with a point.

Away days: It's impossible to ignore Manchester City's claims at Chelsea, who were hugely flattered by their 4-1 victory at nine-man Tottenham on Monday. Wigan, of League One, fresh from a 2-0 FA Cup win at Exeter last Saturday and a 2-1 home midweek triumph over Peterborough, will travel to struggling Cheltenham with confidence. Morecambe are one of the most in-form sides in League Two and playing much better than Grimsby, who host them. Leaders Stockport, winners of their past 12 fixtures, are strongly fancied for promotion and it's hard to see that run ending at Swindon, who are going through a wretched spell. I expect Rangers to confirm their superiority over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership and that also goes for Dumbarton at East Fife in Scottish League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Coventry keep losing in the Championship but they gave Preston a fright before going down 3-2 at Deepdale last Saturday. A repeat of that form could be enough to beat Stoke, who are in mid-table. Although Queens Park Rangers, second last in the Championship, are without a home win this season, they may be worth backing against Bristol City, who have just lost their manager Nigel Pearson. Tranmere v Forest Green is an anti-relegation scrap in League Two. Tranmere were terrific in their 4-3 FA Cup first-round defeat at League One Stevenage last Saturday and I'm tipping them to come out on top.

Pools info: Five of my ten draws were correct last weekend, as were three of my five best draws.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 4-5

 Ten draws: Burnley v Crystal Palace, Huddersfield v Watford, Norwich v Blackburn, Swansea v Sunderland, Wimbledon v Cheltenham, Chester v York, Doncaster v Accrington, Mansfield v Wrexham, Port Vale v Burton, Sutton v Fylde.

Best draws: Burnley v Crystal Palace, Swansea v Sunderland, Chester v York, Mansfield v Wrexham, Port Vale v Burton.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Wolves, Southampton, Barnet, Fleetwood, Grimsby.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Everton, Manchester City, Preston, Bolton, Bradford City, Bromley, Newport, Stevenage, Dundee United, Raith.

Pick of the draws: Burnley, second from bottom of the Premier League, have lost all five of their home games but I'll be surprised if they are beaten by Crystal Palace, who have slipped into the bottom half of the table. Swansea stopped their slide by winning at Blackburn in the Championship last Saturday. They are well equipped to get something from the visit of better-placed Sunderland, who are bedevilled by inconsistency. The FA Cup first round pits Chester, of National League North, against York, of the National League. Chester, in seventh place, are faring much better than York, who lie third bottom, and so have a reasonable chance of forcing a replay. Mansfield v Wrexham, both promotion contenders in League Two, is probably the tie of the round with deadlock the most likely outcome. Burton, most people's idea of relegation candidates at the start of the season, have climbed above Port Vale in League One and can share the spoils.

Away days: It's hard to see free-scoring Liverpool being denied at struggling Luton, who have yet to win at home. Wolves gave as good as they got in last Saturday's 2-2 home draw against Newcastle and will surely have too much for a desperate Sheffield United side. Fast-climbing Southampton have gained more Championship points away than at home and will fancy their chances at manager-less Millwall. In FA Cup action, Barnet, second in the National League, don't intend to falter at Curzon Ashton, of National League North, and League One Fleetwood will be equally confident at non-League Kidderminster. I'm tipping Grimsby, 21st in League Two, to record their first away victory of the season at lowly Slough, from the National League South.

Homes sweet homes: Things are looking up at Everton, who are now five points clear of third-from-bottom Luton, in the Premier League. They are worth backing against Brighton, who have stalled recently. Bradford City, of League Two, have scarcely improved since sacking manager Mark Hughes but perhaps the FA Cup will bring out the best in them. They are always well supported and worth a punt when they host League One Wycombe on Saturday. There are always at least one or two upsets in the FA Cup and the biggest one may come on Saturday at Bromley, who entertain League One Blackpool. Bromley have recovered from a bad start to the season to rise to third in the National League and are formidable at home, having won seven of their nine matches. 

Betting info: Last weekend, for the fourth time this season, I scored nine out of ten with my home selections. The successful teams were Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Ipswich, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Milton Keynes Dons, Morecambe and Stockport.