Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 30-January 1

 Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Brentford, Luton v Chelsea, Norwich v Southampton, Sunderland v Preston, Carlisle v Port Vale, Derby v Peterborough, Portsmouth v Stevenage, Wycombe v Bristol Rovers, Ayr v Dunfermline, Stranraer v Dumbarton.

Best draws: Luton v Chelsea, Sunderland v Preston, Derby v Peterborough, Portsmouth v Stevenage, Ayr v Dunfermline.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Bristol City (Friday), Portsmouth (Friday), Arsenal (Sunday), Hamilton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead (all Saturday).

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Ipswich (Friday), Aston Villa, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Hearts, Queen's Park, Raith, Falkirk, Forfar, Bromley (all Saturday).

Pick of the draws: Chelsea continue to disappoint and won't relish a Saturday trip to Luton, who could be out of the Premier League relegation zone after the weekend. Luton's morale has been boosted by consecutive wins over Newcastle (1-0 home) and Sheffield United (3-2 away). Although Sunderland's new manager, Michael Beale, was delighted by his side's 1-0 Championship victory at Hull on Boxing Day, I wouldn't put money on them beating Preston, who can be as good as any second-tier team on their day. Derby v Peterborough looks the pick of the League One fixtures next Monday. Both are challenging for promotion and both are in a rich vein of form. I believe honours will end even. Stevenage, sixth in League One, will travel to leaders Portsmouth with optimism. Pompey stuttered over the festive holiday, held to a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park by relegation-threatened Fleetwood, then losing 2-1 away to Bristol Rovers. In contrast, Stevenage were on top form when disposing of Northampton 3-0 at home on Boxing Day and are even better away. Ayr, mid-table in the Scottish Championship, drew 4-4 at leaders Raith, despite being down to 10 men, which should put them in the mood to deny Dunfermline, who are better placed.

Away days: Bristol City's 4-1 triumph at Watford in the Championship was perhaps the most impressive Boxing Day result and they look good for another away success at Birmingham, who are floundering under new manager Wayne Rooney. League One promotion contenders Portsmouth have stalled recently but they can resume winning ways at Exeter, who are dangerously close to the drop zone. Fulham's Craven Cottage is a happy hunting ground for high-flying Arsenal, so don't be surprised if the Gunners return home with another three points on Sunday. There are three seemingly away bankers in Scotland. Hamilton, second in League One, are strongly fancied at rock bottom Edinburgh. Stenhousemuir, the League Two leaders, are an odds-on bet at bottom team Clyde while Peterhead, second in League Two, are heavily fancied to prevail at Elgin, who are second last.

Homes sweet homes: Nottingham Forest, under new management and convincing 3-1 winners at Newcastle on Boxing Day, are well worth a wager on Saturday against Manchester United, who are so up and down this season. I wonder which United will turn up; the one that tamely lost 2-0 at West Ham last Saturday or the one that came from 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa to win 3-2 on Boxing Day. Don't rule out Queen's Park, bottom of the Scottish Championship, springing a surprise against goal-shy Airdrieonians and I'm tipping Forfar, unexpected 2-1 winners at Peterhead in Scottish Two last weekend, to gain their first home victory of the season when they host East Fife.

Betting info: I scored five from six with my away selections last weekend: Southampton, Peterborough, Bradford City, Mansfield and Falkirk.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 23-24

 Ten draws: Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Blackburn v Watford, Stoke v Millwall, Sunderland v Coventry, Barnsley v Stevenage, Northampton v Oxford, Reading v Wigan, Accrington v Walsall, Alloa v Montrose, Stirling v Queen of the South.

Best draws: Blackburn v Watford, Stoke v Millwall, Sunderland v Coventry, Barnsley v Stevenage, Accrington v Walsall.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Southampton, Peterborough, Bradford City (Friday), Mansfield, Falkirk.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa (Friday), Fulham, Luton, Leicester, Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Portsmouth, Tranmere, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Watford's resounding 5-1 win at Preston last Saturday emphasised their recent improvement in the Championship and they should collect at least a point from their visit to Blackburn. Stoke v Millwall is a battle of the Championship strugglers and it's hard to see either side getting an edge. Michael Beale's first match as Sunderland manager may look fairly straightforward but Coventry have a habit of upsetting more fancied teams, as was evident in their 1-1 draw at Leeds last weekend. Stevenage's formidable away form has kept them in the League One promotion chase and they are quite capable of returning from Barnsley with a point. Accrington are above Walsall in League Two but the visitors are in better nick, having won their past three games in all competitions, and will be eager to extend their unbeaten run.

Away days: Arsenal have not won on their last 10 Premier League visits to Anfield, so the leaders are due a change of luck at Liverpool, who are second, a point behind them. The Gunners were 2-0 up in the corresponding fixture last season but failed to see the game out. The result could be different this time. Southampton, having disposed of Blackburn 4-0 at home in the Championship last Saturday, are worth backing at Queens Park Rangers, whose 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday kept them in the relegation zone. I expect Peterborough, having moved into the automatic promotion positions in League One, to carry on the good work at Shrewsbury. I feel that Bradford City's 2-0 triumph at Gillingham in League Two last Saturday was significant and I rate their chances at Doncaster, who crashed 5-0 at home to Morecambe on the same day. Fourth-placed Mansfield are highly recommended at Sutton, who are bottom and now without a manager, and Scottish League One leaders Falkirk also have the look of an away banker at second-from-bottom Annan. 

Homes sweet homes: Lowly Luton can take advantage of the fluctuating form of injury-ravaged Newcastle and gain only their second Premier League home success this season. A few weeks ago all looked lost for Sheffield Wednesday as they sat at the foot of the Championship but consecutive wins over Stoke (1-0 away) and Queens Park Rangers (2-1 home), have made them believe that they can escape relegation. They are worth a punt against Cardiff, who have stalled. Although Tranmere, who lie 21st in League Two, are terrible away, their home record is much better and I believe they'll beat Swindon, who have slipped down the table.

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

 Ten draws: Burnley v Everton, West Ham v Wolves, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Cambridge v Blackpool, Cheltenham v Leyton Orient, Port Vale v Wigan, Crawley v Mansfield, Gillingham v Bradford City, Swindon v Barrow, Ayr v Airdrieonians.

Best draws: Burnley v Everton, Cambridge v Blackpool, Port Vale v Wigan, Crawley v Mansfield, Gillingham v Bradford City.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, Northampton, Peterborough, Wimbledon, Kilmarnock.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester City, Millwall, Plymouth, Bolton, Oxford, Doncaster, Stockport, Hamilton.

Pick of the draws: That 10-point Premier League deduction has revitalised Everton, who are already clear of the relegation zone. However, Burnley, their hosts, have also improved recently and will have taken heart from their 1-1 draw at Brighton last Saturday. Two late goals earned Cambridge a battling 2-2 draw at Charlton in League One last weekend and another draw is on the cards against Blackpool, who lie just outside the play-off positions. Port Vale may find it hard to pick themselves up after their penalty shoot-out defeat against Stevenage in a midweek FA Cup second-round replay and Wigan are playing well enough to share the spoils. Mansfield, away draw specialists in League Two, have a chance to add to their tally of five at Crawley, who have yet to draw at home. Bradford City are on the upgrade and I think they'll take something from their visit to Gillingham, who are higher in the table.

Away days: I expect Sunderland, with two consecutive Championship home victories behind them, to triumph at Bristol City, who are below midway in the division. Lowly Queens Park Rangers can see light at the end of the tunnel after three wins and a draw in midweek. I believe they'll beat second-from-bottom Sheffield Wednesday, who are also reviving. Northampton, having made short work of Fleetwood at home last Saturday, could do the same to Carlisle, who are in the League One drop zone. Peterborough, having disposed of fellow promotion challengers Oxford 3-0 at home last Saturday, have the look of an away banker at ailing Fleetwood. League Two Wimbledon are scoring for fun these days and will be confident of success at Salford, who are underperforming. A trip to Livingston, bottom of the Scottish Premiership, shouldn't faze Kilmarnock, who beat leaders Celtic 2-1 at home last Sunday.

Homes sweet homes: Little is going right for struggling Millwall in the Championship but they can take advantage of a Huddersfield side, who are also just outside the relegation zone but seem even more vulnerable. Although Doncaster are lower than Morecambe in League Two, I'm taking them to gain three points at the expense of the seasiders, who are not at their best away. Only goal difference separates leaders Hamilton from second-placed Falkirk in Scottish League One. I've a hunch that ground advantage will tip the balance in Hamilton's favour and that Falkirk will suffer their first league defeat this season.

Betting info: Six of my seven home selections were correct last weekend: Everton, Cardiff, Leicester, Blackpool, Tranmere and Rangers. The three other teams selected had their matches postponed. 

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

 Ten draws: Aston Villa v Arsenal, Manchester United v Bournemouth, Sheffield United v Brentford, Middlesbrough v Ipswich, Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday, Exeter v Port Vale, Peterborough v Oxford, Wycombe v Shrewsbury, Colchester v Crawley, Arbroath v Morton.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Arsenal, Sheffield United v Brentford, Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester v Crawley, Arbroath v Morton.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Manchester City, Stevenage, Wrexham, Crewe, Stockport.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Everton, Cardiff, Leicester, Blackpool, Bradford City, Mansfield, Sutton, Tranmere, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa have not dropped a point at home this season but if anybody can halt that sequence it's Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have won their last six matches and triumphed 4-2 in the corresponding fixture last season. Struggling Sheffield United may get a lift from having Chris Wilder back as manager and I won't be surprised if they give Brentford problems on Saturday. Sheffield Wednesday's 3-1 home win over Blackburn last weekend suggests that all is not lost in their fight to avoid relegation from the Championship and they could collect a point at Stoke, who are woefully out of form. Colchester are dangerously close to the League Two drop zone and are not guaranteed to defeat mid-table Crawley. Arbroath, second bottom in the Scottish Championship, host bottom team Morton, who will be disappointed not to achieve parity.

Away days: Few sides can match Liverpool's firepower and I don't think Crystal Palace will contain them on Saturday. Although Manchester City's defence is more vulnerable than usual, they should be able to get their act together at relegation-threatened Luton on Sunday. Stevenage, fourth in League One, are more effective away from home and should travel to ailing Burton with confidence. Second-placed Wrexham in League Two are highly recommended at lowly Forest Green and Crewe, who lie fifth, have a good chance to climb higher after their trip to Grimsby. Stockport, clear leaders of League Two, have recently mislaid their winning knack but I believe they'll find it again at Morecambe.

Homes sweet homes: That 10-point Premier League deduction seemed to galvanise Everton when they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 away last Saturday. If they can sort out their home form they shouldn't have any trouble in escaping the drop and I'm tipping them to overcome Chelsea at what should be a raucous Goodison Park on Sunday. Despite being bottom of League Two, Sutton are unbeaten in their last five league matches and are worth a wager against Harrogate. Fellow League Two strugglers Tranmere are also improving and will fancy their chances against Newport, who were taken to an FA Cup second-round replay by non-League Barnet last weekend.