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

 Ten draws: Manchester United v Chelsea, Tottenham v Aston Villa, Cardiff v Norwich, Blackburn v Sheffield United, Millwall v Burnley, Gillingham v Blackpool, Tranmere v Oldham, Walsall v Bolton, St Mirren v Ross, Celtic v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Tottenham v Aston Villa, Cardiff v Norwich, Blackburn v Sheffield United, Millwall v Burnley, Tranmere v Oldham.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Huddersfield (Friday), Sunderland, Wigan, Crawley, Barnsley, Hamilton. Ten homes: Notts County (Friday), Wolves, Leeds, Oxford, Chesterfield, Crewe, Exeter, Reading, Rochdale, Salford.

Pick of the draws: Although at first glance Aston Villa look the likelier bet, you are never quite sure which Tottenham are going to turn up. Will it be the Spurs who beat West Ham 4-1 at home two weeks ago or the Spurs who lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace last Sunday? Cardiff have moved out of the Championship relegation zone with some impressive displays but may find Norwich more difficult opponents. The visitors came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at home to Middlesbrough last Sunday. Staying in the Championship, Blackburn have dropped only one point at home so far but if any side can frustrate them it's high-flying Sheffield United, who returned to form by beating Stoke 2-0 at home last Saturday. Millwall have climbed into the top half, so don't be surprised if they defy second-placed Burnley on Sunday. It's the FA Cup first round proper this weekend and bear in mind there are no replays this season. I believe that Oldham, fifth in the National League and with only one away defeat, will be level with League Two strugglers Tranmere after 90 minutes.

Away days: League One Huddersfield are seemingly over their dodgy spell and should take their FA Cup tie at Tamworth, of the National League, in their stride on Friday. Sunderland, who lead the Championship by five points, look an away banker at second-from-bottom Queens Park Rangers. Despite being in the bottom half of League One, I expect Wigan to come through their FA Cup tie at Carlisle, second from last in League Two. Crawley's precarious position in League One may not prevent them winning at  Maidenhead, of the National League. I tip Barnsley, the League One away specialists, to come through against Port Vale, the League Two leaders, and Hamilton, of the Scottish Championship, to add to the gloom of bottom team Airdrieonians.

Homes sweet homes: Wolves will have taken heart from their fabulous late comeback to draw 2-2 at Brighton last Saturday and they are worth a punt to win their first Premier League match of the season when they host fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday. In the FA Cup, Rochdale, sixth in the National League, have a good chance of upsetting League Two newcomers Bromley, while Salford, who are mid-table in League Two but improving, will feel quietly confident of knocking out Shrewsbury, 23rd in League One. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 26-27

Ten draws: Arsenal v Liverpool, Coventry v Luton, Swansea v Millwall, Watford v Blackburn, Lincoln v Stockport, Mansfield v Birmingham, Rotherham v Stevenage, Bradford City v Doncaster, Bromley v Barrow, Grimsby v Milton Keynes Dons.

Best draws: Coventry v Luton, Watford v Blackburn, Bradford City v Doncaster, Bromley v Barrow, Grimsby v MK Dons.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Leeds, Barnsley, Walsall, Chesterfield, Kilmarnock. Ten homes: Chelsea, Everton, Burnley, Plymouth, Sheffield United, Cambridge, Wycombe, Notts County, Falkirk, Eastleigh.

Pick of the draws: Luton lifted their Championship gloom with a morale-boosting 3-0 home win over fierce rivals Watford last Saturday and will travel with optimism to Coventry, who have surprisingly slipped into the relegation zone. Watford's away form is letting them down but they are much better at home and should at least get a point when they host Blackburn, who are above them in the Championship. Bradford City and Doncaster, who lie fifth and fourth respectively, are genuine League Two promotion contenders. Both won at the weekend and this is perhaps the likeliest draw on the coupon. Still in League Two, Barrow have dropped out of the play-off places and could be vulnerable at Bromley, who had a fine 1-0 midweek victory at Doncaster. After two consecutive wins, fast-climbing MK Dons will feel they have a chance at Grimsby, who are better away.

Away days: Manchester United's form is nothing to shout about but they seem a sounder bet than their hosts West Ham, who have already lost three home games. After last season's agonising near miss, Leeds are doubly determined to gain promotion to the Premier League and three points at Bristol City will boost their chances. Barnsley, with four away wins in League One, will probably make it five at struggling Shrewsbury. Walsall, second in League Two with seven goals in their past two matches, are strongly fancied at lowly Accrington, as are free-scoring Chesterfield at bottom club Morecambe. In the Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock, now on the rise, are worth backing at Ross County.

Homes sweet homes: Last Saturday's well deserved 2-0 success at Ipswich has put Everton in the mood to beat Fulham. Anyway, it's time Everton's home fortunes improved in what is their final season at Goodison Park. Plymouth's 5-0 thrashing at Cardiff in the Championship last Saturday was partly down to having to play with 10 men for most of the game. I'm tipping them to recover when they entertain Preston. Suddenly there's light at the end of the League One tunnel for Cambridge, who sit 23rd. Having defeated Wigan 2-0 at home last Saturday and Stevenage 2-0 away in midweek, they are going for a hat-trick of wins against Burton, the only side below them.  

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 19-20

 Ten draws: Fulham v Aston Villa, Manchester United v Brentford, Cardiff v Plymouth, Luton v Watford, Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley, Stoke v Norwich, Accrington v Barrow, Grimsby v Walsall, Port Vale v Fleetwood, St Johnstone v Ross.

Best draws: Fulham v Aston Villa, Luton v Watford, Stoke v Norwich, Accrington v Barrow, Port Vale v Fleetwood.

Weekend football's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Portsmouth, Wigan, Wrexham, Doncaster, East Fife.

Ten homes: Ipswich, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Huddersfield, Mansfield, Reading, Morecambe, Hearts, York.

Pick of the draws: Fulham lost narrowly at Manchester City last time out in the Premier League and it won't surprise me if they frustrate Aston Villa, who disappointed when being held to a goalless home draw by Manchester United. Relegated Luton sit just outside the Championship relegation zone but are likely to raise their game against fierce rivals Watford, who, by contrast, are in the play-off positions. Stoke and Norwich, who play each other, have experienced big, recent victories - Stoke 6 Portsmouth 1 and Norwich 4 Hull 0 - so it's hard to pick a winner. Accrington climbed out of the League Two relegation zone with a stunning 2-1 away win against promotion contenders Gillingham last Saturday. That was Accrington's second victory in a row, so high-flying Barrow, who lost to lowly Morecambe on the same day, have been warned. By winning 1-0 at MK Dons last weekend, Port Vale went from sixth to first. However, they could be denied by Fleetwood, who have scored more away goals than anyone in League Two, including a 6-2 triumph at Walsall.

Away days: Arsenal won their corresponding Premier League fixture at Bournemouth 4-0 last season. Although I can't see it being as easy as that this time, the Gunners, third in the table, should still have enough in reserve to come away with three points. Promoted Portsmouth are still waiting for their first win in the Championship. I think it may arrive at Queens Park Rangers, who are in as much trouble as Pompey and sit just above them in the drop zone. In League One, Wigan should return from rock bottom Cambridge with maximum points while Wrexham, in second place, are worth backing at Rotherham. Doncaster could be the new League Two leaders if they win at Swindon and I believe they will. East Fife, top of Scottish League Two, are a confident selection at struggling Forfar.

Homes sweet homes: I'm going for promoted Ipswich to win their first Premier League match of the season against Everton, who are always vulnerable away. Morecambe's 1-0 success at Barrow last Saturday was their first in League Two this season. It enabled them to move off the bottom and I fancy them to triumph again, this time at the expense of mid-table Milton Keynes Dons. It's a shock to see Hearts at the foot of the Scottish Premiership. I can't imagine they will be there long and I feel they are worth a wager against St Mirren.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 5-6

 Ten draws: Brighton v Tottenham, Everton v Newcastle, Coventry v Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth v Blackburn, Watford v Middlesbrough, Huddersfield v Barnsley, Mansfield v Blackpool, Peterborough v Stevenage, Chesterfield v Walsall, Grimsby v Doncaster. 

Best draws: Brighton v Tottenham, Everton v Newcastle, Plymouth v Blackburn, Mansfield v Blackpool, Peterborough v Stevenage.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Morecambe, Motherwell, Celtic. Ten homes: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Burnley, Portsmouth, Bolton, Exeter, Wrexham, Colchester, Fleetwood. 

Pick of the draws: Tottenham's convincing 3-0 away win last Sunday over a submissive Manchester United team was a much needed boost but Brighton will surely be more resilient opponents. In gaining their first Premier League victory this season when beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at home, Everton suggested there are better times ahead and Newcastle, despite holding Manchester City last Saturday, may have to be satisfied with a point. Plymouth, 17th in the Championship and under Wayne Rooney's managership, are more reliable at home and could deny Blackburn, who lie fifth. Mansfield v Blackpool is a League One clash between sides who are bang in form. Nigel Clough is doing a fabulous job as manager at Mansfield, who are third, while sixth-placed Blackpool  have prospered since Steve Bruce's arrival. Consecutive 1-0 home wins over Charlton and Wrexham have moved Stevenage into the top half of the table and will put them in the right mood for a trip to Peterborough, who have disappointed.

Away days: Liverpool, the new Premier League leaders, have done little wrong this season and should stay top after their Saturday match at Crystal Palace, who have done little right and are third from bottom. The way Bournemouth swatted aside Southampton on Monday night was impressive and they are worth a punt at Leicester, who have yet to win in the PL this season. Birmingham have opened a five-point lead at the top of League One and must be fancied at Charlton, who have lost three in a row. Neither Accrington nor Morecambe have managed to win in League Two, so it's no surprise they are 24th and 23rd respectively. However, Morecambe look more likely to break their duck and I believe they'll leave Accrington with three points. Motherwell, fourth in the Scottish Premiership, are recommended at struggling Hibernian. I also think leaders Celtic will recover quickly from their midweek Champions League thrashing at Borussia Dortmund and defeat Ross County.

Homes sweet homes: Portsmouth, promoted to the Championship last season, have had a miserable start to the season, made worse by their 6-1 loss at Stoke in midweek. but I've a hunch they will turn things around and I'm backing them at home to Oxford on Saturday. A late goal gave Colchester a creditable 1-1 midweek draw at Port Vale in League Two and sets them up nicely against lowly Carlisle. Fleetwood's 6-2 midweek away triumph against League Two promotion contenders Walsall was a coupon-buster and I expect them to capitalise on that when they host promoted Bromley. 

Betting info: I scored eight out of ten with my home selections last weekend. The following teams obliged: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Blackburn, Birmingham, Blackpool, Gillingham and Rangers.