Football Betting Tips: The 8 best bets for the weekend, including a 9/2 Community Shield Bet Builder

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Wolves v Blackburn - A comfortable home win

Click here for Wolves v Blackburn odds
Friday 20:00 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

A home tie against fourth-tier opposition in the League Cup, one week before the season starts proper, is hardly compelling evidence. All the same, Wolves looked decent last Friday against Port Vale, with Fer Lopez particularly impressing.

After failing to cut it in the Premier League last term maybe there is a player in there. The Spanish midfielder ran the show.

Andre too was excellent and with new signings still to feature the hosts are tipped to win quite comfortably here. Blackburn, for their part, have done little of note in the market this summer and potentially face a bleak ten months ahead.

One thing to consider. As good as Wolves were going forward they gave up three big chances to the Valiants. BTTS at 9/101.90 is a sensible builder add.

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Bolton v Preston - Trotters in better shape

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Saturday, 12:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports+

Preston have been tipped by some to really struggle this season and certainly their slew of losses pre-season gives that thought some credence.

Granted, they showed resilience to get past Huddersfield in the League Cup last weekend, despite being a man short for 70 minutes. But is resilience enough?

Bolton, by comparison, looked sharp and inventive in their League Cup outing, until Xavier Simons had a moment of madness and saw red.

A straightforward one this. It's Wanderers for the win.

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Oxford v MK Dons - Us caught cold

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Saturday, 12:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports+

A whole division separated these sides last season, Oxford dropping from the Championship, the Dons promoted from League two. If you suspect that puts the hosts at an advantage though, think again.

Paul Warne's visitors have strengthened well over the summer, adding to an already strong squad. Moreover, the Dons don't tend to waste time with formalities, firing a league-high 52 first-half goals in 2025/26.

Only two Championship sides meanwhile conceded more goals than the Us before the break last term. They are in danger of being caught cold here while they re-adapt to third tier life.

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Stoke v Swansea - Visitors to break the deadlock

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Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

Žan Vipotnik scored in both meetings last term while his final tally of 25 league goals have inevitably made him a wanted man. Hull reportedly put in a £10m bid this week that was swiftly rejected. That is unlikely to be the end of the matter.

Will the Slovenian be a Swan come the weekend? If he is it's intriguing to note how many times he struck early in 2025/26, opening a game's scoring on 12 occasions. Nine of his goals were converted inside the opening 25 minutes.

Vipotnik first goalscorer is therefore a shout.

Moreover, Swansea bagged first in each of their concluding five fixtures last term while Stoke conceded first in all of their concluding six.

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Sheff Utd v Birmingham - Ref to take centre stage

Click here for more Sheff Utd v Birmingham odds
Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

There was a red card in each meeting last season, both times to the visitors, and both times early.

Indeed, no Championship team received more dismissals than the Blades (6) while Birmingham saw five prematurely depart across 2025/26.

Another sending off would hardly shock at Bramall Lane and the same can be said of spot-kicks.

The Yorkshire side were awarded the second highest number of penalties last term in the Championship (6), one of which was against Brum.

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Mansfield v Doncaster - August joy for May

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Saturday, 15:00 kick-off

Last season was a fairly disappointing one for Alfie May, usually a prolific goalscorer at this level. Just seven goals for Huddersfield was a poor return for a forward who has broken the 20-barrier three times in League One.

Now back at Donny on loan we might see the poacher of old, the 33-year-old converting twice in pre-season and again last Saturday in the League Cup.

Additionally, he always seems to find the target on his league debut, doing so for the Terriers, Birmingham and Cheltenham.

Back Alfie May to score anytime (market not available at time of publication)

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Watford v Southampton - Back goals at Vicarage Road

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Sunday, 13:30 kick-off
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

88% of Southampton's away games last term had both teams scoring. This exact fixture meanwhile ended 2-2 with 11 shots on target combined.

If this suggests that a goal-fest awaits at Vicarage Road other factors strengthen the claim.

The Hornets' campaign may have fallen off a cliff in 2025/26 but they started brightly, as they tend to. Across each of the last three seasons they have converted 2+ goals in seven of their first ten home fixtures.

As for the Saints, only Coventry were more prolific in the second-tier last term and pertinently 51.2% of their goals were scored away from St Marys.

The promotion contenders have shrewdly secured the services of Cyle Larin, last season's loanee ending 2025/26 on a streak. From late-March on the Canadian converted every 75 minutes.

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Community Shield - 9/2 bet builder

Click here for more Arsenal v Manchester City odds
Sunday, 15:00
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Live on TNT Sports 1

So unique is this fixture that it takes precedence over the participants, neither of whom are fully up to speed yet.

Eighteen of the last 25 Community Shields have seen both teams scoring while six of the last nine have been drawn. Twelve of the last 17 have produced a goal in each half.

Second half most goals is also worth considering at 11/10. Fourteen of the last 20 in this fixture have been converted in the second period as legs tire and a welter of subs opens up the game.

Narrowing in on players, Antoine Semenyo is fancied for a goal involvement. The winger has been sensationally good pre-season.

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Now read Lewis Jones' first column of the new season here

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