Blunt Bluebirds to leave empty-handed
Middlesbrough 1.728/11 v Cardiff 5.79/2; The Draw 3.7511/4
Despite being touted as potential title contenders this season, Middlesbrough have yet to catch fire.
Chris Wilder has bemoaned the lack of incomings at the club, however, he has been reasonably well-backed in the transfer market and the addition of Matt Clarke appears to be an astute piece of business.
Boro don't have a particularly good record against Cardiff historically, however, they have been victorious in each of their last two meetings with the Bluebirds and they should be able to continue that sequence on Tuesday night.
Although it wasn't much fun for the neutrals, the Teessiders grinded out a victory against Sunderland a week ago, and have previously edged past Swansea here.
They are yet to taste defeat at the Riverside this season and if they can recreate the form which saw them win ten of their final 13 home matches of the 2021-22 campaign, then they should pick up plenty of points in TS3.
Cardiff are the division's second lowest scorers so far this season and despite the signing of Callum Robinson, it's fairly tough to work out where the goals are going to come from.
They're also significantly weaker on their travels and have failed to net in three of their first four away games.
BTTS at the MKM
Hull 32/1 v Stoke 2.6613/8; The Draw 3.3512/5
Hull made a solid start to the season, but they've now lost three of the last four and they desperately need to improve on their recent performances.
The Tigers have suffered plenty of injuries this season and will surely benefit from the weekend's postponements.
They aren't particularly secure and have kept just a single clean sheet in their last 13 matches at this venue.
They've also shipped 12 goals in their last four outings and Shota Arveladze will be looking for a way to shore things up at the back.
Stoke's away form has been fairly miserable. They've lost four of their last five matches on the road and were defeated 2-1 at the Madjeski ten days ago.
Although they kept a clean sheet at Ewood Park, they were under plenty of pressure in the second and with average of 1.75 goals conceded per game on their travels, the Potters are unlikely to keep a clean sheet.
Latics to take something back to the DW
Huddersfield 2.77/4 v Wigan 2.8815/8; The Draw 3.3512/5
It's been a poor start to the campaign for Huddersfield, however, the Terriers were extremely unlucky against Blackpool and deserved to take something from that game.
Danny Schofield's side look set to rely on their home form this season and they have already taken points off both Stoke and West Brom here.
Nevertheless, their xG numbers are poor and they've now failed to score in consecutive outings.
Wigan have proved to be stubborn opposition so far this season with the Latics looking well-organised, resilient and determined.
They've suffered just a single defeat so far and have taken points off West Brom, Luton and Norwich. Leam Richardson's side have lost just two of their last 25 away games and are unlikely to go down without a fight here.
Swans to limit high-flying Blades
Swansea 3.412/5 v Sheffield United 2.265/4; The Draw 3.5551/20
This isn't a ground that Sheffield United tend to enjoy visiting. The Blades haven't won here for over 50 years and they've also failed to score in each of their last three visits.
Nevertheless, Paul Heckingbottom's side are flying high and have won four of their last five. They've managed to keep clean sheets in three of those victories and have been producing decent xGA numbers in the process.
They will be expected to win this contest, however, with just two victories from their last 11 away trips, they may be a little short in the betting.
Swansea's style of play has been gradually evolving and Russell Martin's side are now commanding far less possession.
This has resulted in some improved displays and they have conceded just once in their last two outings.
With the exception of their undeserved 3-0 loss to Blackburn, the Swans have been competitive in the majority of matches so far, and could make it tough for the visitors.
Stalemate at Ewood Park
Blackburn 3.052/1 v Watford 2.6213/8; The Draw 3.39/4
Both Blackburn and Watford are closely matched coming into this contest. Rovers have been incredibly inconsistent and have a 4-0-4 record so far.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have recruited well in the transfer window and with John Buckley having signed a new contract with the club, fans are feeling relatively optimistic heading into this midweek clash.
Nevertheless, they've lost four of their last five, including each of their last two here.
Watford are still having issues finishing off the opposition with only Preston and West Brom having drawn more matches than the Hornets.
Rob Edwards' men have only scored 2+ goals on a couple of occasions so far and they need to improve their output in the final third. They've drawn each of their first four away matches and this Tuesday night contest could easily go the same way.
A rare BTTS at Deepdale
Preston 3.1511/5 v Burnley 2.568/5; The Draw 3.39/4
Despite having failed to find the net at Deepdale in any of their first four matches here, PNE have been creating plenty of chances.
With an average xG of 1.82, the Lilywhites will surely start finding the back of the net soon.
Defensively, they've been superb, although they did lose track of match-winner Maxime Colin against Birmingham ten days ago.
There are plenty of bragging rights at stake in this contest and having lost their last two matches here to Burnley, Ryan Lowe will be determined to avoid a third consecutive home defeat in this Lancashire derby.
Burnley have had plenty of time to reflect on their last-gasp concession to West Brom last time out.
The Clarets are creating plenty of chances, however, they've not neccessarily been able to put away those opportunities.
When everything clicks, Vincent Kompany's side are one of the slickest operations in the division, however, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Hatters to sink lowly Sky Blues
Luton 2.26/5 v Coventry 3.7511/4; The Draw 3.4549/20
Luton have taken a few weeks to find form with Nathan Jones' side failing to win any of their first four matches.
Although they still haven't picked up a victory at Kenilworth Road this campaign, they are playing well and didn't deserve to be defeated by Wigan here at the beginning of the month.
Across their last two outings, they have an xGA of 0.6 and this looks like an excellent opportunity to excite the home fans. The hosts have won their last two home meetings with Coventry by an aggregate scoreline of 7-0 and were also victorious at the CBS earlier this year.
Coventry have looked extremely sluggish so far and Mark Robins must find a way to improve his side's lacklustre performances.
They've conceded nine times on the road so far and have also failed to find the net in each of their last two.
This will be a tough trip for the division's bottom club and they are unlikely to leave Bedfordshire with anything to show for their efforts.
Entertaining 90 mins at Carrow Road
Norwich 1.715/7 v Bristol City 5.49/2; The Draw 43/1
Norwich are yet another side who endured a slow start to the season, however, Dean Smith's side have finally clicked into gear.
The Canaries have scored ten goals across their last five outings with the East Anglian outfit having also taken the most shots in the division (126) so far.
With Teemu Pukki back from injury and Josh Sargent having scored five times in his first 529 minutes of Championship football, they should create plenty of opportunities here.
Bristol City have been one of the surprise packages of the campaign and are unbeaten in six heading into this tie.
They've scored the joint-highest number of goals (16) so far and have an abundance of attacking talent including Antoine Semenyo, who has recently returned from injury.
Andreas Weimann has claimed four assists so far and they are looking exceptionally dangerous going forward. Despite this, they've looked far from assured at the back and are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road.
Millers to continue unbeaten streak
Rotherham 2.35/4 v Blackpool 3.412/5; The Draw 3.39/4
Although we seem to say it every single week, Rotherham remain incredibly difficult to beat.
The Millers have yet to be defeated at the New York Stadium and have conceded just twice at this venue so far.
Although Paul Warne will be pleased with his side's performances so far, he'll also be keen to spread the goals around. Defender Richard Wood and wideman Chiedozie Ogbene have been responsible for seven of the Millers' nine goals so far and Blackpool must keep a close eye on this prolific pair.
Blackpool are unbeaten in each of their last three on their travels and have undoubtedly improved under Michael Appleton.
Nevertheless, they were poor against Huddersfield last time out, and without the services of Josh Bowler, who scored twice and was averging 3.7 shots per game, they are likely to be weaker in the final third.
The visitors have looked shaky at the back and could find it tough to repel the Millers' bombardment from wide areas.
Lions to steal all three points
Millwall 2.3811/8 v QPR 3.412/5; The Draw 3.39/4
Millwall have been famed for their defensive prowess in recent seasons, however, Gary Rowett's men have conceded 11 times in their opening eight encounters and have kept just two clean sheets so far.
The Lions' top goalscorer is defender Charlie Cresswell (3) and Rowett must find a way to get his strikers firing in the coming weeks.
Their 2-0 home victory over Cardiff ten days ago felt like a notable step forward and they should be able to build upon that display.
QPR have been fairly unpredictable so far and have produced a mixture of sensational and limp performances.
They've managed just a single clean sheet in 21 away games and with the exception of their 3-2 victory over Watford, they've looked far weaker on their travels.
Royals to continue fantastic home record
Reading 2.747/4 v Sunderland 2.8615/8; The Draw 3.39/4
Only Sheffield United can currently boast a better home record than Reading. The Royals have won each of their first four matches at the Madejski and have conceded just twice.
Paul Ince's side may not possess much star quality, however, they are battling for their manager and in Lucas Joao, they have a striker who is capable of finding the back of the net at this level.
Although their xG numbers may not be spectacular, they are making themselves incredibly hard to beat and start as favourites on Wednesday night.
Sunderland lacked any sparkle against Middlesbrough on Monday evening and the Black Cats' limp performance will have concerned their fans.
Ross Stewart's injury is a huge blow for the Wearsiders and having failed to win in any of their previous four visits to this ground, they look up against it.
Blues will look to frustrate Baggies
West Brom 1.491/2 v Birmingham 87/1; The Draw 4.47/2
Steve Bruce faces another one of his former clubs on Wednesday evening as Birmingham visit the Hawthorns.
WBA haven't been entirely convincing, and despite finding the net 12 times, they've been breached on ten occasions and have failed to beat Wigan, Huddersfield and Cardiff.
They did show terrific tenacity to snatch a point against Burnley last time out, but this is unlikely to be straightforward for the midtable outfit.
Birmingham do not possess much quality, however, John Eustace's side do not make it easy for the opposition.
They produced the perfect away performance at Deepdale last time out and left with all three points.
They've only scored five times, yet three of their four defeats have come by a single goal margin and they almost took a point off Norwich a fortnight ago.
Jack's 2022-23 Profit/Loss:
Staked: 72.00
Returned: 74.92
P/L: +2.92