Tuesday 10th December 2024

In Across the Leagues today:

• An update on our UEFA cups mega-acca…
• Christmas plans…
• Championship stats and selections… 

Championship picks for tonight – including a 37/1 shot…

The Champions League signs off for Christmas this week. But unlike the six-round Group phase in previous seasons, the new eight-match League format continues into January…

After that, we’ll have the Knockout ties to look forward to - and that’s when the competition really starts to get exciting…

Our 392/1 combo is now 130/1…

On the long-term betting front, where we’re always aiming to get our picks deep into a tournament at a good price. Our 2024/25 UEFA cups ‘mega acca’ has the potential to be a shining beacon of light for us, after what has admittedly been a tough, gloomy autumn…

Back in September, we got behind this trio of teams in the three European club cup competitions:

Champions League – Bayern Munich

Europa League – Athletic Club Bilbao

Conference League – Chelsea

• All three are now trading at shorter prices than when we backed them in our big-odds, season-spanning Trixie (view the original article and advice here)

Athletic and Chelsea sit joint-top of the Europa League and Conference League tables, respectively.

While Bayern are currently a point off the automatic qualification places in the Champions League table, but sitting safely in the playoff positions - with three matches still to come in. Domestically, Munich are top of the German Bundesliga, and have just two more December league games to contend with before their winter break - which should help the likes of Harry Kane return from injury, ready for the new year.

From odds of 300/1+ when we got involved with that Bayern-Athletic-Chelsea combo back in September, and a top price of 392/1 with Betfred…

• That treble is now down to just over 100/1 in general, with Betway a best price 130/1 as I write…

At the very least, we have a promising ticket in our hands there - with the best odds bagged. And one we can clutch tight to our chest when the UEFA Knockouts rounds get underway come February.

Christmas plans…

The bookies have spoken!

According to William Hill and BetVictor, Gavin and Stacey will be the Most Watched TV Show in the UK on Christmas Day… Aberdeen airport is the favourite for a White Christmas… and Wham! are odds-on to be Christmas No.1 in the music charts…

I’ll be heading up to the Peak District for some of the festive period. While I’ll be away from my usual desk, I’ll have my laptop with me, and will be keeping in touch with you via email…

The Christmas fixture list is a massive one. And while we won’t be covering all of the football, you and I will certainly be getting involved. I’ll let you know our festive email schedule next week.

• Our Premier League Predictor game will continue as usual for each round of festive fixtures
• And the stats on your members-only Across the Leagues website will continue to update automatically after every set of games: www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

Championship picks…

There’s a full 12-game midweek programme kicking-off in the Championship tonight, and we’re targeting some of the standout stats and match-ups:

Burnley v Derby County - Tonight 7.45pm, Sky Sports+

STATS PICK: Burnley -3 Corner Handicap

• Burnley have covered a -3 Corner Handicap in 4 home games in a row, and in 5 of their last 6 at Turf Moor. Opponents have landed this bet in 3 of Derby’s last 4 away games (winning 4 or more corner kicks more than Derby) 

Luton v Stoke - Tonight 7.45pm, Sky Sports+

STATS PICK: Over 10.5 Total Corners

• 7 of Luton’s last 8 home games have gone Over 10.5 Corners. That bet has paid out in 6 of Stoke’s last 7 league matches overall, and in 4 of their last 5 on the road

Plymouth v Swansea - Tonight 7.45pm, Sky Sports+

STATS PICK: Player to be Carded: Josh Tymon

STATS PICK: Player to be Carded: Ben Cabango

• Two highly-rated Swansea defenders appeal at odds of 3/1 each for a Card here. Tymon has been booked in an eye-catching 5 out of 10 away starts in the league this season, making him their most-carded player in 2024/25. Cabango has collected yellow cards in 2 of his last 5 games
• Away teams have had a least one defender booked in 5 of Plymouth’s last 7 home games

Three draws at 37/1…

And for a big-odds angle in the Championship this week, the Form Guide on our site identifies several sides who are finding wins hard to come by of late - with the case for a trio of draws holding some speculative appeal for us here…

As the Form Guide snapshot below shows, between them, these six teams have managed just three wins out of a combined last 30 matches.

• The draw treble pays 33/1+ in general. The advice here is a Trixie: 3 doubles and the treble

DRAW: Luton v Stoke - Tonight 7.45pm, Sky Sports+

DRAW: Cardiff v Preston - Wednesday 7.45pm, Sky Sports+

DRAW: West Brom v Coventry - Wednesday 8pm, Sky Sports

Championship Form Guide:

Log-in to view all our bet-specific stats for 18 leagues at:

www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

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TODAY’S PICKS & BEST ODDS

See above for full details

• Burnley v Derby County. Burnley -3 Corner Handicap @ 11/8 (2.38) William Hill, 13/10 (2.3) Boylesports, 6/5 (2.2) Unibet, Evens+ (2.0+) Bet365, Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook
• Luton v Stoke. Over 10.5 Total Corners @ 10/11 (1.91) Skybet (called ‘11+ Total Corners Taken’), 4/5+ (1.8+) William Hill, 888 Sport, BetVictor, Ladbrokes, Coral, Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook
• Plymouth v Swansea. Player to be Carded: Josh Tymon @ 18/5 (4.6) BetVictor, 16/5 (4.2) Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, 3/1 (4.0) Bet365
• Plymouth v Swansea. Player to be Carded: Ben Cabango @ 3/1 (4.0) BetVictor, Bet365, Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook
• Trixie. Three Draws: Luton v Stoke, Cardiff v Preston, West Brom v Coventry - best odds Coral (37/1 the treble), Bet365, Betfred, Skybet, BetVictor, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook (34/1), William Hill, Betway (33/1)

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I’ll be back on Friday with your weekend preview.

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues