Lays of the Weekend: Milwall to halt Palace's hot streak

Dougie Freedman has been linked with the vacant Bolton job

Christian Crowther picks out Crystal Palace, Osasuna and Bayer Leverkusen to come unstuck...

Lay Crystal Palace to beat Milwall @ 2.26/5
Thankfully, the profoundly shock-riddled Championship is back on our boxes this weekend and ready, no doubt, to reward the layers who are brave enough to go against the grain. Crystal Palace are the form team in the division - itself usually a danger sign - and after being the benefactors in this lay column against Cardiff some weeks ago, I predict they will now oblige with a slip up against Milwall. There are reasons other than mere speculation you'll be pleased to know: the potential of derby matches to act as levellers, their neighbours' draw at Selhurst Park last season and, finally, Dougie Freedman's refusal to categorically rule himself out of the Bolton frame, which will surely have ruffled a few Eagles' feathers.

Lay Osasuna to beat Real Betis @ 2.1411/10
Considering Osasuna's lofty league finish of seventh last season, they have made an unexpectedly terrible start to this one. They currently languish just one place off the bottom of the heap with only the solitary win to their name, losing five of their seven La Liga fixtures to this point. Their visitors on the other hand have constructed a far brighter opening sequence of results and currently occupy fourth spot in the table - above even the mighty Real Madrid - as a result. Betis have already garnered eight points more than their hosts, including two wins on the road and will fancy grabbing at least a point on Sunday. In-form striker Ruben Castro scored in both La Liga encounters last season too.

Lay Bayer Leverkusen to beat Mainz @ 1.715/7
Mainz have troubled Leverkusen in recent seasons, beating them twice in the last two editions of the Bundesliga - once in this fixture in 2010/11 - and just last year they were only 15 minutes away from earning themselves a draw at the BayArena. This should be another close encounter given only one point separates the sides at present. Mainz are in a good run of form too, winning three out of their last four, including the last two, so will arrive on a high to face Sami Hyypia's side. Leverkusen have already dropped points at home to Borussia Monchengladbach as well.