Championship Betting: Boro to have too much bite for The Terriers

Aitor Karanka's Boro side look a good bet to beat Huddersfield

The Championship returns with a full set of fixtures this weekend and our man Mike Norman has selected three wagers for you to consider including another defeat for hapless Blackpool...

Blackpool 4.67/2 v Wolves 1.9420/21; The Draw 3.55/2

Not only are Blackpool in turmoil, they also have a dreadful record against Saturday's opponents Wolves with Opta telling us that they've won just two of their last 17 league encounters with Kenny Jackett's men.

That sort of trend is going to be difficult to buck at the best of times, but when you've lost six out of six league and cup games, have a wafer thin squad, and your chairman is seemingly trying to appoint a new manager despite having one already, then you know you're a club in crisis.

Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett reportedly turned down an offer to join Blackpool this week even though Jose Riga remains the current Tangerines manager. As I've said a few times already in recent weeks it's possible that the playing staff will pull together under such uncertainty, but so far the Lancashire club just aren't getting the results.

Wolves on the other hand have started the season tremendously following promotion from League One last term. Jackett's men have won four of their opening five league games including wins without conceding against all three of last season's Premier League relegated clubs.

It's difficult to make a case for Wolves not winning, but given I rarely back odds-on shots in Match Odds in this division, and that Blackpool have conceded first half goals in 100% of their games this term then a chance is taken on the away side leading at the interval before securing all three points.

Recommended Bet
Back Wolves HT/FT @ 3.211/5

Bournemouth 1.774/5 v Rotherham 5.24/1; The Draw 4.03/1

Following a promising start to the season Bournemouth have now gone three league games without a win, but the eyecatching aspect of their results is the number of goals they score and concede. They've already put four past Bournemouth, three past Northampton in the Capital One Cup, and been involved in a 2-3 thriller with Blackburn.

The Cherries' five league games so far have averaged exactly three goals per game and that alone gives us a chance of landng the Over 2.5 Goals wager here.

On the negative side is the fact that Rotherham have yet to be involved in a league or cup game this term in which both teams have got on the scoresheet, but I'm not too concerned about that. Bournemouth are strong favourites to win this, and I certainly wouldn't rule out Eddie Howe's men scoring at least three on their own.

But I have a hunch that The Millers will soon revert to the entertaining high-scoring-game type of side that they were last season in League One. Only Wolves scored more goals than Steve Evans' men, while they had one of the worst defences amongst the top 10 clubs in that particular division.

Odds of 1.9210/11 is the price on offer for at least three goals to be scored at Dean Court on Saturday afternoon and I believe that is a price worth chancing.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.9210/11

Huddersfield 3.39/4 v Middlesbrough 2.47/5; The Draw 3.55/2

Middlesbrough have already lost three Championship games this term, two of which came at the Riverside Stadium where they created plenty of chances, failed to take any, and defended like non-league players. Away from home however they've won two of their three league and cup games and were extremely unfortunate to lose to Leeds at Elland Road.

The feeling is that Aitor Karanka's men will be a dangerous side on their travels given that they're an excellent passing side who are probably best suited to hitting teams on the counter attack.

Boro strengthened their forward line towards the end of the transfer window with the loan signings of highly-promising Chelsea youngster Patrick Bamford, and Belgian international striker Jelle Vossen, and their squad now looks capable of challenging for a play-off place this season.

The Terriers, who last week appointed former Charlton boss Chris Powell following Mark Robins' dismissal at the start of the season, have taken just four points from the 15 available to them and they've looked particularly poor at the John Smith's Stadium, being thrashed 0-4 by Bournemouth (league) and losing 0-2 to Nottm Forest (cup), while a draw with Charlton hardly set the pulses racing amongst home fans.

Following the two week international break and the appointment of Powell the home side might be a different animal against Boro but until we see evidence of any improvement then backing the Teesside outfit looks a strong recommendation.

Recommended Bet
Back Middlesbrough to Win @ 2.47/5 (best bet)

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 20 pts
Returned: 18.74 pts
P/L: - 1.26 pts

*based on 1pt each bet, 2pts best bet