EFL Betting Tips: Norwich City seek huge play-off boost as Oxford United target automatics

Normal service resumes in the English Football League this weekend, with 35 games taking place across the Championship, League One and League Two.

It’s been an interesting time below the Premier League of late as unbeaten runs came to an end, free-scorers stopped scoring, and relegation battles opened up a smidge after a slight upturn in fortunes. 

As always we’ve picked out a game from each division to take a closer look at as teams around the county head into battle once more in one of the busiest months of the season. 

Championship

Norwich City v Preston North End

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

The hosts are the favourites here at 1.93, and it’s no great surprise given the recent form of the two sides. Norwich have won three of their last four – scoring eight in the process – while Preston’s strong start has faded, having lost three on the bounce and won just two of their last 12.

On paper there are goals in this one. Seven of the Canaries last eight have resulted in over 2.5 goals, and they’ve kept just one clean sheet since the start of October. Meanwhile, all but two of Preston’s games in all competitions this season have had 2+ goals scored. It’s why a clean sheet for either (2.76 and 4.8) is seen as an outside shot. 

Adam Idah – who has six goals to his name so far – is seen as the most likely goalscorer (2.86 anytime), but both sides have had ten different goal scorers so far in 2023/24 and it’s a tough one to call.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.9

League One

Peterborough United v Oxford United

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

Peterborough’s home form is strong. They’ve not lost any of their last seven on home soil, scoring 2+ goals in eight of their last 10 while keeping seven clean sheets. They’re a hard nut to crack. Oxford have won three of their last four on the road, though, so they’ll be back themselves to end the Posh’s unbeaten streak.

The U’s are the underdogs (at 4.2 to win), which isn’t a shock given the host’s form at London Road, but both sides are ranked amongst the highest scorers in League One at this point of time and lesser teams than Oxford have found a way past Darren Ferguson’s outfit – even if they didn’t claim all three points.

You can back both teams to score at 1.81, and a draw – which doesn’t seem that unlikely a result when fifth face third – sits at 3.65.

Prediction: Peterborough United to win and both teams to score @ 3.7

League Two

Barrow v Gillingham

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

Their form may have gone unnoticed, but League Two promotion hopefuls, Barrow, are on a lengthy unbeaten run as they make a push for the third tier of English football. Peter Wild’s side haven’t lost a league game in over two months now, which is why they’re 2.14 favourites for a win this weekend.

Gillingham, meanwhile, have been pretty all or nothing this season. In their 27 games across all competitions they drawn just one of them, and a current record of just four wins in their last 12 has seen them drop down the table and into the final play-off spot.

Victory for either in this one, though, could be huge. For the Bluebirds it could mean a jump up to second place, and the Gills could close the gap on sixth-placed Notts County whilst giving themselves an added confidence boost on the back of a couple of clean sheets of late.

The hosts haven’t conceded a goal at home in League Two since October 7th, it’s worth noting, and if you back them to make it six in a row then you can find that at 2.64.

Prediction: Barrow to win @ 2.14

Recommended Bets

Back over 2.5 goals in Norwich City v Preston North End @ 1.9
Back Peterborough to beat Oxford and BTTS @ 3.7
Back Barrow to beat Gillingham @ 2.14