EFL Betting Tips and Preview: Resurgent Blackpool chase momentum and Notts County aim to end impressive run

The international break means that fans of English club football focus their attention on League One and League Two, but the nature of the pyramid nowadays means it’s not quite that simple…

A total of eight games in the third tier won’t be taking place this weekend due to international call-ups for their players at either senior or youth level, and there’s also a game being put on hold in the fourth tier after four Morecambe players were asked to represent their respective nations.

Thankfully there are matches still being played in the English Football League, though, and we’ve picked out three of the most intriguing…

Blackpool v Stevenage

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

One of only four games in League One this weekend, but it’s an interesting tie regardless as a resurgent Blackpool look to clamber up the league table by beating a Stevenage outfit that have shocked a few with how well they’ve started the campaign.

As the newly-promoted side – and visitors – Steve Evans’ team are slight outsiders at 3.15 for victory, and it hasn’t helped that after a few bright opening fixtures they’ve now won just two of their last eight in all competitions.

The Tangerines, meanwhile, have lost just two of their last eight, and up top can call upon a revitalised Jordan Rhodes who has six goals in seven games since his arrival at the end of August. Neither side has a particularly strong defensive record in 2023/24, which is why it’s at 1.74 for both teams to score.

Prediction: Blackpool to win @ 2.36

Cambridge United v Shrewsbury Town

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

At 2.06 to win Cambridge are the favourites here, but a late win for Shrewsbury in their last game will see them head to Abbey Stadium on a high.

The hosts are winless in six across all competitions and have conceded six in their last two league games, their relatively bright start to the campaign now feels some way behind them and to even get a clean sheet on home soil they’re at 2.46 this weekend.

Salop, though, are having goal problems. They’ve scored just five goals in 11 matches so far, and are the division’s second lowest scorers – does that home clean sheet sound more tempting now?

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals and both teams to score – no @ 2.14

Notts County v Mansfield Town

Kick off: 12.30pm Saturday

The table-toppers against the unbeatables – quite the match-up at Meadow Lane as the Magpies and Stags battle it out.

County are flying at the top of the League Two table and have already scored 27 goals in their 12 league games so far, but after promotion up from the National League their backline still leaves something to be desired. Both teams have scored in all but three of their 15 games in the league and cup, and there have been over 1.5 goals in 14 of them. Their games are fun for the neutrals.

Luke Williams’ side may be top, but there’s something that their visitors have that they don’t – an unbeaten record. You have to go back to April to find the last time that Mansfield were beaten in a competitive fixture, and they’ve done a bit of giant-killing along the way.

Clean sheets against Wrexham and Wimbledon helped them keep their defeats column intact this month, and they’ll be itching to try and use this opportunity to climb up to second place. They’re at 4.4 to keep a seventh league clean sheet of the season.

Prediction: Under 3.5 goals @ 1.5

Recommended Bets

Back Blackpool to beat Stevenage @ 2.36
Back Under 2.5 goals and BTTS - no in Cambridge v Shrewsbury @ 2.14
Back Under 3.5 goals in Notts County v Mansfield @ 1.5