LFW's resident pundit Andy Hillman looks ahead to QPR's trip to Birmingham and a host of other weekend football action in this week's betting column.

Andy Hillman

Just like QPR’s current performance both on and off the pitch, I’m continuing to struggle at the moment, with just a solitary winner last week: Juve at evens. Like QPR, last week was a week of ‘oh so nearly’s’ - correctly assuming that both teams would score in the Leeds match, but forgetting that QPR can’t kill a game; knowing that Palace would take something at Swansea, but backing the win as opposed to the draw; and knowing that Spurs would win at home, but only by the one goal.

NAP of the Week: West Brom vs Man Utd - Man U to win @ Evens

Yes, Man Utd are a bit shit. Yes, Tom Cleverley really isn’t a title winning central midfielder. Yes I’ve seen the OPTA map of Van Persie’s passing to Rooney last time out. But West Brom under Pepe Mel are absolutely Dog Toffee ((c) Simmo from the message board) United to win at Evens against West Brom is an absolute steal.

QPR related bet: Birmingham vs QPR - QPR to win @ 6/4

I’m still ploughing this stupid notion that QPR will ever win a game again without Charlie Austin, or at least someone half decent up top. The stats making me back this ridiculous notion this week are that Birmingham have only won a single solitary game at home in their last fifteen outings - against Bristol Rovers. This run stretches back until October. We haven’t won in five ourselves, but Birmingham are pretty rank and are there for the taking, if someone, you know, takes...

Crystal Palace vs Southampton - Palace @ 29/10

The most surprising thing about the odds on this one are that Southampton are as low as evens with some bookmakers. Crystal Palace have picked up 20 of their 27 points at Selhurst Park this season, and under Tony Pulis are a difficult, obstinate little bugger to beat. Southampton, out of the cups, and pretty much guaranteed to finish ninth in the league, have already booked their summer holidays, put the cues on the rack and a whole host of other euphemism and metaphors for giving up - they’ve lost their last three in a row. Palace at nearly 3/1 is definitely worth the risk.

Cardiff vs Fulham - draw @ 5/2; 0-0 HT @ 2/1

Can you imagine having to actually watch this game? This game has got 23.30 on Match of the Day written all over it. And even though it features the two sides who have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season, it’s almost certainly going to be a dull, low scoring draw. There won’t be any 3-3’s here, that’s for sure. Back the draw at 5/2, and goalless at halftime at 2/1.

Safe as Houses German Double @ Evens

I’ve shied away from accumulators this season, because I ended up getting ambitious and throwing in a ridiculous odds booster to screw things up. But shopping around Europe, I noticed that Both German giants were away at weak opposition (obviously everyone is weak for Bayern...) Bayern and Dortmund both to win is available at Evens, and that’s not a bad start to any bigger accumulator you’ve got your eye on - I’d suggest looking at Juve, Barca and Real Madrid as obvious additions, but shy away from Napoli/Roma, the FA Cup games and the rest of the Italian fixtures...

Previous winners:

Roma vs Bologna - Roma win to Nil @ 7/5 — 27/09/13

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