Four decent priced winning bets for our pundits last week ahead of the Ipswich game — let's see what they have for us ahead of QPR v Huddersfield at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Andy Hillman

Well not a bad return to the betting fold, as my first column of the year yields three winners all at way above evens, including calling bottom of the league Sunderland away from home to win. The top seven clubs all won at the weekend, meaning that the bookies suffered one of their worst ever weeks in terms of paying out to punters. It’s always nice to give a bloody nose to the bookmakers every now and then.

NAP of the week: Roma vs Livorno - Roma to win to nil @ 5/6

It may be a slightly leftfield choice for NAP of the week, I like to normally pick a domestic match for my NAP, but I can’t ignore the odds on offer here. Roma have the best home defence in Europe, whereas Livorno have lost seven of their last eight. A home win to nil has already delivered seven times for Roma this season, an eighth would appear to be nailed on...

QPR related bet: QPR vs Huddersfield - QPR to win to nil @ 33/20

And in keeping with the home win to nil banker, you can get even better odds on QPR winning without conceding against Huddersfield on Saturday. It still may be fashionable in some quarters of our fanbase to bash the players, and look enviously at every other team in the league, but we have unquestionably the best defence in the league, and at home we concede on average 0.33 goals a game at home (everyone’s current darlings Leicester concede on average one goal a game at home...). a win to nil at better than 6/4 appeals in the circumstances, but if you’re feeling cheeky, you can get 3/1 on Nahki Wells to score anytime (although if he does score I’d strongly suggest giving the message board a swerve for a week...)

Premiership Shorts:

Chelsea vs Man Utd - Chelsea win @ 5/6

I’m wincing at the thought of the coverage and build-up that this game is going to get, but it doesn’t matter how much you dress this one up, there is a massive gulf in class between these sides at present. Chelsea , and Hazard in particular are in great form, whereas David Moyes is attempting, and unsurprisingly failing, to buy every half decent central midfielder in Europe . Chelsea to win, and don’t be surprised if it’s to nil either (9/4)

Man City vs Cardiff - Man City to score at least three times @ 9/11

Man City are still well on course to average four goals a game in their home games this season, and if that’s not enough to put fear into the hearts of opposition teams, Sergio Aguero is coming back to fitness as well. They are simply unstoppable at home, and should easily put three past Cardiff ...

Swansea vs Tottenham - Spurs to win @ 7/5

Do you remember the heady days of 12 months ago when Swansea were cool? Awful, wasn’t it? Enough sideways passing and misleading possession stats to give football hipsters a serious lazy lob. These days, they’re just plain meh, I’m afraid, as the football hipsters have moved onto Bayern Munich and their wonderful approach to their fans, whilst conveniently ignoring that Bayern hoover up all of Bundeliga’s talent due to a ridiculous disparity of money in the league that would make even Barca and Real blush. Anyway, Swansea are pretty awful at home at the moment, whereas Spurs are surprisingly good under Sherwood - second best away record in the league. Spurs to win @ 7/5 looks generous.

Previous winners:

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

The Pro

"Huddersfield sit comfortably in the under-rated category of the division for me & should prove tough opposition for Barton-less QPR. Mark Robins’ switched to three centre halves and wing backs towards the end of last season and the change in formation has allowed them to be well organised yet still carrying the goal threat required to win games at this level. I’m surprised to see Huddersfield as big as 5/1 with some firms to win this and I fully expect to see plenty of punters be with the Terries at what strikes me as a juicy price for an away win in this league.

"The news of Barton’s absence is clearly a huge blow and means in all likelihood we’ll see a midfield trio of Henry, O’Neil & Carroll (which rubbishes the myth we’ve got great depth to our squad). Against an organised back three (or five) runners beyond Austin from midfield are more vital than ever and looking at the above personnel we’re struggling. I’d also expect Mark Robins (as most away managers seem to be this season) to be satisfied with keeping things tight and level for as long as possible so I’ll be having an interest in the ‘time of first goal market’ being after the twenty seventh minute (evens with Boylesports).

If you’re an under/over 2.5 goals punter the under is available at 4/5 & the over can be backed at evens, personally looks like an 'unders' game to me.

Two other weekend picks. I’ve had some joy in the Scottish Football League in recent months so I’ve put my faith in Dumbarton 11/4 away at out of form Alloa. A morale sapping defeat at lowly Queen of the South continued what’s been a terrible month or so for Alloa add to that key midfielder Stephen Simmons being ruled out means I make Dumbarton much shorter than the current market price.

If you prefer small stakes and big returns (well hoping for big returns !) then my final pick could be of interest.

Bury have been improving of late under David Flitcroft and if you ignore last weekend’s defeat title favourites Chesterfield (a contentious red card gave Chesterfield a helping hand) you’ll see my point. The upturn in results has been helped by Flitcroft’s brave decision to change formation to 3-4-3. Frederic Veseli has been asked to switch position and play wide of the midfield four and with firms still offering odds accustomed to a defender 40/1 first goal & 16/1 anytime (Coral) he’s definitely worth a small interest for the chance of decent return.

Previous Winners:

Joey Barton to score at any time vs Middlesbrough 4/1 (William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfred, Skybet), 27/09/13

Tweet @andy_hillman, @agrowe86

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