An Arsenal supporter and occasional match-goer, Liam has been involved in football journalism for a number of years and joined the Spotlight Sports Group in 2018. He is studying for a degree in German and Spanish, can speak French too and is particularly interested in the Bundesliga and La Liga.
In the run up to any weekend’s football fixtures, it’s common to see odds start to fluctuate, shorten and lengthen as punters being to place their bets ahead of the action.
Any team that has been well backed in the lead up to their game will see their odds shorten, and often, some key late team news, and injury update or high value offering identified will trigger a flurry of bets on a particular outcome, which in turn, has a knock-on effect on the odds available.
In FST’s new weekly Market Movers feature, we will identify the best backed teams ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, and below you can find this week’s selections along with our huge 46/1 acca built around our selections.
For more free betting tips ahead of the weekend’s football, check out our match predictions page.
46/1 Market Movers accumulator
Southampton vs West Ham (Premier League)
West Ham to win at 21/10
David Moyes admitted he got his West Ham team selection wrong against Brighton but the Hammers still got a point from that contest and, with Michail Antonio back in training, they could go one better against Southampton.
The Saints have been dealt a blow by the news that Jannik Vestergaard, who has started 12 of their 15 league games this term, will be out for up to four weeks and it is easy to see why the Londoners are an attractive bet.
Rotherham v Barnsley (Championship)
Barnsley to win at 21/20
Valerien Ismael has made a superb start to life at Barnsley and should his side earn at least a draw away to Rotherham, it will be the club’s greatest ever December points haul.
Victory over Huddersfield on Boxing Day was Barnsley’s fourth win in their last five matches and they are now nestled in the mid-table positions as a result. With Rotherham having not played in nearly two weeks due to postponements, the improving Tykes look a great bet in this Yorkshire Derby.
Stevenage v Cambridge (League Two)
Cambridge to win at 11/10
Stevenage remain rooted to the foot of the League Two table as 2020 draws to an end and, having failed to win any of their last four league assignments, punters fancy them to lose at home to Cambridge.
United, meanwhile, have won three of their last five games, beating Gillingham, Colchester and Leyton Orient and a solid defence, which has shipped only 18 league goals this campaign, has helped them into the top half in League Two.
Walsall v Scunthorpe (League Two)
Walsall to win at 10/11
Walsall’s winning streak was snapped by Salford last time out but four wins in their last five league matches has seen them well backed for their home contest with Scunthorpe in League Two.
Prior to their Boxing Day loss, Walsall had beaten Tranmere, Bolton, Oldham and Port Vale – all sides above their next opponents Scunthorpe in the league standings. The Iron have lost four of their last five fixtures, including a defeat to strugglers Southend, and are worth opposing.
Colchester v Cheltenham (League Two)
Cheltenham to win at 17/20
Colchester United have lost their last three matches on the spin in League Two, culminating in defeat to lowly Southend, and with a handful of key players missing, they are being opposed in their clash with Cheltenham.
The U’s will be missing key defender Tom Eastman, who limped off against Southend on Boxing Day, as well as Cohen Bramall, Luke Norris and Callum Harriott and are facing a Cheltenham side who have won ten league games this term and have their sights set on promotion.
More FST News:
League One predictions and best bets for Tuesday
