After trousering a 10/1 BTTS acca a fortnight ago, we should have perhaps expected a comedown of sorts immediately after – especially in an international week.
And that’s exactly what we got, with just two of our five picks hitting the mark last time out.
There is mitigation: our selections come from a system that incorporates shot data, xG, team strength, injuries/suspensions and more in one giant mixing bowl….and with most of the leagues we cover out of action, we were out on a limb somewhat!
And so, we head into this week’s both teams to score betting tips with rather more confidence knowing that we have a full set of matches across the continent to work with.
| Match | Both Teams to Score Yes/No | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tottenham vs Chelsea | Yes | 8/13 |
| Bournemouth vs Arsenal | Yes | 1/2 |
| Stoke City vs QPR | No | 5/6 |
| Carlisle United vs Forest Green Rovers | Yes | 4/6 |
| Cheltenham Town vs Newport County | Yes | 8/11 |
| All Five Results as an Accumulator | 11.44/1 | |
Tottenham vs Chelsea – Yes (8/13)
As two sides that don’t concede many goals as a rule, neither Tottenham or Chelsea are typical BTTS bedfellows.
But injuries to some of Spurs’ key defence-minded players, as well as a possible weakness in the Blues when taking on their fellow ‘big six’ opponents, lends itself to goals.
Mauricio Pochettino will be without Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez for Saturday’s game, while Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier both face a race against time to be fit.
Apart from Toby Alderweireld, that’s Tottenham’s first choice back four potentially wiped out.
As for Chelsea, their results against the Premier League’s elite sides raises hope of a BTTS verdict. They’ve beaten Arsenal 3-2, and drawn 2-2 and 1-1 with Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
That suggests that when they play sides who go at them from an attacking perspective, as Spurs surely will, they do tend to struggle defensively.
Bournemouth vs Arsenal – Yes (1/2)
Here’s a top-flight game with BTTS written all over it if ever we’ve saw one.
Bournemouth are not the most solid defensively, and of the four clean sheets they have kept this season three have come against sides in the bottom four of the division.
What’s more, the Cherries conceded twice in both of their games prior to the international break, and have since lost defender Adam Smith to injury.
Arsenal have been the BTTS gift that has kept on giving so far this term, with 9/12 delivering the magic mark.
The Gunners last failed to score in a Premier League game on the opening day of the season, but they have been surprisingly lax at the back with just two clean sheets kept and none in five on the road.,/p>
Stoke City vs QPR – No (5/6)
Since the start of October, there has been a clear change in modus operandi from Gary Rowett at Stoke.
Their results since then in the Championship – 0-0, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 0-1, 1-0, 2-0 – are indicative of a side that has opted for a back to basics, defence first approach.
QPR, meanwhile, have been on a great run lately, with Steve McClaren’s men enjoying five wins in their last seven matches.
That momentum has been built largely on a improvement defensively, with four clean sheets coming in that spell of games.
Carlisle United vs Forest Green Rovers – Yes (4/6)
Carlisle have found an attacking spark of late, putting three past Newport and four by Swindon in their last pair of outings.
These are exciting times to be a Cumbrian then, although their home form (W3 D1 L5) does suggest that Forest Green don’t need to be fearful ahead of the long trip north.
The Rovers have scored more away goals than any other side in League Two, and have netted at least once in 16 of their 18 league dates this term.
Cheltenham Town vs Newport County – Yes (8/11)
The goals continue to fly in during Newport County’s matches.
All season long their 18 matches have witnessed a whopping 51 goals, and that ratio continues on the road with them with 24 hitting the net in just nine outings.
They haven’t kept a clean sheet since September in the league, and have shipped eight in their last trio of away dates.
Cheltenham don’t score a lot of goals, as a rule, but just recently they have found a winning formula in attack: they stuck two past Mansfield, which is an achievement in itself, and followed up with a 3-0 pasting of Notts County.