James Buttler looks ahead to Friday evening's Championship match between the Hornets and the U's and finds the very best bets.
Hornets at home cannot be ignored
Watford remain fifth despite suffering a defeat on Tuesday and will be hoping to build on a strong start to the season at Vicarage Road on Friday evening. Tom Cleverley’s team have two wins and three defeats in their last five league matches, but Vicarage Road has been the not too secret weapon this season with 16 points earned in their six home outings so far.
The away form has been dreadful, although it did appear that a 6-2 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough had rid them of their away woes, but that was followed with a 1-0 defeat at Swansea City on Tuesday and normal service on their travels was resumed.
Oxford's survival bid doing okay
But at home Watford have been excellent and it is that form that visitors Oxford will have to contend with. The Us are up to 14th spot in the Championship table after a midweek victory ended a run of eight games without a win. Promoted from League One last season, Oxford have only collected two points from a possible 18 on their travels. Most recently they’ve lost 2-0 at Sunderland after successive score draws at Luton and Portsmouth.
Oxford are in the proverbial ‘we need enough points to stay up’ mode and sit two points above a congested drop zone ahead of the weekend and the quest for mid-table obscurity continues.
Home win the play
Despite the lack of away points, Oxford have scored at least once in five of six away matches which makes Both Teams To Score a play, but it’s tough to see past a home win. Watford have been so dominant at Vicarage Road they should add another W to their form sheet, but with 11 goals across six home fixtures, they’ve not gone to town. It’s more ruthless efficiency.
But add Watford’s home excellence to Oxford’s meagre away record, I’d expect a few goals in this one. Watford to win is 10/11 and that’s a decent enough starter.
The main course would be to take Watford and BTTS at 5/2.
Over 3.5 match goals is 15/8 and a 3-1 correct sore prediction is 12/1. I think that’s the kind of ballpark we’re in.
If you’re looking for a scorer pick, Edo Kayembe has five goals this season and is two-in-two at home. Kayembe is 13/5 anytime.
James’ Championship Tips
Watford to win at 10/11
Watford and BTTS at 5/2
Over 3.5 match goals at 15/8
Edo Kayembe to score anytime at 13/5
BetBuilder including all four above is 10/1 with Bet365
A 3-1 correct score at 12/1
However you bet, please gamble responsibly.