Championship
Fixture: Nottingham Forest 2-4 Watford
Venue: City Ground (Forest home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST (Tue)
Verdict: While I have spent a bit of time knocking Nottingham Forest. Well, not knocking as such, more lowering expectation on what were one of the favourites to make the play-offs this season.
That they should not be, but beating Watford at home? That they should be.
Watford showed a propensity to head-lowering in their 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United at the weekend.
One of the relegation favourites, Watford looked ragged by the end, and a Forest side with £5m extra talent in its line-up including some reasonably clinical striking talent, should put their first win of the season on the board.
Betting Advice: 3pts Forest to win at 10/11 (1.91 at Bet365)
Fixture: Sheffield United 1-1 Leicester
Venue: Bramall Lane (Sheff Utd home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST (Tue)
Verdict: The second win of the season usually follows pretty quickly on from the first, which is what I expect to happen at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night as Sheffield United take on newly promoted Leicester.
The one concern for United was that they would suffer a hangover from their play-off final defeat in May, but a win against Watford with new striker Ched Evans scoring has wiped away the cobwebs.
Betting Advice: 4pts Sheff Utd to win at 5/6 (1.83 generally)
League One
Fixture: Huddersfield 7-1 Brighton
Venue: Galpharm Stadium (Huddersfield home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: I imagine that by the end of August the bookies will have attempted to shut down any value on Huddersfield as it dawns on them that The Terriers should be favourites for the title - not Leeds.
A home tie against winless and goalless Brighton allows them the opportunity to go top as the three teams above them face tricky away trips.
Betting Advice: 5pts Huddersfield to win at 11/13 (1.85 at Bet365, Skybet)
League Two
Fixture: Grimsby 1-2 Rotherham
Venue: Blundell Park (Grimsby home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: It has been a steep learning curve for Mike Newell who, despite being given a few chances, has not turned into the great manager he originally promised to be. All he seems capable of is putting his foot in it. However, it's not all his fault that Grimsby are bottom and have conceded ten goals in three games - they have been down a first-choice keeper this season. Meanwhile, one of the pre-season favourites Rotherham can be forgiven a narrow defeat at Bournemouth considering that their bus broke down on the way to the form team in the league so far.
Betting Advice: 2pts Rotherham to win at 11/8 (2.38 at Ladbrokes)
Fixture: Chesterfield 2-1 Notts County
Venue: Treflan Recreation Ground (Chesterfield home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST (Wed)
Verdict: Notts County are being backed to win everything since Sven Goran Eriksson and a ton of money arrived at the County Ground. They have done well enough so far, but they face their toughest opponents yet in fellow moneybags Chesterfield who look to have got a blip against Torquay on the opening day of the season behind them. There is no value in the handicaps, so go small on a home win.
Betting Advice: 1pt Chesterfield to win at 21/10 (3.1 at Paddy Power)
