talkSPORT tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Friday 14 August

The Championship season gets underway on Friday evening when Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Blackburn Rovers at Molineux in an 8pm kick-off.

In continental Europe, the German Bundesliga 2 and the Liga Portugal continue into the second week of their seasons.

We have a trio of selections to make up our best bets of the day, including an intriguing 12/1 acca. 

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Bet of the day

Wolves to win to nil @ 6/4

Wolves look well placed to make a winning start to their first Championship campaign in eight years when they welcome Blackburn Rovers to Molineux.

The Black Country side are among the favourites for promotion after their Premier League relegation, with Cesar Peixoto now tasked with guiding them straight back to the top-flight. 

While the new manager brings some uncertainty, the quality available to him should be enough to overcome a Blackburn side that narrowly avoided relegation last season.

Wolves have strengthened with the return of Mexico international Raul Jimenez and the arrival of experienced defender Kieran Trippier. While key players including Andre, Yerson Mosquera and Rodrigo Gomes have remained at the club.

The defensive options should be particularly encouraging, with Mosquera set to feature in a back three alongside players with Premier League experience. 

Wolves recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Port Vale in the EFL Cup last weekend to get their season underway in style.

Blackburn, meanwhile, remain among the favourites for relegation. With Tony Mowbray back in charge but limited improvement evident over the summer, Wolves can take advantage and start the season with three points and a clean sheet.

Bet builder

St Pauli to win, Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in Holstein Kiel v St Pauli @ 13/2

St Pauli are aiming for an immediate return to the Bundesliga but began their season with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Greuther Furth on Sunday.

The Kiezkicker are among the favourites to top the division and have won the last five competitive meetings with Holstein Kiel, but their defensive issues from last season appear to have continued into this campaign. 

Furth managed seven shots on target and 15 in total and it was the fourth competitive match in a row where St Pauli had failed to keep a clean sheet.  

The Hamburg outfit ended last term with three straight games that saw over 2.5 goals and face a Kiel side that scored twice in their opening league match of the season, a 2-2 draw away to Darmstadt.

Holstein have scored in seven straight competitive games, so backing both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in this clash appeals, but St Pauli are favoured for the result. 

Acca

Wolves, St Pauli, Bochum and Sporting all to win @ 12/1

Wolves and St Pauli are backed above, so it makes sense to include them in our acca, while Bochum are also tipped for victory in Friday’s other 2.Bundesliga game.

They head to Braunschweig, who they dominated last season, winning both meetings by an aggregate score of 6-1. 

Finally, to Portugal, where Sporting are backed to improve on last weekend’s opening 2-2 draw against relegation candidates Estrela da Amadora.

They meet a Vitória de Guimarães team who lost 1-0 at home to Arouca and who the Lions have beaten in 10 of the last 13 meetings.

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Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change.

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