talkSPORT tips – Best football bets and expert advice for Saturday 15 August

The Football League springs to life this weekend as the Championship, League One and League Two regular seasons get up and running.

There is also lots of Scottish action as the League Cup headlines proceedings, while La Liga begins in Spain this weekend as England star Anthony Gordon sets out on his Barcelona journey.

Below we’ve got a bet of the day, an intriguing bet builder and healthy looking acca to check out…

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Bet of the Day

Norwich to beat West Brom @ 9/10

Phillippe Clement made good strides with Norwich last season considering the Canaries had a paltry nine points from the first 15 games when the Belgian took over.

On a points-per-game ratio, the Norfolk side would have landed in third spot had Clement started the season, based on his efforts after arriving in November.

Summer signings Bruno Alves, Sam Field, Andre Brooks and Darlin Yongwa are promising and the future looks bright at Carrow Road.

West Brom beat the drop by just one spot in a bitterly disappointing season for The Hawthorns club and James Morrison has taken over full-time but there is a job of work to overhaul the Baggies squad.

Norwich have won four of the last six meetings (D1, L1) and can take care of Albion on the opening day.

Bet builder

Middlesbrough Half-Time/Full Time vs Lincoln, Under 3.5 Goals & Will Lankshear to Score Anytime @ 11/2

Middlesbrough have the potential to be automatic promotion contenders under Kim Hellberg in his first full season. There were lots of positives for the Teessiders last season after the Swede took over in November but, ultimately, a killer touch in front of goal was missing.

They have signed Will Lankshear from Tottenham this summer for what could eventually become a club-record £20 million fee.

He is proven in the Championship after his loan at Oxford last season, where he scored 11 goals in a struggling team and he can top that tally in a promotion-chasing side.

The 21-year-old fired a spectacular winner against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup last week in his Riverside bow and can net again as last season’s League One winners come to the north-east.

A goal-fest is unlikely, however. Fewer than three goals have been scored in nine of Boro’s last 11 competitive games at the Riverside and it may take some time for them to settle with new arrivals and Riley McGree a doubt here.

Lincoln are stepping up a division, but have conceded just nine goals across their last 13 away games and are capable of keeping things tight.

Acca

Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Chesterfield and Grimsby Town all to win @ 10/1

Middlesbrough look to be the opening weekend banker in the Championship and Birmingham City can join them in making a flying start.

The Blues finished 10th last season after romping to the League One title the year before and boss Chris Davies can make further strides now with recent arrivals Jhon Solis and Luis Vasquez promising at this level.

Sheffield United lost 22 Championship games last season, only beleaguered city rivals Wednesday lost more. Chris Wilder’s squad still requires some surgery and the Blades may suffer Bramall Lane defeat on the first day of term.

Grimsby Town fell in the League Two play-off semi-finals last season and David Artell’s side should have similar expectations now. They host Exeter City on Saturday and the Grecians may struggle having been relegated last season.

Chesterfield need to find more consistency if they are to be promotion contenders this season in League Two.

The Spireites began with three straight wins last time and can make a positive start against a Fleetwood Town side on a downward curve in the last two seasons.

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Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change.

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