In the first edition of a brand new tipping competition, our writers do battle to see who can churn out the most profit with just a £10 stake.
No need to mess about. This weekend is all about getting off to a winning start.
Arsenal have won eight consecutive games at Wembley, including two Community Shields.
They were the underdogs on both of those occasions, as well as in the FA Cup semi-final and final last season.
For some reason, they always seem to raise their game at the national stadium, whereas Chelsea froze when they faced the Gunners there in May.
At 11/5*, Arsene Wenger’s side are good value to win and more than triple my money in week one of this competition.
After spending a fair bit of time weighing up League Two this week, it makes sense to stick with that division in a bid to get my nose in front.
Luton against Yeovil looks one of the biggest mismatches of the opening weekend, so bank on the Hatters to make a solid start.
I also think Stevenage will be in the promotion mix and, after stringing together eight home wins on the bounce last season before running out of steam, the visit of Newport County looks an ideal opening fixture.
Despite going down, Coventry did finish last year with a bit of momentum and are among the favourites to go straight back up.
Notts County have had an active summer, but 76 goals conceded last season – the most of any team still in the division – suggests it will take more than a few new signings for Kevin Nolan to iron out their issues.
Three home favourites at healthy odds, all combined into a nice, simple treble, at just over 6/1. I’m feeling confident.
I’m hoping that the best strategy will become clearer as the season progresses, but for now I’m going to over-complicate things and put three different accas on.
Scunthorpe , Luton and Lyon to win: I’m sticking £4 on this treble at just over 3/1*,which should guarantee me at least some profit come Monday morning. All three are big home favourites.
Fulham to win, QPR and Reading to draw, Brentford to win: I really fancy Fulham this season, while Brentford are one of the league’s most exciting teams. Chuck in a distinctly-possible draw and I think there’s plenty of value in this 21/1* shot. I’ll put £3 here.
Arsenal, Barnsley, Plymouth, Barnet to win: To round things off, I’ve got my eye on over £500 profit with a £3 stake on this mammoth 171/1* shot featuring four underdogs. OK, they may not be guarantees. But I do think each pick will perform better than their price expects them to.
Like Adam, I’m hoping the best bet will be to divide and conquer. But I’m going about it a little differently.
To begin with, I’m sticking a fiver on an ambitious six-fold that would make me the runaway leader of this competition in week one.
Bristol City, Doncaster, Portsmouth and Luton are all big home favourites that I fancy to do the business.
Blackburn, meanwhile, are by far and away the best team in League One and won’t be available at odds-against for long, while Bury are starting the season with a brand new team. I expect both to get off to winning starts.
In the unlikely event that this 52/1* shot doesn’t come in, I’ve got to cover my back.
So I’m putting my remaining £5 on a safe-looking 2/1* treble.
Firstly, PSG – invigorated by the arrival of Neymar – should breeze past newly-promoted Amiens.
Corinthians have won 13 and drawn five of their 18 games in Serie A this season.
Finally, Chicago Fire should ensure we definitely see a bit of profit.
They have won eight on the spin at their own ground and boast the best home record in the MLS.
New England, meanwhile, are yet to record a win on the road in 10 attempts.
*Odds and amounts subject to change.
