Expert FA Cup and EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs
Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the weekend's FA Cup second round and EFL matches. Plus a £50 Betfred free offer
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When to bet
Kick-offs from 12.30pm
Best bets
Lincoln
Kick-off 3pm Saturday
2pts Evs Hills
Birmingham
Kick-off 1pm Sunday
2pts 17-20 Hills
Bristol City -1 on Asian handicap
Kick-off 3pm Saturday
2pts 21-25 bet365
Millwall
Kick-off 12.30pm Saturday
1pt 6-5 Coral, Hills
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Dan Childs's EFL predictions
Crawley vs Lincoln
Lincoln have failed to reach the FA Cup third round in each of the last five seasons but they can earn themselves a place in the eagerly anticipated draw by defeating League One rivals Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium.
The Imps have struggled to make an FA Cup impression since the 2016-17 season when they reached the quarter-finals as a National League side.
In more recent years a lack of domestic cup success contrasted with the club's steady rise up the league pyramid.
Lincoln won promotions in 2017 and 2019 and, after a strong start to this season, are on course to post a third successive top-half finish in League One.
Elevation to the Championship remains a possibility with Michael Skubala's side placed one point outside the playoffs, but there is also the desire for a decent cup run and a thirst for revenge against Crawley, who defeated them 3-0 on their October visit to West Sussex.
Crawley were flattered by the scoreline which was inflated by a couple of breakaway goals and their chances of pulling off something similar are reduced by a lengthy injury list including key defenders Josh Flint and Dion Conroy and tough tackling midfielder Jay Williams.
Rob Elliot's depleted side dug deep last Saturday when winning 1-0 at home to out-of-sorts Rotherham but they face a tougher challenge against Lincoln and may struggle to avoid exiting the competition.
Blackpool vs Birmingham
League One giants Birmingham are probably the strongest team in the second-round draw and they can show their quality by defeating third-tier rivals Blackpool in Sunday's clash at Bloomfield Road.
The Blues are working with the biggest ever budget for a League One club and have made the most of it by accumulating 33 points from 15 games.
They have won ten of 15 league matches and approach the trip to Blackpool in high spirits after Tuesday's dominant 2-0 victory away to Exeter.
Blackpool also had a successful midweek – winning 2-0 at Bristol Rovers – but they had previously gone eight league games without success.
The Tangerines' manager Steve Bruce has been managing a lengthy injury list and his lack of options could contribute to a loss against his former club.
Bristol City vs Plymouth
Championship playoff hopefuls Bristol City felt hard done by after losing 1-0 at Watford on Tuesday but they can get their top-six push back on track with a wide-margin success at home to Plymouth.
Liam Manning's Robins lost to Watford despite bossing the game for long spells and winning the shot count 14-7. They will not be too downhearted and should be far too strong for injury-hit Argyle, who dropped to 20th after Tuesday's shambolic 6-1 reverse at Norwich.
Oxford vs Millwall
Millwall's midweek fixture at Portsmouth was postponed due to Fratton Park floodlight failure but the Lions can take out their frustrations on Oxford, who they face at the Kassam Stadium.
Neil Harris's powerful side are unbeaten in eight Championship games and can heap further misery on the Yellows, whose losing run extended to three with Tuesday's 3-0 reverse at Sheffield United.
Accumulator
Bristol City 1-2, Norwich 21-20, Lincoln Evs, Leyton Orient 4-6
£1 acca returns £10.27 with Hills
First goalscorer
Zan Vipotnik Swansea v Portsmouth
at 6-1 bet365
The Swansea striker took some time to adjust to the Championship but he scored a superb goal in the 2-1 midweek triumph at Derby and can follow with the opener against basement boys Portsmouth.
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