Roker Riches: What Sunderland bets have we got on ahead of today’s game?

Welcome to another Roker Riches installment, as freshly prepared as the Papa John Pizzas we happily consumed and adored. This week we can include a little bit of post-Wembley magic dust, and a sprinkling of winning-streak happiness among the toppings. Who would argue we as fans deserved it after so many years of disappointment and loss at the home of football?

This weekend we welcome The Imps to the Stadium of Light, hoping to put more distance between The Lads and Lincoln City, who we overtook on Wednesday to assume 3rd place.

Can we repeat the 4 goal football masterclass of Sincil Bank at our home venue, a game which is probably still one of the most complete football performances of Lee Johnson’s reign, and certainly the best away showing?

How will our punters invest their dosh this weekend, which could see us move up to second place, should results go our way? Let’s find out.

---

The Rolling Table: Season 2020-2021

Yellow card update...

Only one offender this week in the guise of recent Riches super-sub Bomber. After much abuse to other yellow card recipients in recent weeks since he joining the squad, the barrage of GIFs to rub this booking in are this week flowing in the other direction.

Karma, Bomber, maybe?

In respect of bet wins last week, the only claim for profit was called by Danny, who lifted himself up to 3rd in the Riches league table (just like the lads eh Danny, like it!) with a decent double return of over £110 from his SAFC bet and his bankers bonus one.

All other punters not only lost their own tenner but also the bonus tenner. The Riches Readers are at risk of relegation to the West Midlands Superleague if no wins are clocked up this week, so good luck to them this time out.

---

Banker’s Bonus...

This week is all about building on our streaks. We are lucky to have a couple of streaks going, one of which is our top league goalscorer, Charlie Wyke who scored yet again on Wednesday to seal the 2-0 victory, after a great opener by new man Stewart.

If Charlie and Sunderland manage to continue with their streaks at home this weekend, in this case by Charlie getting either a goal or an assist and the lads winning run carrying on, a bonus tenner will be awarded to the punters for next weekend’s fixture.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

This Week’s Bets:

Matty Crichton says...

Sunderland to win 5-1 : why not....if they win by 4 goals away, the same at home with maybe one let in as we are attacking so much, that could happen. Fiver returns £405 at a whopping 80-1 on Skybet.

Neighbours depressing double : both the skunks and the smoggies to win this weekend, against Brighton and Millwall respectively (both away), which if we lose or draw and drop points will make us proper fed up. Fiver returns £78 at over 14-1.

---

Luke “Bomber” Davies says...

Sunderland Win + BTTS. With the form both teams are in currently its difficult to see anything other a win for the lads. However, Lincoln caused us major problems last time out and... well... someone is going to score against us eventually! £5 @ 7/2 = £22.50

Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images

Win/Win for the lads (pt. II). Last week I didn’t see a financial return on the Win / Win Treble, but as usual, me backing a team inevitably leads to them not winning, as was the case for Lincoln and Doncaster last week. More of the same this week in a double that really... should be a stroll in the park. Hull & Peterborough both to win. £5 @ 2.3/1 = £16.50

---

Phil Butler says...

Sunderland to win -2.0 (2 goal handicap). Last time we played Lincoln City in the league we weren’t on half as good a run of for as we are not and ran out easy winners. With the side firing as we are now surely we can repeat that scoreline or better this weekend. £5 returns £42.50

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

EFL Treble. Burton are the most inform team apart from Sunderland at the moment and they’re a great price to beat mediocre MK Dons. Gillingham are also inform and could do Sunderland a favour by getting a win against Doncaster. In the Championship, Barnsley have provided a model Sunderland will hope to follow in the coming years, I’m backing them to beat the basket case that is Sheff Wed. £5 returns £55.10.

---

Paul Fletcher says...

Sunderland to win 4-0: I’m fully committed to going 4-0 for the rest of the season and I’m optimistic that today could be the day this finally comes in. With no midweek game coming up, we can really afford to let the handbrake off and make a big statement with an emphatic win. Surely we can’t beat Lincoln 4-0 twice in the same season, can we? If we can, £5 returns £145.

Photo by Andrew Vaughan - CameraSport via Getty Images

Saturday Fourfold : I’m not going for anything fancy this week. Instead, I’m hoping for straightforward home wins for Bristol City, Burton Albion, Bolton Wanderers and Sutton United. They all stand a good chance of winning but are very generously priced. So generously priced that £5 returns £145.80.

---

Malc Dugdale says...

Sunderland to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 : It would be lovely to think we will stuff teams 4-0 home and away, but we are getting to the business end of the season and I’m expecting a business like performance against a close rival rather than anything too flamboyant. Fiver returns £14.38.

4 fold “B a winner” : Brighton, Brentford, Barnsley and Burton all to win. They all have short odds for a reason but as a 4 way acca they attract just over 10-1. Fiver returns £55.35.

---

Danny Roberts says...

Sunderland to win: We’re playing incredible at the minute, and despite worrying about Lincoln’s break on the attack, I think we might get scrape another win. £5 returns £9.16.

Treble : Brighton to beat the Mags. Just because. Please. Barnsley to continue their incredible run against the soon-to-be relegated Sheffield Wednesday, and I think Gillingham will have too much for Doncaster. They’re in good form and Donny don’t look great anymore. £5 returns £34.37.

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

---

Riches Readers’ Random Pick...

Sunderland to draw : This weeks random pick bucks the trend, and says we may only get a point at home against the Imps. We took all three at their place but they may park the bus to preserve their hold on the top three I suppose, but many would say we can break them down even if they did. Tenner returns £35 on SkyBet.

---

Good luck to Sunderland and to all our fellow punters this weekend, and let’s hope our rampant winning run drives us on towards promotion.

Please remember to gamble responsibly, and enjoy your weekend.

Let us know what you will be betting on this weekend, on social media or by email.

Cheers, and Ha’way the Lads!