Roker Riches: All the tips this week from the RR betting crew - any chance of a Sunderland win?

Welcome to this week’s edition of Roker Riches.

As the lads continue to struggle for form, we have to carry on lumping our hard-earned (pretend) cash on them, and other wagers for another couple of weeks yet.

Beyond that, the playoffs likely will be a factor, so stay tuned to see what we do for betting across the playoffs process. That is of course assuming we hold on to a playoff position, which looks doable as long as we stop the present result rot.

Let’s take a look at how the present run of form and this weekend's opponents are influencing the Riches team's bets.

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The Rolling Table: Season 2020-2021

Yellow card update...

Bomber and Danny both picked up a yellow this week, despite the betting submission cut off being extended by Riches lead Malc, and a couple of times.

Much like the performance of the team, the adherence to Riches rules is waning as we approach the end of the normal season.

The betting outcomes last week mean that we now have 2 punters bankrupt, in the Riches Readers and Matty. Two of our punters are also down to their last tenner due to a mix of no wins and yellow cards. Hopefully they get a return this weekend, or they won't be betting on the Cobblers game.

The table after last weekend looks like this:

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Banker’s Bonus...

No luck last time out from the banker, as we scored a couple of goals but we ended up drawing not winning, after a poor second-half showing against Accrington.

This week's bonus is based on the EFL team of the season selections in our squad - if any of O’Nien, McGeady or Wyke score this weekend, the lads get an extra tenner for the final weekend bet of the season before the playoffs.

Come on lads, you earned that slot in the EFL team of the season (as did Burge, so if he scores we will pay this out too), so now why not earn us all an extra wad for the last home game of this long and disrupted season?

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This Week’s Bets:

Matty Crichton says...

Nothing. As he is now bankrupt.

Conversation expected to come -

“Please Malc, can I have a small kitty for the playoffs?”.

Reply - “Your request is being reviewed with the 4th official, potentially with reference to VAR. The decision will be provided in due course”.

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Luke ‘Bomber’ Davies says...

Finish-line 4-fold: With teams running out of games to guarantee safety, promotion or a spot in the playoffs... I’m backing these four to get over the line this weekend! Hull, Rotherham, Cheltenham, Norwich to win. £5 returns £77.55

Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Sunderland Bet Builder: Hoping for third time lucky for Paddy Power’s bet builder as the lads take on Plymouth DESPERATE for a change in fortune! Over 2.5 goals, Sunderland to score 2nd half, Wyke Anytime Goalscorer. £5 returns £20.38

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Phil Butler says...

Charlie Wyke to score first and Sunderland to win 2-0: Since the next two games are going to be very hard to predict, since we’re in a sort of limbo needing just a point or two to secure out spot in the playoffs, I’m going to back a not unrealistic high paying scorecast for today’s game. Charlie Wyke is back in goalscoring form after his brace against Accrington so I’m backing him to get the first in a comfortable 2-0 win. £5 returns £80

English Treble: With Leeds’ defence tightening up and Brighton unable to hit a barn door with a banjo all season, I fancy under 2.5 goals as they face eachother in the Premier League’s 3 o’clock game this afternoon. Down in our own division, Charlton should be able to win where Sunderland couldn’t against Accrington and Oxford United need a win to make the playoffs - I’m hoping they can beat Shrewsbury’s. £5 returns £35.88

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/PA Images via Getty Images

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Paul Fletcher says...

Sunderland to win 4-0: I’m not confident we’ll even get a result, never mind a 4-0 victory. But the tide has to turn at some point, doesn’t it? The performances of late have not been as bad as the results would suggest and I don’t think we’re a million miles away from getting back on track. We need to win one of our last two games, preferably both, and today is a great opportunity to do just that. We were much more solid at the back on Tuesday night, only breached by a wonder strike from Sullay Kaikai. We’re more than capable of creating and converting enough chances to win comfortably. £5 returns £115

Nightmare fivefold: We’re down to fourth in the table. The four teams occupying the positions below us can all mathematically make it into the playoffs. If Sunderland lose today and Blackpool, Portsmouth, Oxford and Charlton all claim three points, then we will really be staring down the barrel of missing out on the playoffs. Hopefully by backing exactly that to happen, I’ll ensure that it does not come to pass. If the unthinkable does happen, then I’ll guiltily leapfrog my way to the top of the league. £5 returns £608.19

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Malc Dugdale says...

Sunderland to win and BTTS: As our patchwork defence learns to keep clean sheets again I think we may let one in but will prevail. This offers boosted odds of 11-4 on Sky Bet, giving a decent return of £18.75 for a fiver bet.

Away day triple: I think there will be a few away wins this weekend, so I am backing all of Man City, Leeds and Barnsley to take the W this afternoon. This offers decent odds of nearly 9-1, giving a return of £49.50 for my fiver. Nice.

Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

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Danny Roberts says...

Sunderland to draw 1-1: I have a feeling the bad form will continue down at Plymouth and we’ll score late on to grab a point. I normally wouldn’t put a set score, but it’s the business time of the season now and I need to take the cash in. £5 returns £37.50.

Championship double: I want Sheffield Wednesday to stay up and if they grab all three points against a poor Forest side, with nothing to play for, while Derby lose, it sets up a grand stand play-off for relegation on the final day of the season and who wouldn’t want to watch that? So Wednesday to win and Derby to lose! £5 returns £24.67.

Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images

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Riches Readers’ Random Pick...

The readers random pick, like Matty, also managed to bankrupt themselves in the last round, hence no bets for them until a decision is fed back from the ref on any playoff kitties. Unlucky lads and lasses, hopefully like the team you will fair much better next time out.

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Good luck to Sunderland and to all our fellow punters this weekend. 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!