St Etienne v Gazelec Ajaccio (5th v 20th)
Sat, 19:00 BST
The difference in quality between St Etienne and Gazelec Ajaccio is such that the odds give you a great opportunity to back St Etienne this weekend.
The hosts are 1.53 to win - and while that price may not be so appealing, it means St Etienne are around evens -1.0 Asian handicap, which is a great selection.
If les Verts win by one goal you'll get your stakes back and if they win by two goals or more you'll make a profit.
St Etienne looked jaded before the international break but will be refreshed here as a lot of their players weren't on international duty.
In all areas of the pitch they're a lot stronger than Gazelec Ajaccio, who stand barely any chance of surviving in the top flight this season.
Playing in Ligue 1 for the first time in their history, the Corsicans are still seeking their first win, have scored just one goal in five away games (W0-D1-L4) and have only one or two players that look capable of holding their own at this level.
With St Etienne clear favourites, our Asian handicap selection is essentially a bet to nothing. For more on how Asian handicap betting works, simply click here.
Recommended Bet
St Etienne -1.0 Asian handicap @ 1.95
Marseille v Lorient (16th v 9th)
Sun, 13:00 BST
Live on BT Sport / ESPN
Marseille may be one of French football's biggest names but they're playing nowhere near well enough to justify odds of 1.61 to win this weekend.
The hosts are stuck in the bottom half of the table with a dismal W2-D2-L5 record and face a stiff test here against improving visitors. Lorient's record since the start of September is W4-D0-L1 and includes impressive victories at home to Angers (3-1), Caen (2-0) and Bordeaux (3-2) and away to Monaco (3-2). Laying the hosts is the smart way to play.
'Yes' in the Both Teams to Score market is also worth considering. Lorient are one of the division's most free-scoring sides having netted 13 times in their last five matches. They keep few clean sheets, though - Sylvain Ripoll's side have conceded in seven of their nine fixtures.
Expect a positive attacking approach from visitors that will be confident they can pick up points. That should lead to an open encounter with chances at both ends.
Recommended Bets
Lay Marseille @ 1.63
Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ 1.95
Bordeaux v Montpellier (14th v 18th)
Sun, 16:00 BST
Live on BT Sport 2
There are several reasons why Bordeaux are a good bet to win at a great price this weekend.
The first is that when they have played badly this season it has been mainly down to a hectic schedule of games caused by their Europa League participation. More than any other Ligue 1 club they will have benefitted from the international break.
The second is that club president Jean-Louis Triaud spoke to the players this week and told them he expects good results from their next three winnable fixtures (v strugglers Montpellier, Troyes and Gazelec Ajaccio). That will have focused the players' minds.
The third is that Bordeaux are hopeful of good team news. Centre-back Lamine Sane, midfielder Clement Chantome and striker Cheikh Diabate are all contenders to be included in the squad after injury problems.
The fourth is that man for man Bordeaux are much stronger than a Montpellier side that have struggled all season. The visitors have average players all over the pitch and a dismal W0-D1-L3 away record.
Bordeaux are a strong selection at great odds.
Recommended Bet
Bordeaux @ 1.90
Rennes v Nice (4th v 8th)
Sun, 20:00 BST
Live on BT Sport 1
Backing both teams to score has been a winning bet in Nice's games this season, paying out in seven of eight fixtures.
It's the selection this weekend as well as Nice are bound to play on the front foot even though they're the away side. Their small but technically decent midfielders are good at dominating possession and they have plenty of firepower up front even though first-choice centre-forward Alassane Plea and understudy Mickael Le Bihan are both missing.
Rennes will be vulnerable without goalkeeper Benoit Costil, centre-back Mexer and potentially holding midfielder Gelson Fernandes as well. At the other end of the pitch they will be confident of breaching the Nice back line.
Rennes have scored in all eight of their league fixtures so far, with both teams to score paying out in seven those eight matches.
Given that these two sides tend to score and concede every time they play the price around evens is worth taking.
Recommended Bet
'Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ 1.98
Sat, 19:00 BST
The difference in quality between St Etienne and Gazelec Ajaccio is such that the odds give you a great opportunity to back St Etienne this weekend.
The hosts are 1.53 to win - and while that price may not be so appealing, it means St Etienne are around evens -1.0 Asian handicap, which is a great selection.
If les Verts win by one goal you'll get your stakes back and if they win by two goals or more you'll make a profit.
St Etienne looked jaded before the international break but will be refreshed here as a lot of their players weren't on international duty.
In all areas of the pitch they're a lot stronger than Gazelec Ajaccio, who stand barely any chance of surviving in the top flight this season.
Playing in Ligue 1 for the first time in their history, the Corsicans are still seeking their first win, have scored just one goal in five away games (W0-D1-L4) and have only one or two players that look capable of holding their own at this level.
With St Etienne clear favourites, our Asian handicap selection is essentially a bet to nothing. For more on how Asian handicap betting works, simply click here.
Recommended Bet
St Etienne -1.0 Asian handicap @ 1.95
Marseille v Lorient (16th v 9th)
Sun, 13:00 BST
Live on BT Sport / ESPN
Marseille may be one of French football's biggest names but they're playing nowhere near well enough to justify odds of 1.61 to win this weekend.
The hosts are stuck in the bottom half of the table with a dismal W2-D2-L5 record and face a stiff test here against improving visitors. Lorient's record since the start of September is W4-D0-L1 and includes impressive victories at home to Angers (3-1), Caen (2-0) and Bordeaux (3-2) and away to Monaco (3-2). Laying the hosts is the smart way to play.
'Yes' in the Both Teams to Score market is also worth considering. Lorient are one of the division's most free-scoring sides having netted 13 times in their last five matches. They keep few clean sheets, though - Sylvain Ripoll's side have conceded in seven of their nine fixtures.
Expect a positive attacking approach from visitors that will be confident they can pick up points. That should lead to an open encounter with chances at both ends.
Recommended Bets
Lay Marseille @ 1.63
Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ 1.95
Bordeaux v Montpellier (14th v 18th)
Sun, 16:00 BST
Live on BT Sport 2
There are several reasons why Bordeaux are a good bet to win at a great price this weekend.
The first is that when they have played badly this season it has been mainly down to a hectic schedule of games caused by their Europa League participation. More than any other Ligue 1 club they will have benefitted from the international break.
The second is that club president Jean-Louis Triaud spoke to the players this week and told them he expects good results from their next three winnable fixtures (v strugglers Montpellier, Troyes and Gazelec Ajaccio). That will have focused the players' minds.
The third is that Bordeaux are hopeful of good team news. Centre-back Lamine Sane, midfielder Clement Chantome and striker Cheikh Diabate are all contenders to be included in the squad after injury problems.
The fourth is that man for man Bordeaux are much stronger than a Montpellier side that have struggled all season. The visitors have average players all over the pitch and a dismal W0-D1-L3 away record.
Bordeaux are a strong selection at great odds.
Recommended Bet
Bordeaux @ 1.90
Rennes v Nice (4th v 8th)
Sun, 20:00 BST
Live on BT Sport 1
Backing both teams to score has been a winning bet in Nice's games this season, paying out in seven of eight fixtures.
It's the selection this weekend as well as Nice are bound to play on the front foot even though they're the away side. Their small but technically decent midfielders are good at dominating possession and they have plenty of firepower up front even though first-choice centre-forward Alassane Plea and understudy Mickael Le Bihan are both missing.
Rennes will be vulnerable without goalkeeper Benoit Costil, centre-back Mexer and potentially holding midfielder Gelson Fernandes as well. At the other end of the pitch they will be confident of breaching the Nice back line.
Rennes have scored in all eight of their league fixtures so far, with both teams to score paying out in seven those eight matches.
Given that these two sides tend to score and concede every time they play the price around evens is worth taking.
Recommended Bet
'Yes' in Both Teams to Score? market @ 1.98
