League One rivals Barnsley and Wigan Athletic go head-to-head in the first round of the EFL Cup at Oakwell on Saturday afternoon.
The Tykes finished just one place above the Latics in the bottom half of the table last season and there will likely be little to separate the sides again this weekend in the EFL Cup.
However, with home advantage, Barnsley will be hopeful that they can edge home and advance to the second round where some Premier League teams will be waiting.
Barnsley v Wigan Athletic Tips Summary
Best Bet - Barnsley to win @ 29/20
Alternative Bet - Under 2.5 goals @ 21/20
Bet Builder - Makenzie Kirk anytime goalscorer, Both teams to score - No & Over 8 corners @ 8/1
Barnsley v Wigan Athletic Prediction
Best Bet: Barnsley to win @ 29/20
Barnsley haven't beaten Wigan at Oakwell in 10 games with the Tykes' last victory over the Latics coming way back in November 1954 in an FA Cup tie.
However, records are there to be broken and Saturday's match presents the Tykes with a good opportunity to finally end the poor run.
Daniel Stendel's men will come into the game full of confidence after beating Championship Lincoln City 3-0 last Saturday.
Having also defeated National League North Scarborough, Barnsley are building momentum ahead of the new season and can continue making progress against Wigan.
The Latics have been tipped for another season of mid-table mediocrity in League One and will now have to compete without goalkeeper Sam Tickle who left for Bristol City this summer.
It's expected to be a tight encounter between two pretty evenly matched sides, but playing at Oakwell the hosts should have enough to progress.
Alternative Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 21/20
Five of the last six matches between Barnsley and Wigan have ended in 1-1 draws, proving there really hasn't been much to separate the sides in recent seasons.
What's more, the last nine games have featured two goals or less, so backing under 2.5 goals when the sides meet on Saturday could prove a smart move.
Wigan, despite finishing 16th last season, had one of the better defences in League One, conceding 58 goals in 46 matches.
While goalkeeper Tickle's departure is a blow, the Latics will likely be hard to break down again this campaign under manager Gary Caldwell.
Barnsley have been among the goals this pre-season, but, with the EFL Cup providing the first competitive test, finding the net might not be as easy.
Barnsley v Wigan Athletic Bet Builder Tip
Makenzie Kirk anytime goalscorer
Both teams to score - No
Over 8 corners
Pays @ 8/1
Makenzie Kirk has signed for Barnsley on loan from Portsmouth and the Scottish striker was on target in the 3-0 win over Lincoln, having earlier set up the opener.
The forward netted 10 times for St Johnstone during the 2024/25 campaign and should find opportunities come his way on Saturday.
With this fixture rarely producing a huge amount of goals, Barnsley could be set for a third clean sheet in a row, with Wigan having drawn a blank in friendlies against Southport and Grimsby Town.
As for assessing set-pieces, both Barnsley and Wigan recorded, on average, more than 10 corners per game in League One last season, so betting on over eight corners this Saturday may prove a sound pick.
Key Match Stats
Five of the last six matches between Barnsley and Wigan have ended in 1-1 draws
Barnsley have not defeated the Latics at Oakwell since an FA Cup clash in 1954
The Tykes finished three points and one place (15th) above Wigan last season
Wigan won three of their last six matches to steer clear of League One relegation danger
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
