Football Bet of the Day for Friday: Aston Villa visit Nashville SC in a game loaded with attacking threats. With key attackers firing, defences yet to fully gel, and both managers seeking attacking rhythm, this is a fixture brimming with goal potential. Villa’s quality means they will always pose a threat, but Nashville’s recent MLS form—particularly at home—suggests they won’t be easily silenced.
It’s the perfect blend of circumstance: elite firepower, pre-season looseness, and two teams hungry to prove their point.
One of our trusted experts, known for his deep knowledge of Premier League football, has picked this game as Today’s Best Bet, and the selection makes plenty of sense.
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | Open Account Offer – New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value settle. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs , time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org | New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org |
⚽ Football Bet of the Day
Nashville SC vs Aston Villa
Wolfgang Shotten; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Both Teams To Score | |
10/11 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Derby are chaotic defensively but dangerous in attack, while Bristol City are unbeaten and carry enough quality to exploit gaps. Both sides will believe they can win, and with Pride Park demanding a response, goals at both ends look inevitable. The best bet of Friday is both teams to score. | |
📈 Three Key Stats Behind Today’s Best Bet
- Both teams have scored in three of Aston Villa’s last four pre-season games.
- Nashville have found the net in five of their previous six matches across competitions.
- Ollie Watkins and Sam Surridge have both scored in two consecutive matches.
WHY BETTING WITH WILLIAM HILL? | |
| |
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
Rationale:
Saturday’s international club friendly sees Nashville SC host Aston Villa in what should be a lively conclusion to the Premier League side’s summer tour of the United States. With both teams fielding strong lineups and boasting in-form strikers, the best bet of the day is undoubtedly Both Teams To Score (BTTS).
Aston Villa finally claimed their first pre-season win during midweek, seeing off St Louis City 2-1 thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins—both now scoring in back-to-back matches. Manager Unai Emery is gradually reintegrating his key starters ahead of the season’s kickoff, and with the likes of John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne all returning, Villa will again look dangerous going forward. With Watkins thriving in this setup and Rogers potentially auditioning for a starting spot once the competitive action begins, motivation is clear.
However, this will be no easy ride for the Premier League club. Nashville SC may not have the European pedigree, but their record at home speaks volumes. The MLS outfit have only conceded eight goals in 12 home league games, a league-best mark in the Eastern Conference. Yet, they’ve also been involved in high-scoring matches lately, and their talisman Sam Surridge has been relentless—already reaching 20 goals this season, including strikes against some of the MLS’s top defences.
BJ Callaghan’s side have scored in five of their last six outings and will relish the chance to test themselves against Premier League opposition. This match won’t just be about fitness—it’s about showing they can compete with elite-level teams.
Villa’s defence, although featuring Martinez, is not yet watertight. They’ve let in multiple goals across pre-season, including in defeats to Walsall and Hansa Rostock, and were also exposed by Eintracht Frankfurt in a 2-2 draw. With Villa’s line-up seeing rotation and some fringe players needing minutes, clean sheets are unlikely.
Nashville are also not flawless at the back. While Walker Zimmerman’s return adds steel, they’ve shipped goals against sides like San Diego and New York Red Bulls recently. That opens the door for players like Watkins and McGinn to get on the scoresheet.
This fixture has all the hallmarks of a goal-filled encounter:
- A home side in top form, spearheaded by a red-hot striker.
- A Premier League outfit with attacking fluidity and defensive questions.
- Motivation on both sides to finish their preparations on a high.
Villa want rhythm and sharpness; Nashville want a statement. When those two ambitions collide, goals are usually the result. That’s why BTTS is the standout pick.
✅ Best Bet: Both Teams to Score
Enhance your betting game with our daily free betting tips, predictions, and accumulators.
For more betting tips and news, check out:
Don’t forget to visit our Free Bets page for the best possible value from our Today’s Football Predictions, as well as our Predictions for Tomorrow’s Football Predictions.
