Guingamp vs Laval
Guingamp -0.25 AH at 1.847 (Pinnacle)
Huge match this for Guingamp. They lost 2-1 away at Le Havre on Monday night but by all accounts played reasonably well. Before that, they'd obtained a morale-boosting 2-1 win at home to Metz. Tonight they're back at the Roudourou against a Laval side missing a couple of key players. Defender and captain Johann Chapuis is suspended, Romain Hamouma, their wonderkid in midfield coveted by a number of clubs, is injured, as is main goal threat Fabrice Do Marcolinho. Laval's squad is not the biggest and I'm not sure they'll be able to cope with three key players missing. Their last two games have both resulted in losses, a 2-0 defeat at Arles and a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Nantes. I wouldn't say their season is petering out but they aren't hitting the heights of earlier in the season. Their away form is patchy (W4 D6 L5). Guingamp are no world beaters at home (W3 D10 L1) and their propensity for draws is of note (hence half draw cover) but Viktor Zvunka's men find themselves in the bottom three and they need to win. Christian Bassila, their captain, returns to the defence. He's a leader, and I expect his presence to galvanise the team. Gilmar, a decent Brazilian striker who scored in Le Havre, will be up top. Bakary Kone, their young full back, is suspended. Even still, Guingamp need to win this, and with Laval missing a few players and a bit out of form, they won't have a better chance.
Bet strength: 7/10
 
Angers vs Vannes
Angers -0.5 AH at 1.926 (Pinnacle)
As much as Vannes need to get something from this game, I feel that Angers will be too strong for them. Vannes have only won one game in their last ten and although a few in that run have been draws, their last two results were defeats away at Clermont and at home to Caen. The latter match showed how poor their defence in playing at the moment and although Patrick Leugueun returns to it this evening, they are still capable of conceding goals. They have an issue in between the sticks, with Benoit Bevengu out of form too. Their away record of W3 D7 L5 shows they struggle to pick up wins and they face an Angers side who are handy at the Jean Bouin (W8 D4 L3). Recently, Angers have taken 17/22 points at home and have only lost to Metz. They have two quality strikers in Anthony Modeste and Claudiu Keseru, who will take chances if they fall their way. Thomas Menniel (DF/MF) and Gaetan Charbonnier (MF) miss out but only Menniel is a real miss in my eyes. Vannes are without Franck Dja Djedje in attack. I just see Angers being a bit too strong for their visitors here.
Bet strength: 6/10
 
Caen vs Brest
Caen -0.5 AH at 1.862 (Pinnacle)
Top meets second at the Michel d'Ornano and this has the potential to be a cracker. Both sides look assured of promotion and this is really a title decider. Caen would virtually wrap it up with a win, as they are four points clear, and they have a phenomenal record at home (W11 D4 L0). Brest are decent travellers (W5 D6 L3) but they are without a key player in top goalscorer Nolan Roux, who is suspended. His absence will be key. He is their main man up front, and I don't see Richard Socrier adequately filling the void. Bruno Grougi (CM) comes back into the side, but Benoit Lesoimier, who plays on the right of an attacking midfield three, is still injured, and his loss is keenly felt. Brest lost their last away match at Strasbourg and that shows me they are beatable. Caen have absentees of their own - Steeven Langil is still out, and Jean-Marc Eluchans is suspended - but their attack line is laced with pace and quality, the strings tugged in midfield by Benjamin Nivet, the top assists man in the league. Caen will want to win this and sew up the league, and against a Brest side deprived of their top scorer, I expect them to do so.
Bet strength: 6/10
 
Sedan vs Istres
Sedan -0.5 AH at 1.909 (Pinnacle)
Really, really surprised by the price on Sedan here. Landriy Chauvin's side aren't safe from relegation yet (eight points clear) but a win against 19th placed Istres would all but secure that. Les ardennais are pretty solid at home (W5 D8 L2) and are unbeaten in their last ten at the Luis Dugauguez. Istres, conversely, are the league's third worst travellers (W2 D3 L10). Despite picking up recently, they suffered a major set-back when losing 3-1 at home to ten-man Clermont. Moreover, their manager, Henri Stambouli, is set to take up a role with Marseille, meaning that a trio of coaches, Frederic Arpignon, Nicolas Usai and Richard Goyet, will take charge for this evening's game. Fabrice Begeorgi misses out entirely for Istres, while Sedan welcome back main marksman Marcus Mokake and his sidekick, Yohann Eudeline, on the wing. Sedan are in my opinion the far superior team here, and although Istres are scrapping away, I can see Sedan eyeing this match as the one that cements L2 football next year.