Welcome to Shooter vs Looter, where our two tipsters go head to head and give you their expert opinions on the upcoming showdowns. You'll also get pointers towards possible scores so you can have a stab at the tie-break.
We want this site to be a one-stop shop for tips and banter before playing the game itself - good luck!
Click here for your chance to shoot for the loot.


Archived tips :

Arsenal vs Plymouth Argyle
Shooter : Wenger may not admit it but realistically the Gunners are not serious title contenders this season, so he will see the FA Cup and Champions League as chances to win silverware. Argyle had a decent cup run last season but are not great travellers (4 wins in 13 league games), and their passing style of football will suit a strong home XI just fine. 3-0 for me.
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Home Win
Looter : Arsenal are likely to use a few of their kids in this one, but given the way they brushed aside Sheffield United and Wigan in the Carling Cup, you wouldn't expect that to matter too much. Plymouth will make it tough but the Greens have lost almost half of their matches on their travels this term, which tells it's own story. 2-0
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Home Win
Histon vs Swansea
Shooter : The Swans glide to Histon having become draw specialists in recent weeks, and I can see another one on the cards here. Martinez's men will not be so easily shaken by the non-leaguers as Leeds (who were dumped out 1-0), but it'll be another classic cup battle. 0-0 or 1-1.
Prediction : Draw
Looter : Fresh from their giantkilling of Leeds, Histon will look to repeat the trick when Swansea roll into town. The Swans have drawn their last eight games, and given that Histon are so solid at home, you'd not rule out a ninth draw on the spin for Roberto Martinez's men. 1-1
Prediction : Draw
Gillingham vs Aston Villa
Shooter : It's well-known that Martin O'Neill works with a fairly small squad at Villa, but reinforcements are on the way in January so I think he'll field a strong line-up for this tricky tie. Villa are without Laursen, but even though the Gills are solid at home (7 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat) the visitors should have too much pace, trickery and class for the League Two outfit. 1-3
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Looter : The Gills are as good as anyone on their home turf in League 2 this season with just one defeat in 11 games. But League 2 is a very different level from the Premiership and Villa should just about have too much class. A stroll in the park for Martin O'Neill's men. 0-3
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Southampton vs Man Utd
Shooter : United have once again been full of festive cheer as three 1-0 wins have seen them crowned World Club Champions and seen off Stoke and Boro. The Old Trafford juggernaut always hits top gear at this time of year, and Championship strugglers Saints - who have won one of 13 league games at St Mary's - will simply be steamrollered. 0-3
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Looter : Saints have dropped into the Championship drop-zone and one home win from 13 attempts tells its own story. United haven't been convincing since being crowned world champions, but should cruise into the fourth round here. 1-4
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Hull City vs Newcastle
Shooter : Interesting this one, very interesting. Both teams are licking their wounds from recent 5-1 drubbings, but on both occasions Man City and Liverpool were breathtaking rather than Hull and Newcastle being pants. The Tigers tamed the Toon at St James' Park earlier this season, but I reckon this could be a score draw. 2-2
Prediction : Draw    Actual Result : Draw
Looter : Hull's form has really hit the buffers lately and Phil Brown will probably be telling all that as a Sunderland fan growing up, he'll be desperate to dump the Geordies out of the cup. But Newcastle will be hoping to bounce back quickly from their home mauling against Liverpool and should have too much in attack for a Hull side, whose focus must surely still be on Premiership survival. 1-2
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Draw
Watford vs Scunthorpe
Shooter : I quite fancy a shock here. There are only 11 places between these teams across divisions as the Hornets are struggling and Scunny are nicely placed in the League One play-off spots. The visitors are pretty handy on the road (6 wins and 2 draws in 12 games) and they'll turn up fancying their chances of claiming a Championship scalp. 1-2
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Home Win
Looter : Scunthorpe have every reason to believe they can win this one, especially as the Hornets go into this one without a win in their last four games. If you're brave enough to back the Iron, riding high in League One, then there could be a giantkilling on of, moderate, proportions. 1-2
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Home Win
Q.P.R. vs Burnley
Shooter : The high-flying Clarets head to Loftus Road with back-to-back 2-1 defeats hanging over them, but in general they're pretty good on their travels. Rangers love their home comforts, having won 9 of 13 league games, and I think they'll progress with a 3-1 win.
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Draw
Looter : These two recently clashed in the league and at the same venue, Burnley overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit to win 2-1. Burnley haven't been too hot lately and with their main focus a play-off place and the Carling Cup semi-finals, don't be surprised to see Rangers come good in this one. 1-0
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Draw
Preston NE vs Liverpool
Shooter : Hopefully Gerrard's off-field antics will have blown over by the time the Reds head to Deepdale, where they face a strong Preston team who have won 10 of 13 league games so far. Benitez always give the FA Cup respect with his team selection, and his tabletoppers have won more away from home than at Anfield so far, so I reckon 1-3.
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Looter : Anyone who witnessed Liverpool's recent demolition of Newcastle will know Rafa Benitez's side are very-much potential title winners this season. The FA Cup will take on a much smaller focus for the Reds, and their second string versus Preston should make for an interesting tie. The Reds have fallen at this hurdle before, and I think it could happen again. 1-0
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Forest Green vs Derby
Shooter : Derby will be feeling a little sorry for themselves as they head to Forest Green following Paul Jewell's exit, and Chris Hutching taking the temporary reins won't do much to liven them. The hosts saw off Rochdale 2-0 last time out, and the Rams' away record (7 defeats and just 2 wins in 13 games) points to another 'shock' for me. 2-0
Prediction : Home Win    Actual Result : Away Win
Looter : The managerless Rams have now suffered six defeats in their last nine games so will not relish a trip to non-league Forest Green. The hosts will sniff an upset and whilst I think they could push the Rams close, this one may have to be replayed after an unattractive 0-0 draw.
Prediction : Draw    Actual Result : Away Win
Hartlepool vs Stoke City
Shooter : To say Stoke are in disarray is a slight understatement. They've lost 3 on the trot in the Prem, they've dropped into the relegation zone - and now they're scrapping with each other! Hartlepool aren't too handy at home and have conceded 21 goals in 12 games, so I think Tony Pulis will see this as a chance for the Potters to taste victory again and field a very strong starting XI. I reckon 1-2.
Prediction : Away Win    Actual Result : Home Win
Looter : Two teams in very poor form clash at Victoria Park and although Stoke have yet to win on their travels in the Prem, they have the ideal chance to kickstart that in the cup. Hartlepool will huff and puff, but I don't think they'll have enough to blow Stoke's house down. A draw for me, 1-1
Prediction : Draw    Actual Result : Home Win