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Betting Review
Welcome to our weekly column where we try and seek good value in some longer odds bets.
One shot in the South African Open was all that stopped us from a lovely pre-Christmas profit on South African Darren Fichardt. His score of 278 saw him tie for sixth place, frustratingly one place off an each-way payout which I tipped here at 50/1.
2pts Tony O’Shea to win the BDO Darts World Championship at 3/1
Whilst the BDO World Championships might be like the Uzbekistan FA Cup in comparison to the PDC’s Champions League, there is still something terribly addictive about watching the darts on the BBC from the Lakeside Country Club.
Whilst the standard might not be in anyway comparable (anyone see Australia’s Tony Fleet throw probably the worst leg of pub darts anyone had ever seen earlier this week?) there are some good players in the tournament and none more so than number one seed Tony O’Shea.
The likeable Northerner showed a wobble in his first round match against Robbie Green but has looked comfortable since. He lost agonisingly in last year’s final (7-6 to Ted Hankey) and at 3/1 I’d back him to go one better this time around.
1pt e/w Stephen Ames to win the SBS Championship at 16/1 (e/w 1/4 odds, 1,2,3,4)
The SBS Championship kicks off the US PGA season and boasts a field who all won on the PGA Tour in 2009. Steve Stricker and Geoff Ogilvy lead the way in the betting, but with both in single figures I like the chances of Canadian Stephen Ames.
Based in Hawaii over Christmas, Ames has had three weeks to acclimatise. He also has good form in this event finishing just one shot off the lead two years ago. Furthermore, he won in Florida in November using the new grooved clubs which have become compulsory in 2010. With a win under his belt with the new clubs (whilst many others are getting used to them) he is great value to win at the Plantation Course.
1pt Green Bay Packers to win Superbowl XLIV at 22/1
After a disappointing start to their campaign, including two painful defeats to the Minnesota Vikings at the hands of former Packers legend Brett Favre, Mike McCarthy’s side have been on a great run of form since their 17-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys on 15th November.
The Packers have won eight of their last nine matches including, crucially, a convincing 33-7 victory over play-off rivals the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix stadium last week. With an 11-5 season record the Packers have returned to the play-offs for the first time since 2007, albeit as a wild card.
Bearing in mind their excellent recent run of form I fancy the Packers to triumph in Florida on 7th February at Superbowl XLIV at 22/1.
1pt Cameron Jerome first goalscorer and Birmingham to beat Man Utd 1-0 at 80/1
Manchester United have lost an unprecedented seven matches this season in all competitions. The one common thread that links all these defeats is that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side failed to score in each of them. When United have scored, they haven’t lost. This once again showed last Sunday when a terrific Leeds side left Old Trafford with a 1-0 win and a place in the FA Cup fourth round draw.
United travel to Birmingham City on Saturday with the Blues on a terrific run of form. Alex McLeish’s men sit eighth in the table, just a point behind Liverpool and have kept a clean sheet at St Andrews in five of their last six games. Six of their last nine games have finished either 0-0 or 1-0 to the Blues.
I think this could be a really tricky match for United. Cameron Jerome scored the winner for Birmingham in their last league match at Stoke and whilst Lee Bowyer has also netted three times in 1-0 wins I’m going for the tall hitman to inflict further misery on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Performance to date: +4.25pts
