Golf Betting
Football Betting Tips
Welcome to our weekly column where we try and seek good value in some longer odds bets.
Review
A fantastic 28 point profit this week. Blackpool got us off to a good start after I tipped them at 7/2 - from last week’s column: “I expect Wigan to really struggle this time around, and Ian Holloway’s side can get off to the best of starts at the DW stadium”.
And then my 40/1 tip, Martin Kaymer, won the US PGA after a thrilling play-off.
Let’s see what this week brings.
Top Tip - 3pts Aston Villa to beat Newcastle United at 7/5
It would be fair to say that Aston Villa haven’t enjoyed the best start to their new season. Manager Martin O’Neill left the club five days before the campaign began and Villa then sold their star asset - midfielder James Milner - to Manchester City.
However, interim coach Kevin McDonald wasn’t afraid to throw some of Villa’s promising youngsters into their opening match against West Ham and his faith was rewarded as Villa ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
For 20 minutes of Newcastle’s opening match at Old Trafford, they looked compact and organised and caused Manchester Untied one or two problems. However, by the time the final whistle arrived it was clear that it might be a long, tough season for Chris Hughton’s side.
Whilst Newcastle have a sprinkling of Premier League quality players - Kevin Nolan, Steven Taylor and Joey Barton amongst them - you get the feeling that they are in dire need of reinforcements. Relying on Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi for goals could be suicidal and the Magpies are going to need to bring some quality reinforcements to the club to stand a chance of avoiding relegation.
Villa condemned Newcastle to the drop in 2009 and it could be another disappointing afternoon for the home side on Saturday. Villa look spritely and far too classy for this current Newcastle side and should be backed at 7/5.
Championship Patent - 0.5pts Norwich (5/4), Nottingham Forest (21/10) and Burnley (21/20)
The Championship has already proved how competitive it is this season with, incredibly, just two teams boasting a 100% win after just 180 minutes of football. As ever, it’s a league where anyone can beat anyone.
I fancied Norwich to acquit themselves well in the second tier this season, and was surprised by their opening night defeat at the hands of Watford. However, the Canaries bounced back with a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe and can continue their run with a home win over Swansea on Saturday.
It’s actually a tough match to call after Brendan Rogers’ side thumped Preston 4-0 at the weekend, but if Paul Lambert’s team are to challenge for the play-offs, they will have to win matches like this at Carrow Road. I fancy them to do just that at 5/4.
It hasn’t been a great start to the season for second favourites Nottingham Forest. An opening day defeat to Burnley was followed by am embarrassing Carling Cup exit at the hands of Bradford, before Leeds outplayed Forest for much of Sunday’s televised game.
However, Billy Davies’ side have not become a hopeless team overnight. They still boast some of the best players in the division and the 21/10 about them winning at an inconsistent Reading side is far too long. A defeat for Forest would start the alarm bells ringing even this early in the campaign, but they will be fired up for this one.
I fancy Burnley to challenge strongly for the Championship title this season having kept most of the squad that was narrowly relegated from the Premier League intact. Unbeaten in their two matches, they are excellent value at 21/20 to beat Leicester at Turf Moor and continue their good start.
Brian Laws’ side is packed with seasoned performers at this level and in Martin Paterson and Chris Iwelumo they have proven Championship goalscorers. Leicester have had a shaky start under Paolo Sousa and home advantage could well pay for the Clarets. Back Burnley at odds against to make it two home wins out of two.
Sporting Long Shot - 0.5pts e/w Miguel Angel Jimenez to win the Czech Open at 18/1 (e/w 1/4 places 1,2,3,4,5)
After my golf tip brought us a tasty profit last week, I’m going to back a seasoned European Tour pro is a low key event this week.
Jimenez will have an advantage on his own course.
Miguel Angel Jimenez remains hopeful of making the European Ryder Cup team for October’s clash at Celtic Manor and the Czech Open could well be the Spaniard’s last chance to earn some rankings points. Whilst his desperation to feature on Colin Montgomerie’s side is a good enough reason in itself for the 46 year old to do well in the Czech Republic, there is another compelling reason.
That is, Jimenez actually designed both the Old and New Courses at the Proposer Golf Club, where the Open is to be played. Nine holes of each course will be used this weekend, and Jimenez can use his extensive knowledge of the course to his advantage in this weekend’s tournament.
18/1 isn’t great odds, but in a second rate field he could well prevail on his own course.
Performance to date: -35.25 points
