Sports Betting Preview
Football
After an intriguing first round of matches in the Premier League there are some more mouthwatering fixtures to look forward to this weekend.
I tipped Wigan Athletic to find it tough going against Blackpool and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Wigan looked absolutely awful in their 4-0 home defeat, and it doesn’t get any easier for Roberto Martinez’s side as they face Chelsea at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Chelsea seem to have carried on where they left off last season as they demolished West Brom 6-0 at Stamford Bridge. Considering the goals in Carlo Ancelotti’s side and the poor form of Wigan this could be an embarrassing afternoon in Lancashire. Chelsea should waltz this at 2/9.
Newcastle United returned to the top flight with a bump after a pretty comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Manchester United and it could get worse for Chris Hughton’s side this weekend. Aston Villa relegated the Magpies in 2009 and are a good value 7/5 to win at St James’ Park on Sunday. Manchester United are 4/7 to win at Fulham, although bear in mind that the Cottagers comfortably won this fixture last season.
The Bundesliga returns this weekend also with a great first match on Friday night. Champions and beaten Champions League finalists Bayern Munich kick off the new campaign at home to 2008 champions Wolfsburg. Steve McLaren is the new man in the Wolves hotseat and, having won the Dutch title with FC Twente, can the former England manager continue his European success in Germany?
Golf
It is the penultimate chance for Europe’s top golfers to seal their place on the Ryder Cup team this weekend as the European Tour heads to the Czech Republic.
Miguel Angel Jiminez designed both the Old and the New Course at the Prosper Golf Resort and so has a great chance of using his knowledge to secure his place on Colin Montgomerie’s team. The Spaniard is 18/1 second favourite to take the Czech Open title. Englishmen Simon Dyson and Robert Rock are both 20/1.
The Wyndham Championship is the finale of the PGA Tour’s regular season. I’ve been backing Carl Pettersson for months now and the Swede put in a tidy performance at the US PGA even though he never really troubled the leaders. Pettersson is the 20/1 favourite for this title. Woody Austin has hit nine consecutive rounds under par and is an interesting pick at 50/1.
Cricket
After the excitement of the T20 finals day last weekend, England’s stars return to action at the Oval this weekend in the third Test against Pakistan.
England have been good value in their two Test wins over the visitors so far. Despite his poor form - just 100 runs in the last seven Tests - Alistair Cook keeps his place at the Oval ahead of the likes of Ravi Bopara. Pakistan have been forced into replacing injured wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider with Kamran Akmal and also have to replace seamer Umar Gul who tore a hamstring in the defeat at Edgbaston.
England are in good form, and are 4/9 to make it a hat trick of victories.
Sunday sees the international triangular series continue in Dambulla as India play Sri Lanka.
Rugby League
Wigan missed their chance to seal their first Superleague Leaders’ Shield in a decade after a surprise 16-18 defeat at home to Huddersfield on Sunday. However, the Warriors have another opportunity to seal the regular season title when they face Hull KR this weekend. Considering Michael Maguire’s side have lost three of their last four home games, an away trip may be their best chance of sealing the title.
The chasing pack all won their matches last time out. St Helens had a thumping 60-12 win over struggling Bradford and can win at the Crusaders on Saturday. Second plays fourth on Friday night as Warrington host Hull FC, whilst Challenge Cup finalists Leeds play the Catalans Dragons.
Tennis
After Andy Murray’s stunning and unexpected win at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, the ATP Tour has another high quality event this week in Cincinnati. Reigning champion Roger Federer was the beaten finalist last weekend and the Swiss player is looking to win his fourth Cincinnati title in the last six years.
Novak Djokovic has lost the last two finals in this event and so the world number three is looking to go one better this time out. Murray won in Cincinnati in 2008 and would love to add another trophy to his cabinet ahead of the US Open.
The WTA tour were in Cincinnati last week with Kim Clijsters winning the title after saving three match points against Maria Sharapova. The women effectively swap events with the men this week as seven of the world’s top Ten converge on Toronto for the WTA Rogers Cup. With no outright favourite, it is anyone’s tournament to win and a dozen players make a reasonable case to be backed.
Horse Racing
There’s some good racing action this weekend with the highlights coming from Newton Abbot, Chester and Sandown.
The Chester Handicap (2.45pm) is the pick of the flat racing at the Cheshire course whilst Sandown’s seven race card features the Solario Stakes (2.30pm) - a Group 3 race over seven furlongs.
If you prefer jumps racing, the Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase is arguably the pick of the race card at Newton Abbot.
There’s also some good quality action at the Curragh. The Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco was victorious in the Futurity Stakes (4.50pm) in 2009 and so there will be plenty of interest in the outcome of this one.
Elsewhere there is racing from Perth, Ripon, Market Rasen and Bath.
