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Guide to Premier League betting, Challenge Cup Final odds, 4th Test betting and Racing odds
Football Betting
After a promising start to the season, Arsenal face a tricky away fixture in Saturday’s early Premier League kick-off. The Gunners travel to Blackburn Rovers who have already seen off Everton at Ewood Park this season. Sam Allardyce’s side aren’t blessed with many big names, but they make life difficult for visiting teams and the 11/2 on a home win looks a bit long.
Sir Alex Ferguson rued ’silly’ points dropped after his Manchester United side missed a late penalty and only drew 2-2 at Fulham on Sunday. However, the Red Devils should find life much easier this weekend as they face a West Ham side who have lost both their league fixtures so far. United should win this, but there is little value at 1/6.
Improving Bolton Wanderers face Birmingham at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday and are good value at 6/5 to continue their promising start. Aston Villa then face Everton and will be looking to bounce back from their shock 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United. Everton haven’t had a great start either and so this is a tough one to call.
Elsewhere, struggling Championship side Leicester City face Reading in front of the TV cameras on Saturday teatime, whilst in Scotland Motherwell play Celtic and St Mirren face Hibernian in Sunday’s televised matches.
It is also the big kick-off in Spain with the two main La Liga challengers both facing awkward away fixtures. Barcelona travel to Racing before Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid face Mallorca at the ONO Estadi.
Golf Betting
After a qualification process that began in Switzerland last September, it is the final chance for Europe’s top golfers to seal their Ryder Cup place at Gleneagles this weekend. Captain Colin Montgomerie will name his side after the Johnnie Walker Championships and there are still some places up for grabs.
Peter Hanson did his chances no harm at all with his play-off win at the Czech Open last weekend and the Swede is 20/1 to record back to back wins. Nothing but a victory is good enough for Simon Dyson (20/1) and Alvaro Quiros (25/1) and Ross McGowan can leapfrog Miguel Angel Jiminez if he finishes second or better.
Other European hopefuls will be relying on a wild-card pick as they have preferred to play in the Barclays Championship on the PGA Tour. Paul Casey is 30/1 to win at the Ridgewood Country Club whilst Padraig Harrington will also be looking to impress the captain ahead of Sunday’s team announcement.
Cricket Betting
Pakistan’s four wicket win over the hosts England at the Oval last weekend has breathed some life into a series which seemed to be ambling towards a pretty one-sided conclusion. Whilst England were far from their best in the defeat, the selectors have kept faith with the same 12 man squad for the final match in the Test series at Lord’s.
England are 4/6 to win the match and tie up a 3-1 series victory.
Elsewhere, the Clydesdale Bank 40 continues. Group A leaders Somerset play Surrey on Sunday and Worcestershire on Monday, whilst Group C leaders Warwickshire face Scotland at Edgbaston.
Rugby Union Betting
Whilst New Zealand’s five wins out of five might mean they are coasting to 2010 Tri Nations success, the other two teams in the competition meet in Pretoria on Saturday.
South Africa have lost all four matches in this series and will be desperate to restore some pride after another reverse last weekend. The Springboks looked better in their 29-22 defeat to the All Blacks last time out and for the second week running, one of their side will reach the 100 caps milestone. Victor Matfield follows John Smit in reaching a century of caps for the reigning world champions.
Australia looked excellent when they defeated the Springboks 30-13 in Brisbane in July but an away fixture against the world cup holders is a different prospect altogether. Peter de Villiers’ side will be keen to avoid another embarrassing defeat and should be backed to win this one.
Rugby Union Betting
Rugby League Betting
After Wigan secured the Superleague Shield title last weekend, it is rugby league’s showpiece event at Wembley this weekend as the reigning champions Warrington Wolves take on Leeds Rhinos.
The match will be the first sellout in 13 years for rugby league’s annual showpice, and the two sides cannot be separated by the bookies. You can back either Warrington or Leeds at 10/11.
Leeds coach Brian McLennan will be without the injured pair of Jamie Peacock and Luke Burgess but can welcome back Carl Ablett after suspension. Warrington have no fresh injury worries ahead of Saturday’s match.
Whilst the Wolves may be the reigning champions and will finish above Leeds in the Superleague table, this could be the Rhinos chance of silverware this season. Back Leeds at 10/11.
Rugby League Betting
Tennis Betting
Ahead of the US Open which begins on Monday, there is a low key ATP and WTA event in New Haven this week.
With most of the big guns resting before the final Grand Slam of the year, Marcos Baghdatis is the 3/1 favourite for the Pilot Pen tournament. Caroline Wozniacki and Sam Stosur lead the betting in the women’s event.
Horse Racing Betting
The July Course at Newmarket hosts its last fixture of the year on Saturday. The highlight of the card is the six furlong Hopeful Stakes (3.20pm).
There is also some good racing at Beverley where the main event is the listed Beverley Bullet (3.30pm) over five furlongs. Goodwood hosts the Celebration Mile (3.05pm) and the Group 3 Prestige Stakes (3.40pm) whilst Windsor hosts the Winter Hill Stakes (6.40pm) - a Group 3 event over a mile and a quarter.
Elsewhere there is racing from Cartmel and Redcar.
