Saturday August 23 2008
Fixture: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Hull City
Venue: Ewood Park (Blackburn home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: I was quite tempted to hit the half-time/full-time market with this game as Blackburn are 6/4 (2.5 at betdirect, Stan James, Ladbrokes, Coral) to be the winners at the end of both halves. But then I noticed that there is barely any difference between the HT/FT price for Blackburn to win both halves and for Blackburn to win just the first-half 5/4 (2.25 at Betfred) with half the risk.
Betting Advice: 2pts Blackburn to win first half 2.25 at Betfred
Fixture: Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Boro have started well, but calamity Tottenham at home should be different from title-chasing Liverpool away. If Liverpool score early it should settle them and the victory will come easy. If not, could be another Sunderland for Liverpool. 4-0, I think.
Betting Advice: no bet
Fixture: Newcastle United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Venue: St James's Park (Newcastle home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Both these teams won last weekend, so the natural assumption is that it will be a difficult game. But Kevin Keegan seems to have brought in the right people at Newcastle, who now look like a team ready to challenge at the right end of the table. This is a good opportunity to take good odds while the bookies umm and ahh over the Magpies.
Betting Advice: 3pts Newcastle to win 4/5 (1.8 at bet365, Betfred, Betdirect, Stan James, extrabet)
Fixture: Stoke City 3-2 Aston Villa
Venue: Britannia Stadium (Stoke home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: The standout bet is more than 2.5 goals in the game as Aston Villa don't do low scoring fixtures. With their last eight games last season yielding seven games over 2.5 goals and this season, three out of four so far over 2.5 goals, the Evens (2.0 at Bet365) is overly generous.
Betting Advice: 2pts more than 2.5 goals (2.0 at Bet365), 3pts Aston Villa win (1.8 at Paddy Power, Ladbrokes)
Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Sunderland
Venue: White Hart Lane (Tottenham home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Sunderland stayed up on the back of their home form, only taking points from specifically targeted matches away from home. This term I don't expect it to be any different. Sunderland have always been notorious travellers and Spurs may count themselves lucky that they have been handed a gimme at a very difficult time for them off the pitch.
Betting Advice: no bet
Fixture: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Everton
Venue: The Hawthorns (WBA home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: I can't see Everton winning this one, but there is always a doubt hanging over when a new Premiership club is playing. So, the perfect bet is West Brom to win at Evens (2.0 at Boylesports, VCBet, Betdirect and Stan James) in the DRAW NO BET market
Betting Advice: 3pts West Brom to win (DRAW NO BET) at 2.0 (2.0 at Boylesports, VCBet, Betdirect and Stan James)
Fixture: Fulham 1-0 Arsenal
Venue: Craven Cottage (Fulham home)
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST
Verdict: Fulham have started very poorly, losing to Hull on the opening day and are likely to get a pummelling here. Price on Arsenal winning this game is good enough to take.
Betting Advice: 4pts Arsenal win 8/13 (1.61 at Paddy Power and Ladbrokes)
Sunday August 24 2008
Fixture: Wigan Athletic 0-1 Chelsea
Venue: JJB Stadium (Wigan home)
Kick-off: 1.30pm BST
Verdict: This should be an easy win for Chelsea who look a superior side to the one that failed to pip Man Utd for the title last season.
Betting Advice: 1pt Chelsea to win by two or more goals 13/10 (2.3 at Bet365)
Fixture: Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
Venue: Eastlands (Man City home)
Kick-off: 4pm BST
Verdict: Man City, who are generally a good side at home, are vulnerable at the moment as there is some doubt as to whether they have any money in the bank at the moment. These things weigh heavy on the pitch, and West Ham can take advantage.
Betting Advice: 1pt West Ham to win 12/5 (3.4 at Betfred and Stan James)
Monday August 25 2008
Fixture: Portsmouth 0-1 Manchester United
Venue: Fratton Park (Portsmouth home)
Kick-off: 8pm BST
Verdict: The last four head-to-heads between these two teams have been under 2.5 goals and, with Ronaldo still on the sidelines and both teams failing to fire in front of goal, I don't expect many goals in this game.
Betting Advice: 1pt under 2.5 goals in match at 1.72 generally
