Premier League 
/ Dan Fitch / 06 March 2011 / 1 Comments 
Will Torres break his duck against Blackpool?
Considering his performances since arriving at Chelsea, you can make an argument that Fernando Torres shouldn’t even be in the team, but his £50m transfer fee means that he almost certainly will be.
Blackpool have pulled off some shock results this season, but with two of their star performers missing, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch thinks that Chelsea will prove too strong for The Tangerines. Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [1.54].
Venue: Bloomfield Road
Kick Off/TV: 20:00/Sky Sports 1
Carlo Ancelotti saw his Chelsea team get back to winning ways on Tuesday, as they came from behind to beat Manchester United 2-1. The Italian will be hoping that this result signals a revival in form and it looks like Chelsea are playing Blackpool at exactly the right time.
Blackpool have proved to be difficult opponents for the top teams when they've travelled to Bloomfield Road this season, even if Ian Holloway's side haven't always picked up all three points. A fragile Chelsea side can count themselves lucky then, that Blackpool go into the game without key personnel.
Both Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell are suspended for the match, though there could be some good news with Elliot Grandin a possibility to be available after a hamstring injury and Stephen Crainey also back in contention, having recovered from an ankle knock.
Chelsea are still without the injured Alex and Yossi Benayoun, but David Luiz looks set to shake off a hamstring problem.
Match Odds: Blackpool [10.5], the draw [5.8], Chelsea [1.35]
Chelsea beat Blackpool 4-0 in the corresponding fixture earlier this season and these odds are reflective of how you'd expect the Premier League champions to be priced, when visiting a promoted side.
However, were it not for the fact that Blackpool will be without the influential Adam and to a lesser extent Campbell, I might have considered that Chelsea were worth a lay, given their recent poor form.
With seven goals and seven assists, Adam has been integral to a third of Blackpool's goals this season and Holloway has admitted this week that Blackpool just aren't the same side without his Scottish captain and Campbell. So even though the odds of [1.35] are quite small, I reckon your money will be safe, as Chelsea cruise to victory.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Overs [1.54], Unders [2.78]
The odds of [1.54] for over 2.5 goals could be viewed as a compliment to Blackpool's ethic of playing attacking football regardless of their opponents, rather than attempting to shut up shop.
When you consider that 75% of Blackpool's games have broken the 2.5 goals barrier, then those odds actually look quite generous. Even considering that Chelsea's array of attacking talent have been misfiring of late, it is difficult to imagine them being as profligate as Spurs were on their recent visit to Blackpool.
Holloway's gung-ho side have also broken the 3.5 goals barrier in 50% of their games this season, making the [2.24] for four goals or more, another price that is good value from a statistical basis.
To Score
Considering his performances since arriving at Chelsea, you can make an argument that Fernando Torres shouldn't be in the team, but his £50m transfer fee means that he almost certainly will be.
If ever there was a team against whom Torres was likely to be presented with chances, it's Blackpool. When the market opens on Betfair closer to kick off, the Spanish international is likely to be priced at around [2.1] to score at any time. It's not the most generous of prices, but I'm working with the logic that Torres has to break his duck eventually.
Both teams to score
With Blackpool having scored in 79% of their games this season, it's no surprise to see that the odds of both teams scoring are just [1.88], with [2.1] for both teams to fail to hit the net.
Blackpool have scored in every one of their home games and I expect them continue to have no respect for reputations against Chelsea.
Best Bet: Back over 2.5 goals @ [1.54]
Recommended Bets: Back Fernando Torres to score @ [2.1], back both teams to score @ [1.88].
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