The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2013/14: Round 30

"Opta tell us that Southampton are in pretty rotten form overall: they've won just four of their last 17 Premier League games and are likely to lack real motivation now their Premier League status is secure and they have no chance of European qualification."

Luke Moore: Back Crystal Palace to beat Southampton at 3.8514/5

A dramatic weekend saw Dan Thomas lose his lead to Joe Dyer while another win for Mike Norman means the top three in this season's Betting Battle are separated by less than £20. Here are this week's selections...

Joe Dyer
Back an Arsenal clean sheet @ 2.727/4 vs Everton
Saturday, 12:45
Live on ITV

I'll know my fate early on this weekend as it's the Saturday lunchtime kick-off between Arsenal and Everton for me where I'm swayed by the clear trends for a tight match. 

Everton are doughty opponents for any side but they have come up short on their last three away days, failing to score in each. Those tests came against top Premier League sides (Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea) and they face another on Saturday against Arsenal. 

For both clubs this game represents a key moment in their seasons - at 23.022/1 to back the Gunners' title hopes look gone, and Everton surely won't finish top four either - so the chance of making it to Wembley will be huge for everyone at the two teams. 

When Everton went to Arsenal earlier this season, we saw two goals in the last 10 minutes with the visitors pegging the home team back with a late Gerard Deulofeu equaliser. I think this will be similarly close with the potential for a single goal to settle matters.

Rather than back under 2.5 goals - a winning bet for me in the last two weeks - I will take a chance on Arsenal keeping the visitors out for the full 90 minutes this time. The backline has kept 12 clean sheets in the league and with Everton proving shot-shy in recent weeks I think 2.727/4 is a fair price for them to record another clean sheet.  

Joe Dyer 2013-14 P/L: + £18.50

Dan Thomas
Back Both Teams To Score in West Brom v Manchester United at 1.9110/11
Saturday, 12:45
Live on BT Sport 1

The Baggies have been pretty dreadful this season, with just four wins in the entire campaign - the lowest in the league - leaving them one point off relegation (it's only the league high 13 draws that have kept them out of the bottom three).

They haven't picked up three points since beating Newcastle on New Year's Day and questions have already been raised about the tenure of Pepe Mel, who hasn't seen his team win since taking over on January 9.

The one bright spark for Albion has been their performances against the big boys, picking up creditable 1-1 draws against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton, all after going behind, and I can see them at least getting on the scoresheet when United come to town this weekend.

David Moyes' men kept a clean sheet in winning at Palace last time out, but they have conceded at the likes of Hull, Sunderland and Stoke this season and West Brom should have enough in the locker to score at least once, while Van Persie and Rooney et al will be looking forward to playing a side that has kept one clean sheet in 2014. 

Dan Thomas 2013-14 P/L: + £16.99

Mike Norman
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.0621/20 in Cardiff v Fulham
Saturday, 15:00

So, after 29 rounds of battle I'm back to where I started with a zero profit. Crucially though I'm now the closest I've been to the lead since the first week of the season and I know that the rest of the lads are in fear that I'm timing my run to perfection. I am, so let's crack on with this week's winner.

A clash between the Premier League's two bottom clubs has seemingly made layers cautious about offering a generous price on Over 2.5 Goals. I completely understand why, but I'm still going to take a chance on it.

The need for a victory here, for both sides, is absolutely crucial. The beauty of which is that we know both sides can't win at the same tme whereas a draw won't suit neither. And in my opinion there's no chance in this world that Cardiff and Fulham will set out for a draw and play defensively. At least I hope not.

So I'm backing goals here, and encouragingly the last seven meetings between the Bluebirds and the Cottagers have resulted in both teams getting on the scoresheet and at least three goals being scored. Ok, only one of those meetings was in the last 15 years but I'll take it.

Mike Norman 2013-14 P/L: -/+ £0.00

Luke Moore
Back Crystal Palace to beat Southampton at 3.8514/5
Saturday, 15:00

I think this is a very generous price on a Crystal Palace home win - the Eagles are in decent form at the moment (they may have lost at home to United but they won their previous three at Selhurst Park, conceding only one goal) and Southampton are at best inconsistent on the road.

In fact, Opta tell us that Southampton are in pretty rotten form overall: they've won just four of their last 17 Premier League games and are likely to lack real motivation now their Premier League status is secure and they have no chance of European qualification.

Tony Pulis knows how to set his teams up at home and there is absolutely no reason they can't beat a team with nothing to play for who were turned over quite handily by West Ham on their last away trip. It may only be by the odd goal, but that'll be enough to bank me some much-needed winnings.

Luke Moore 2013-14 P/L: - £108.30

A £10 bet is placed on each selection on Betfair's Exchange. Profits are calculated before commission.

1. Joe Dyer: + £18.50
2. Dan Thomas: + £16.99
3. Mike Norman: +/- £0.00
4. Luke Moore: - £108.30

Amazon Watches Center

The Punter's In-Play Blog: After just one round in Boston, is Lefty already the man to beat?

Product reviews and advice for best reference

US Open Men's Betting: Five potential first round upsets

Product reviews and advice for best reference

WTA Sony Open Betting: Lots of value in first round clashes

''Attention will very much be focused on the young British hopefuls in the opening round of matches as they will be keen to bounce back from first round exits at Indian Wells''

The opening round of the WTA Sony Open in Miami promises an array of intriguing encounters, with several competitors certain to be driven by the prospect of a second round tie against one of the top names in the women's game.

Serena Williams returns to the court for the first time since her historic return to world number one, in a tournament she has won five times previously. She leads a star-studded cast including the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska, but as with all the top seeds, they receive a bye to the second round.

Johanna Larsson and Leisa Tsurenko both look good value to progress and will face Williams and Radwanska respectively should they succeed. 

Larsson begins her tournament against Italian star Flavia Pennetta and arrives in Miami in slightly better form after a straight sets victory against world No. 25 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round at Indian Wells. Pennetta in contrast was comfortably dispatched in the opening round by compatriot Francesca Schiavone. The opportunity to advance and partake in Serena's historic return to the top will no doubt provide an incentive to both, with Larsson receiving generous odds to edge through in three sets at 5.14/1.

Defending champion and number four seed Radwanska will face either Tsurenko or Su-Wei Hsieh after receiving a bye to the next round. Tsurenko has shown signs of promise on the hard court surface so far this season, reaching the third round at both the Australian Open in January and again at Indian Wells. The in-form Ukrainian has left many impressed with her recent performances and looks a potential bet to provide a shock against Hsieh.

Elsewhere, British duo Heather Watson and Laura Robson face tough tests against Ayumi Morita and Camila Giorgi but will both be confident of progressing. Attention will very much be focused on the young British hopefuls in the opening round of matches as they will be keen to bounce back from first round exits at Indian Wells.

Current Japanese number one Morita prevailed against Watson when the youngsters met in Miami two years ago, winning easily in two sets. Expect this encounter to be closer though, with the Brit a good bet to go through after three. Robson will also have a real battle on her hands that is likely to go the distance.

Wildcard entrant Andrea Petkovic faces the unseeded Serbian Bojana Jovanovski, with the victor set to face Marion Bartoli in the next round. The Serb has been out of sorts since an impressive outing at the Australian Open, but should have enough against the German, who has struggled to return to top form since a serious ankle injury last year.

In other key opening round clashes, Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former champion back in 2006, opens her account against Lourdes Dominguez Lino and will be fancied to progress at the expense of the Spaniard.

Hard-hitting Tsvetana Pironkova takes on Daniela Hantuchova with the winner setting up a clash against eighth-seeded Italian Sara Errani. The Bulgarian was dumped out in the first round in Indian Wells, and you can envisage a potential repeat this week against her vastly experienced opponent.

There is also a potentially exciting encounter between Simona Halep and Sabine Lisicki to look forward to, with the German returning from injury. Much will depend on her fitness, but the world No. 37 has all the ability to advance.

Recommended Bets:
Bet on Tsurenko to beat Hsieh 2-1 @ 4.1n/a
Bet on Watson to beat Morita 2-1 @ 5.49/2
Bet on Larsson to beat Pennetta @ 2.3411/8
Bet on Jovanovski to beat Petkovic 2-0 @ 3.8514/5
Bet on Robson vs Giorgi to go three sets @ 2.3611/8

There are no comments on this article.

Product reviews and advice for best reference

WTA Indian Wells Betting: First Round Tips

'If you are looking for a classic match-up then go no further than the all Italian clash between Pennetta and Schiavone'

The start of the '5th Major' and Abelson Info serve up the choice cuts from the Women's first round...

It's a star-studded field that welcomes tennis fans to Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open. The first round action is full of easy pickings for some of the big names but there's plenty of opportunity for a big run from others looking to improve their ranking.

British hope Heather Watson has a pretty tough opening encounter against Romanian Irina Camelia Begu. There are only fourteen spots between them in the rankings but you have to give a big edge to Watson - 1.538/15 isn't the biggest price but it is a winning one. Begu has some weapons but they just aren't firing at the moment.

The same can't be said of Bethanie Mattek Sands. She was in super form last week as she got beaten in a tight final in Malaysia. That run will work against her and you are strongly advised to side with her fellow American Jamie Hampton in an easy 2-0 sets romp.

If you are looking for a classic match-up then go no further than the all Italian clash between Pennetta and Schiavone. It is fair to say neither of these two are anywhere near the heights of the last few years. It is a question as to who has fallen further from grace. Pennetta is a better player on hard courts so you should see a slight upturn from her recent form but it won't be enough to get past a still incredibly resilient Schiavone. This could be a long one and the value has to be on Over 22.5 Games at 2.26/5 in the Total Games market.

We can't let these first round encounters go without a mention for the young star Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino. She's showed big promise but will be the outsider to beat Sesil Karatantcheva. With a good steady game the young Spaniard can take this in straight sets at attractive odds of 3.3512/5.

Don't forget that in first round matches in big events like this there are a lot of mid to low ranked players facing each other. One thing these players lack is confidence as they do not win a lot of matches. You can take advantage of this with some smart in-play betting. If the outsider at the start of the match takes the first set then you won't go far wrong with backing the loser of that first set at that stage.

Recommended Bets:
Back Over 22.5 Games in the Pennetta v Schiavone match at 2.26/5
Back Hampton to beat Mattek Sands 2-0 Sets at 1.9210/11

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

FA Cup on Betfair: Fifth Round draw throws up just one all-Premier League tie

"The two biggest shocks of the weekend were undoubtedly to be found at Carrow Road and Boundary Park."

The draw for the FA Cup Fifth Round has been made and features just one all-Premier League tie. But how has the draw affected the betting?

After a rip-roaring weekend of FA Cup action across the country, no fewer than six Premier League teams were knocked out, and four of those to lower league opposition.

The two biggest shocks of the weekend were undoubtedly to be found at Carrow Road and Boundary Park as non-league Luton Town overcame Chris Hughton's Norwich 0-1 and Oldham Athletic welcomed Liverpool to their home ground and promptly dished out a hugely physical 3-2 beating. Luton, who are now a longshot at 600599/1 to win the Cup have been rewarded with a home tie against Millwall 110109/1.

Oldham, who are still available at 500499/1, welcome the other big team from Merseyside in the next round in the shape of David Moyes' Everton themselves an 8.615/2 shot. Everton could provide real value here, it's easy to see them going reasonably far in the competition if they can avoid a tough away draw.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have come right in to 76/1 after their hard-fought win at Brighton. They have an easy-looking home tie against a struggling Blackburn in the next round, whereas Wigan 6059/1 face a potential banana skin travelling to either Huddersfield or Leicester.

The market clearly feels that the cup will go to one of the Manchester clubs though. There's not much between them in terms of price, with United available at 3.9n/a and City only slightly shorter at 3.8514/5. They face Reading at home and Leeds at home respectively.

FA Cup Fifth Round draw:

Huddersfield/Leicester v Wigan
MK Dons v Barnsley
Oldham v Everton
Luton v Millwall
Arsenal v Blackburn
Manchester City v Leeds
Manchester United v Reading
Middlesbrough v Brentford/Chelsea

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

FA Cup Stats: Value bets from the winner market and third round match-ups

"One of the many advantages of Betfair over traditional bookmakers is that you don't necessarily need to find the overall winner. You can get a good run for your money, and turn a profit, by backing one of the less obvious teams with a view to laying them at a later stage."

Andrew Atherley has crunched the FA Cup numbers to bring you a huge selection of tournament betting options...

One statistical trend stands out above all others when it comes to betting on the FA Cup: it is a competition dominated by the big six to almost the same extent as the Premier League.

Since the last big FA Cup final upset - when Wimbledon's Crazy Gang beat Liverpool in 1988 - only eight different clubs have lifted the famous trophy. All of the current big six have won at least once in that period, with Everton (1995) and Portsmouth (2008) the only clubs to have broken the stranglehold.

Add in the luck of the draw and punters are going to be fortunate indeed to find the overall winner unless they go for one of the big names. Perhaps the best choice at this stage might be Tottenham at 11.5n/a, as they are starting to gain momentum under Andre Villas-Boas and have a relatively easy start at home to Coventry.

But one of the many advantages of Betfair over traditional bookmakers is that you don't necessarily need to find the overall winner. You can get a good run for your money, and turn a profit, by backing one of the less obvious teams with a view to laying them at a later stage.

One of the best choices for that approach in recent years has been Stoke, who have reached at least the last eight in the past three seasons and were losing finalists in 2011. They are available to back at 44.043/1 this year and are likely to shorten if they can overcome a difficult start away to Crystal Palace.

It is notable that all eight of last season's quarter-finalists started their cup run against teams below them in the league standings (the seven Premier League teams that made it to that stage all drew lower-league opposition in the third round). Stoke fit that bill, but they may not be the most solid selection this time.

Another possible back-to-lay from the Premier League is Fulham at 38.037/1 as they start at home to Blackpool. Everton, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Wigan are others who have been given good chances to progress to the fourth round.

Another group of teams to consider is the top 12 in the Championship, who often feature a surprise performer in the FA Cup, granted a favourable draw. Last season Leicester were 12th in the Championship at the start of the third round and were the only team from outside the Premier League to reach the quarter-finals, losing to eventual winners Chelsea.

Leicester, drawn at home to Burton, have a decent chance of shortening again from their current 170.0169/1, as do Middlesbrough from 160.0159/1 on the assumption that they will have no difficulty disposing of Hastings at home.

Another way to profit from the solid form of the Championship top 12 is to back them in individual ties against teams below that level. Those may not be the most eye-catching games of the round, but the record of teams from the top half of the Championship is excellent in that sort of match-up.

The most attractively priced options this weekend are Millwall at 1.748/11 at home to Preston of League One, Leeds at 2.0811/10 at home to Birmingham from the bottom half of the Championship and Derby at 1.794/5 at home to League One leaders Tranmere.

Another trend worth following is that ties involving short-priced Premier League teams are often high-scoring, particularly when they are away to a lower-league team. Ties with the potential to go over 2.5 goals at decent odds include Brighton v Newcastle at 1.8810/11, Bolton v Sunderland at 1.9310/11 and Crystal Palace v Stoke at 2.1211/10.
Recommended Bets
Millwall to beat Preston @ 1.748/11
Leeds to beat Birmingham @ 2.0811/10
Derby to beat Tranmere @ 1.794/5
Brighton v Newcastle over 2.5 goals @ 1.8810/11
Bolton v Sunderland over 2.5 goals @ 1.9310/11
Crystal Palace v Stoke over 2.5 goals @ 2.1211/10

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

The Open Championship: Tips for every first round 3-ball

"Phil Mickelson - Suddenly kicked into gear in the second round of the Scottish Open. Game is back but this is a different test."

The guys at Abelson Info know every single Open Championship participant inside out, so we've asked them to give a brief preview of all Thursday's three-balls (and a couple of two-balls).

06:19 2 Ball - Lane - Driscoll
Lane - Closed with a 66 in last weeks US Seniors Open. Not really able to compete at this level any more.
Driscoll - Good putter but is wayward off the tee and that won't help around here.
Selection: Take the old timer Lane to win the first battle of this years Open.

06:30 2 Ball - Finch - Mulroy
Finch - Up and down year but mainly down. Missed his last 5 cuts and doesn't look like changing that run here.
Mulroy - South African trying to make his way on the PGA Tour. Limited success there so far but has the ability to keep his tour card.
Selection: Go with Mulroy here as he is at least some signs of form.

06:41 3 Ball - Baldwin - Da Silva - Takayama
Baldwin - An underrated player who is playing as well as he ever has at the moment.
Da Silva - Largely plies his trade on the South African Sunshine Tour. This is a big step up and no real reason to think he is up to it.
Takayama - 5 wins on the Japan Tour and made the cut in this years US Open. Has some pedigree but hard to enthuse about.
Selection: Baldwin will take this easily.

06:52 3 Ball - Echenique - Ichihara - Huh
Echenique - Nothing this year. Came through qualifying but little else to support his case.
Ichihara - Came through Asian qualifying and has acquitted himself to some decent level on the Japan Tour.
Huh - One of the success stories of the year in the US. A top player for years to come.
Selection: The other two are well below Huh's class and that will show.

07:03 3 Ball - Lyle - Hamilton - Calcavecchia
Lyle - Sandy is still capable of the odd really good round but they are becoming less frequent.
Hamilton - This former Open champ will probably perk up when faced with this challenge.
Calcavecchia - Another who will relish this opportunity. Not a bad year so far on the Champions Tour.
Selection: This is set up beautifully for Calcavecchia to roll back the years.

07:14 3 Ball - Canizares - J.M Singh - Chalmers
Canizares - He has a lot of ability and is in pretty decent nick. I would however suspect a birdie course is better suited to his game.
Singh - I've no idea how he did it but he is coming off the back of a great win last week. He will not be backing that up here.
Chalmers - Five top 25 finishes on the PGA Tour this season but not suited by tight courses so I expect him to struggle here.
Selection: Canizares is a tentative choice in this contest.

07:25 3 Ball - Daly - Campbell - HoeyDaly - Big John still plays as well as ever. Has a great touch and this will be put to the test this week.
Campbell - He should do better for someone of his ability. Could go well.
Hoey - Has flattered to deceive recently. Has a links game but too many errors in there at the moment.
Selection: I just favour Daly to out perform his rivals.

07:36 3 Ball - Jaidee - Leonard - Khan
Jaidee - One of the form players on the European Tour. But this is his fifth week on the spin. A week too far probably.
Leonard - This former Open champion has completely lost his game. Discard.
Khan - He is having a poor year and I wouldn't expect that to change here.
Selection: Even a tired Jaidee is too good for his playing partners.

07:47 3 Ball - Duval - Jacquelin - Jimenez
Duval - The last winner here at Royal Lytham but in no form. Would be very popular if getting some spark back.
Jacquelin - 21st at the US Open last month and has continued that decent form. Good ball striker.
Jimenez - It is too early to write him off but he is in a poor run of form at best.
Selection: Take a wild punt at a decent price on Duval.

07:58 3 Ball - Ames - Rock - Stanley
Ames - Not the player he was and I can't see him taking to Blackpool.
Rock - Since the huge win in Abu Dhabi he has been a little off. Might have seen the best of him this season.
Stanley - Superb early season and then had a big dip. Starting to rediscover his form recently and could go very well this week.
Selection: I really like Stanley in this match up.

08:09 3 Ball - Cink - Cabrera-Bello - Wagner
Cink - The most unpopular Open champion in recent history. Has shown the odd glimpse of form but not a lot.
Cabrera-Bello - If he can keep it straight he could even challenge for the title. A real talent.
Wagner - This Texan may well enjoy it if it gets windy.
Selection: Go with Cabrera-Bello to take care of his PGA Tour partners.

08:20 3 Ball - Donaldson - Haas - Yang
Donaldson - Has had his week in the sun with his win at the Irish Open.
Haas - Could surprise a few people this week. One to watch.
Yang - Not his best year so far and I can't trust him until I see evidence of a turnaround.
Selection: Go with Haas.

08:31 3 Ball - Love - Clark - Paul Lawrie
Love - US Ryder Cup captain is playing his best stuff for some time.
Clark - I dont think he is quite back to his best but there are certainly positive signs.
Lawrie - I know a lot of people like Lawrie's chances this week - however I don't. He peaked too soon and won't feature.
Selection: Try Tim Clark as he could well be a real dark horse this week.

08:42 3 Ball - Scott - Dunbar - Kuchar
Scott - Playing well when he tees it up. Good player from rough and that will be very useful.
Dunbar - This young amateur can clearly play links golf so will love this challenge.
Kuchar - The Players Champion and a real machine. Could be a threat for the title this week.
Selection: All three have chances but I just give the edge to Scott.

08:58 3 Ball - Vijay Singh - Watney - Poulter
Singh - Solid stuff from Vijay at the moment - littered with the odd bit of magic.
Watney - Super consistent and one to consider. I am however worried about his pretty wayward driving.
Poulter - He tends to raise his game for the big ones and maybe not as much attention on him this year as in the past.
Selection: I have a good feeling about Poulter in this one.

09:09 3 Ball - Clarke - Els - Zach Johnson
Clarke - Defending the title is a lot of pressure. Has been in poor form but recent signs are good. He will put up a stout defence.
Els - Has more majors in him now he has re-dedicated himself. If he keeps it straight off the tee he has to be one of the favourites.
Johnson - Emotional win last week may have taken the stuffing out of him for this massive test.
Selection: Els is the man for this contest.

09:20 3 Ball - Westwood - Fujimoto - Bubba Watson
Westwood - No course is safe when Lee is on his game. Could this finally be his year?
Fujimoto - Turned pro just this year but at just 5ft 5in he had better hope it doesn't blow too hard this week.
Watson - The enigmatic Watson could well add to his major haul right here. Leads the greens in reg stat on the PGA Tour.
Selection: Tough call but I just favour Westwood.

09:31 3 Ball - Dustin Johnson - McDowell - Fujita
Johnson - Won a few weeks ago and should have been Open champion last year. Could put that right this time around.
McDowell - Always a danger at the big ones. Will be disappointed he didn't add another US Open last month.
Fujita - 13 Japan Tour wins but not nearly as proficient when venturing onto other tours.
Selection: This one has Johnson written all over it.

09:42 3 Ball - Woods - Rose - Garcia
Woods - Three wins already this season but aside from that I really like his stats. I think he is ready for another major.
Rose - A great ball striker and he won't be fazed by playing with Tiger. About time he contended for a big one.
Garcia - Just a fraction off top form. If he finds that bit extra he will be a danger to all. Needs a big second half of the season.
Selection: Take Tiger to get off to a flyer.

09:53 3 Ball - Ishikawa - Kaymer - Tom Watson
Ishikawa - Will come good eventually and win many events. I just don't think that will start here.
Kaymer - Too many elements of his game are off at the moment. He is not on my short list for the title.
Watson - Loves any Open and showed last week he can still play. Everyone wants to see him go well again this year.
Selection: Watson is good value to take care of his young rivals.

10:04 3 Ball - Schwartzel - Baddeley - Bjorn
Schwartzel - Hasn't played since the US Open due to a nagging chest muscle injury. Not good preparation for a major.
Baddeley - Far too wayward for this course. Is a brilliant putter though.
Bjorn - Has been in good form this season and is a terrific outside punt for the championship.
Selection: I see Bjorn taking this comfortably.

10:15 3 Ball - Dufner - Laird - Na
Dufner - Not been seen out since the US Open. Was in unbelievable form before that. Can't guarantee that will continue here though.
Laird - Played surprisingly well last week but I still think the Scot is better suited to target golf.
Na - Didn't get the prep he was looking for last week but this consistent player may find this course suits him better.
Selection: A real tricky one to call is this but just go for the controversial Na.

10:26 3 Ball - Morrison - Chopra - Luiten
Morrison - His game is littered with good rounds but just can't string a few together.
Chopra - Came through qualifying in the US but this has not been a good season for the Swede.
Luiten - I am fan of the Dutch youngster and I can see a big performance ahead.
Selection: Take a punt on Morrison to post a decent score.

10:37 3 Ball - Olesen - Matteson - Aiken
Olesen - Has to be one of the finds of the European Tour season. There will be many many victories ahead for this guy.
Matteson - So so close in the John Deere last week. Will be delighted to be here but not sure he will make the cut.
Aiken - Pretty reasonable form recently and well suited to this type of test. Could be a dark horse.
Selection: Aiken is a good bet here.

10:48 3 Ball - Kennedy - Mamat - Tiley
Kennedy - Won on the Japan Tour this season and playing some reasonable stuff the last couple of years.
Mamat - Has had a win on the Asian Tour this season but not one of its leading lights.
Tiley - Never quite reached even the second grade of professional golf. Can't see much happening this week.
Selection: Kennedy has the pedigree to beat his playing partners.

10:59 3 Ball - Bennett - Townsend - Veenstra
Bennett - A reasonable player back in the 90's. A shock comeback is going to get some headlines.
Townsend - Came through Australasian qualifying in gale force winds and rain. Very handy preparation.
Veenstra - Not a lot to recommend this South African. Don't expect to see his name near the top of the leaderboard.
Selection: I'm having a punt on Townsend to take this.

11:10 3 Ball - Whitnell - Walker - Elliot Saltman
Whitnell - Still making his way in the game and does have a future ahead on the European Tour.
Walker - Won an event on the Challenge Tour last month but not sure that is quite the class he faces here.
Saltman - Squeezed through a play off to get to the championships but that is where his success ends.
Selection: Try former classy amateur Whitnell to show his skills.

11:31 3 Ball - Estes - O Hara - Jones
Estes - At the age of 46 is still competing pretty well on the PGA Tour. This isn't for him though.
O'Hara - Shown me nothing this season to suggest this could be his week.
Jones - Has had great success in Japan and a pretty competent player.
Selection: I like Jones to adapt best to this test.

11:42 3 Ball - Pagunsan - Pinckney - Cullen
Pagunsan - Has a few victories to his name on the Asian Tour but he is out of his depth here.
Pinckney - American playing on the European Challenge Tour - and with limited success.
Cullen - Aussie who is way out of his league here.
Selection: I have to side with Pagunsan here as he at least has some decent experience.

11:53 3 Ball - Alker - Slattery - Cochran
Alker - The Kiwi has tried his hand all over the world but is just a shade below the top pro levels.
Slattery - Not much recently but has the ability to go well at this kind of venue. One to watch.
Cochran - Solid enough US Senior Tour player who can play links well.
Selection: I favour Slattery in this match up.

12:04 3 Ball - Lehman - Larrazabal - Owen
Lehman - Still hits the ball well. Loves it here and arrives in tip top form.
Larrazabal - A talent for sure - but the Open at Royal Lytham is not the place he will perform.
Owen - Tremendously consistent player on the PGA Tour. Underrated and definitely a lively outsider for the event.
Selection: Lehman's experience will tell here.

12:15 3 Ball - Siem - Coetzee - Reavie
Siem - Not many Europeans have played consistently better this season. His win a couple of weeks ago is as good as it will get though.
Coetzee - Hits the ball clean but seriously needs to sort out his weekend play before he can be taken seriously.
Reavie - Not much to get excited about but is pretty straight off the tee so that may well keep him in the game.
Selection: Coetzee plays well enough early in tournaments to be the pick for this contest.

12:26 3 Ball - Fraser - Glover - Havret
Fraser - I've always been impressed with Fraser on tough tracks. Not to be under estimated.
Glover - Former US Open champ is not making any waves in 2012.
Havret - Another who has a penchant for tough courses. Finds it hard to win though.
Selection: Fraser is a very good bet here.

12:37 3 Ball - Howell III - Broadhurst - Sterne
Howell III - Charles has not progressed as was expected. Needs to sort his short game out big style.
Broadhurst - It's good to see Broadhurst back but this is a big ask.
Sterne - Hitting the ball well but will need to straighten up off the tee.
Selection: Sterne has the best credentials in this affair.

12:48 3 Ball - Pettersson - Kim - Woodland
Pettersson - Has made himself into a very good PGA Tour player. Just isn't suited to golf in Europe.
Kim - I like this guy. has some game and could have a decent future over the next few years.
Woodland - Awful short game will cost him here. Will be going home on Friday night.
Selection: Take a punt on Kim.

12:59 3 Ball - Curtis - Casey - Immelman
Curtis - A bit of a resurgence this season for the former Open champ and do not discount this excellent putter.
Casey - I can barely bring myself to assess his chances. Let's just say they are non-existent.
Immelman - I'm not sure Trevor really has his game right at the moment.
Selection: This one is simple for Curtis.

13:10 3 Ball - Karlsson - Wilson - Grace
Karlsson - I don't like his swing and it will be all over the place if the wind blows.
Wilson - Showed his usual early season form. Off the boil since but is very accurate off the tee.
Grace - The star of the early part of the European Tour. A fraction off that since but has a lot of ability.
Selection: Go with Wilson here to surprise his playing partners.

13:21 3 Ball - English - Dyson - Fernandez-Castano
English - PGA Tour rookie who is proving to be a big hit. This is something else entirely though.
Dyson - Threatening to really light it up. Can he get that putter charged up?
Fernandez-Castano - Has a better chance than at most events as his shoddy putting is not under as much pressure at a links course.
Selection: Nice 3 ball that I just favour Dyson to nick.

13:32 3 Ball - Cabrera - Choi - Fisher
Cabrera - Form is irrelevant for the big fella. You just don't know what he is going to do. But rest assured this will be a week that he is trying.
Choi - The odd flicker of form and he most certainly has the tools to go well at Royal Lytham.
Fisher - Back to form but I struggle to see him winning.
Selection: Choi is a top choice on his way to better things.

13:43 3 Ball - Byrd - Bae - Quiros
Byrd - A danger to all when he is on. Consistent and could do OK if he gets off to a decent start.
Bae - This young Korean has a lot of promise but might not enjoy where his erratic driving takes him.
Quiros - Has gone flat at just the wrong time. Trouble is that if he starts slowly then his head goes.
Selection: Byrd is by far the safest bet here.

13:59 3 Ball - Colsaerts - Mahan - Senden
Colsaerts - Has come of age this season and has the game to win a major.
Mahan - His stats tell you exactly why this guy wins so often. He does everything very well.
Senden - Great ball striker who struggles to win. Will be a little upset at his last few holes last week.
Selection: A trio of brilliant ball strikers but I just favour Colsaerts in the conditions.

14:10 3 Ball - Van Pelt - Francesco Molinari - Muto
Van Pelt - Has a powerful game that could be useful on this course. Should have beaten Tiger a few weeks back but will still take plenty of confidence.
Molinari - Nobody hits it better off the tee. Can't see how he won't be right up there.
Muto - Not a leading light on the Japan Tour but has landed himself in a fancy 3 ball.
Selection: Take Molinari to continue his excellent form.

14:21 3 Ball - McIlroy - Oosthuizen - Bradley
McIlroy - His season hasn't been as disastrous as some are making out but there is some concern over his performances in the big tournaments.
Oosthuizen - Knows how to win an Open and so close at this years Masters. One to be on this week.
Bradley - Not the prep he was looking for at the Irish Open but respected for his determination to succeed.
Selection: Oosthuizen is my tip for this.

14:32 3 Ball - Fowler - Harrington - Trappel
Fowler - Finally got a win under his belt and has one of the best long games on the PGA Tour.
Harrington - You just get the feeling this perfectionist has been preparing meticulously for this week. Has a big chance.
Trappel - Top European amateur who will love this experience.
Selection: It's a close call as I like both of the main protagonists - but I just favour Harrington.

14:43 3 Ball - Donald - Mickelson - Ogilvy
Donald - I would like to say the world number one will love it at Royal Lytham but I just don't think he will.
Mickelson - Suddenly kicked into gear in the second round of the Scottish Open. Game is back but this is a different test.
Ogilvy - Solid season but no better. Missing a spark. Can get hot with the putter mind.
Selection: Take a tentative move towards Mickelson.

14:54 3 Ball - Stricker - Taniguchi - Anders Hansen
Stricker - His valiant attempt for four in a row at the John Deere is not good prep for a big week mentally.
Taniguchi - One of the top Japanese players and don't discount too easily.
Hansen - Has been in terrific form. Don't even consider him in the final round but early in tournaments he is dangerous.
Selection: Hansen has this all set up for him.

15:05 3 Ball - Hanson - Goosen - Allenby
Hanson - Has the long game for an Open test and could contend if he gets off to a good start.
Goosen - A couple of cracking rounds in France recently show he has still got the goods.
Allenby - Still consistent but just at a lower level now.
Selection: Go with the Goose to get off to a flyer.

15:16 3 Ball - Furyk - Oda - Jacobson
Furyk - A late start for Furyk. Assuming he has gotten over his US Open failure he could be a feature.
Oda - Reasonable Japan Tour player - no more no less.
Jacobson - Freddie is not everyones cup of tea but I think he is great and always good to have on your side. Terrific putter on his day.
Selection: Jacobson will sneak this.

15:27 3 Ball - Leishman - Snedeker - Noren
Leishman - A final round 62 a few weeks ago secured an extremely unlikely PGA Tour victory. Good ball striker may now progress further.
Snedeker - Hits the ball real clean but I don't know about his prowess around a course like this.
Noren - Doing everything but winning. Such a good powerful player to watch but has he blown himself out?
Selection: Take a chance on Leishman.

15:38 3 Ball - Romero - Kruger - Ramsay
Romero - Disappointed with Romero last week and not to be trusted until showing signs he is back.
Kruger - Gets the most out of his game. Usually a good starter of tournaments.
Ramsay - Likes the course and is usually very very accurate. Could be a surprise package.
Selection: Ramsay gets the nod in the belief he will keep it on the short stuff.

15:49 3 Ball - Potter Jnr. - Keenan - Georgiou
Potter Jnr - Won a couple of weeks ago but that is as good as it gets for Ted.
Keenan - I like this guys attitude. If he sticks to his game plan he could do alright.
Georgiou - South African who impressed in qualifying but remains to be seen how he does in this environment.
Selection: Keenan to surprise.

16:00 3 Ball - Troy Kelly - Madsen - Lahiri
Kelly - Very close a couple of weeks ago and probably has better game to suit here than the victor.
Madsen - Up and coming star. A lot of eyes will be on this young Dane to see how he performs.
Lahiri - Decent enough player in Asia and may just go better than you might at first think.
Selection: Really tricky call but I just favour Kelly.

16:11 3 Ball - Marksaeng - Hicks - Hall
Marksaeng - He has been around a while and has seen enough not to be too intimidated by this test.
Hicks - Has shown flashes of form throughout his career but has plenty to prove.
Hall - Came through a tough qualifying test to be here. Will be trying hard to make it worthwhile.
Selection: Marksaeng will take this easily.

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

Latest Masters Odds: Big Phil heads betting before final round

US Masters / Joe Dyer / 08 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Phil Mickelson enjoys himself on moving day

"Mickelson put in a real show of class on 'moving day', shooting six under on the back nine after parring the first nine holes to launch himself up the leaderboard to second place."

Phil Mickelson is a [2.72] shot to win the Masters for a fourth time, ahead of third round leader Peter Hanson and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Phil Mickelson is [2.72] on Betfair to make it Masters win no.4 with a tournament victory at Augusta tonight.

The pre-tournament third favourite put in a real show of class on 'moving day', shooting six under on the back nine after parring the first nine holes to launch himself up the leaderboard to second place.

He stands one shot back from Sweden's Peter Hanson - the 2010 Ryder Cup performer hitting a 65 to head the field at -9. Hanson is [5.2] to still be top of the pile at the conclusion of tonight's action.

If fending off Mickelson wasn't daunting enough, Hanson will also have to repel the challenge of former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. Two shots off the lead, the South African can be backed at [6.8] to add the Masters to his collection of Majors won.

Big-hitting Bubba Watson has the tools to go very low at Augusta and the market clearly thinks the three shots separating him from Hanson are not insurmountable. Watson is [10.0] to win the 2012 Masters.

Fellow American Matt Kuchar is one shot back of Watson and trades at [20.0], one tick shorter than Lee Westwood. The first round leader has stalled since his wonderful oening round and sits on -4, tied for sixth place with Hunter Mahan ([27.0]), Padraig Harrington ([36.0]) and surprise package Henrik Stenson (44.0]).

The gap beyond looks too big and no other player trades at under [100.0].

With just one round to go at Augusta National, nine players appear to hold a chance to win the year's first major. Steve Rawlings profiles each of the Masters hopefuls...

There's a whole host of drama to come at Augusta and Paul Krishnamurty has picked out a variety of ways to keep you that little bit more interested in the Augusta action with these four bets......

An intriguing Masters leaderboard awaits us this morning with any one of 30 players in with a chance of winning the tournament. Saturday is traditionally classed as moving day so who does Paul Krishnamurty expect to be rising up the...

Amazon Watches Center

Copa America Diary: Derided format has somehow produced a gripping final round

Copa America / Tim Vickery / 10 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Mario Yepes (left, pictured with Abel Aguilar) marshall his defensive unit to another clean sheet

"I never imagined I’d end up spending 17 years in Brazil, and I’m booked in for the next few as well. The sudden arrival of all the Brazilian journalists has caused me to reflect on how deep my roots in the country have become - 15 years with the same girl, and I’m even missing my dog."

Tim Vickery welcomes the arrival of the Brazilian press corps as Argentina begins to feel like home and the competition finally comes to life

It was like old times in the small hours of Friday night and Saturday morning on Radio 5Live's World Football Phone In.

For the past couple of years I've been using some flash internet programme, the BBC's internal skype, to broadcast in quality. But here in Cordoba the press centre closes early and the wi fi in my hotel doesn't work, so it was back to the crackly old phone line, as lovable as vinyl.

One person texted in with a criticism of the Copa America's format, where only four of the 12 teams are eliminated in the group phase. He clearly has a point. The ten South American nations could easily be split into two groups. Inviting two more on seems principally motivated by commercial reasons - chiefly access to Mexico's considerable TV audience.

This year, though, there have been so many draws that the final round of group games could turn into something of a thriller. Who would have thought, for example, that Argentina would still be scraping around for points going into their third match? And with the other groups also tight, there is the possibility that four points might not guarantee a place in the quarter-finals. Certainly that is a chance that Colombia cannot take as they get the final round under way against Bolivia in Santa Fe - where the unfortunate public have so far sat through two goalless draws.

Bolivia need to win - but it is unclear where they are going to find a goal. They were gifted one against Argentina, but their limitations were exposed when they tried something more ambitious against Costa Rica. Colombia have yet to concede and have hardly suffered any moments of danger. Their priority will be to maintain that defensive order - another clean sheet ensures their presence in the last eight.

Meanwhile, and these are words I never thought I'd write, it's been good to meet up with the Brazilian press in Cordoba. Taken together they can come across as a loud, boorish monster, but on an individual basis there are lots of familiar faces in there, people I know from previous carnivals, as we say in this part of the world. It's nice to be able to speak Portuguese again, instead of battling through with Spanish and having people think I'm Brazilian as soon as I open my mouth.

I never imagined I'd end up spending 17 years in Brazil, and I'm booked in for the next few as well. The sudden arrival of all the Brazilian journalists has caused me to reflect on how deep my roots in the country have become - 15 years with the same girl, and I'm even missing my dog, who I was manipulated into accepting by the joint power of my girlfriend and two stepdaughters. I suppose I should face it - Rio de Janeiro is my home now, though I can hardly wait to spend a month in London in a few weeks.

First, though, there's a Copa America to enjoy, and while it has yet to truly catch fire, I have been enjoying it. Earlier in the week Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez said that the real Copa gets underway when the quarter-finals kick off. But after two draws, he is one of many coaches sweating on the last game in his bid to reach the last eight. I'm expecting Colombia's Hernan Dario Gomez to be the first to see his side book their place, while Gustavo Quinteros and his Bolivia squad will be heading for the airport.

Bet of the day: ,Colombia to keep a clean sheet [1.92]

Bolivia must play to win and Tobias Gourlay fancies their final Group A opponents, Colombia, will catch them out as a result...

If it's Saturday, it's Cordoba for Tim Vickery who hits a new Argentinian town as the Copa America roadshow rolls on...

With five out of seven winners and a healthy profit on his match-by-match tipping so far, James Eastham is on a Copa America roll. Here he picks out the best wagers on Brazil's clash against Paraguay in Cordoba on Saturday....

Play Casino & Poker here

French Open Men's Draw: Five potential first round upsets

French Open Betting / Sean Calvert / 21 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

"In contrast to Verdasco, Monaco warmed up nicely with some fine displays in Dusseldorf this week and he has to be backed as the underdog here."

On the eve of the French Open, Sean Calvert selects five matches in which punters could find the first round value...

Marcos Baghdatis [1.8] v Frederico Gil [2.2]

After suffering a bout of flu a few months ago, Marcos's form has really taken a dive, with just two wins from 11 matches and six losses as odds-on favourite.

The Cypriot lost in the first round in his warm-up event in Nice to Julien Benneteau in straight sets and he hasn't won a set on the dirt since beating Alejandro Falla in Madrid.

His record at Roland Garros is also poor, with three first round losses from six starts and Baggy has never beaten anyone ranked higher than number 62 in the world at the tournament.

In two of his last three visits to the French Open, he's lost in straight sets in the first round and he was also beaten by Gil the last time they met.

That match was on Baggy's favoured hard-courts, so this one has upset written all over it with Gil posting wins over Gael Monfils and Florian Mayer already in 2011. Back the Portuguese at around [2.2]

Fernando Verdasco [1.78] v Juan Monaco [2.3]

Verdasco has had a really poor year so far and has dropped down to number 17 in the world rankings from being inside the top-10 this time last year.

And just when it looked like he was finding a bit of form in Rome, he blew three consecutive match points on his own serve against Robin Soderling and went on to lose the match.

His already brittle confidence must be shot now and what he doesn't want first up here is a match with Monaco, who has won five of their last six meetings and seven out of nine overall.

The Argentine has won all but one of their clay meetings and also won the only one at Roland Garros in 2006.

In contrast to Verdasco, Monaco warmed up nicely with some fine displays in Dusseldorf this week and he has to be backed as the underdog here.

Richard Gasquet v Radek Stepanek

By rights, Gasquet should be brimming with confidence after beating Roger Federer in Rome after being a set and a break down, but I won't be going anywhere near the [1.25] about him beating Steps in the first round here.

The Gasman's record at Roland Garros is atrocious, with four first round losses from seven starts and a solitary last 32 place his best result in Paris.

Gasquet has always struggled with the weight of expectancy and beating Federer win won't help in that regard.

The inconsistency is still there, with his first round loss against Daniel Gimeno-Traver in Madrid when around the same price as this one being a prime example.

Steps is not the force of old, but he does well here, with the last 16 being his best and he has just one first round loss from his seven visits to Roland Garros.

He loves an upset and stunned Fernando Gonzalez here in straight sets in 2007 when Gonzo was world number five, as well as beating Tommy Robredo in 2008.

The Czech's recent form is good, with a run to the semis in Munich before retiring with a leg injury, which is a concern, but he's still worth a punt at a handy price.

Daniel Gimeno-Traver [1.75] v Robin Haase [2.3]

This one should be tough for Gimeno-Traver against a big match, big occasion player such as Haase.

The Dutchman has only been beaten in the main draw of Slams by current or former top-10 players and the Spaniard is surely only favourite for this because he finally found some form in Madrid recently.

Prior to that run to the last 16 in Spain, he had lost 13 of 15 matches in 2011 and he's never beaten anyone ranked inside the top-90 in the world at Roland Garros.

GT's overall career record is 40 wins and 72 losses, which is hardly inspiring, but it's his record after losing the first set that leads me to question his temperament.

The Spaniard has won just seven of 70 matches when he's gone a set down and Haase rarely goes down without a fight in Slams, as his last three results show.

A four set loss to Andy Roddick in Melbourne followed a five set loss to Nadal at Wimbledon and another five setter at Roland Garros to Nico Almagro.

Haase was also a regular winner on clay on the Challenger circuit last year and has a win over Nikolay Davydenko on dirt this season, so all-in-all I think he could be value in this one.

Lleyton Hewitt [3.0] v Albert Montanes [1.5]

Hewitt makes his comeback after foot surgery at Roland Garros this week after three months out and Tony Roche is sure to have the former world number one spot on for this.

The Aussie's record at Roland Garros is very respectable, with only Rafa Nadal (four times!) David Ferrer, Gaston Gaudio, Tommy Robredo, Guillermo Canas and Juan Carlos Ferrero beating Hewitt here since 2001.

Montanes, despite being the higher ranked and being generally regarded as more proficient on the dirt, has been below par lately on the clay, with early losses in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome - the latter two in the first round.

The calibre of opponent that he's been losing to is a concern for Montanes backers, with Sergiy Stakhovsky, Pablo Andujar, and Feliciano Lopez all besting him on his favourite surface.

The pair have met twice before with Hewitt winning both and with their similar grinding styles, this could come down to mental strength with Hewitt likely to come out on top.

It's day one at Roland Garros and Ben Caudell is here to select the best bets and find the value that could give you a winning start......

The Boz tuned in to the French Open Women's draw on Friday and he's been at the form books ever since, working out his potential first round shocks. The following are his top five to turn over the odds....

She is the world number one but still doesn't have a Grand Slam singles title. Guy McCrea as if Caroline Wozniacki will end that wait at the French Open ......

Play Casino & Poker here

French Open Women's Draw: Five potential first round upsets

French Open Betting / Gary Boswell / 21 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Gary believes Vania King could cause an upset in round one

"No way would I want to back Cornet as favourite – even with the partisan crowd on her side. The value clearly lies with Voracova at around [2.6].

The Boz tuned in to the French Open Women's draw on Friday and he's been at the form books ever since, working out his potential first round shocks. The following are his top five to turn over the odds.

Vania King to beat Dominika Cibulkova - priced around [5.0]

Absolute monster price for what is essentially a very tight match up. The Slovakian 22- year-old Cibulkova is in good form and is arguably the greater clay court player but she has a 0-2 head to head to overcome and the first of those defeats was the classic match of three tie-breaks which tells you how close this one is to call. I'd have it [2.1] the pair.

The recent match, at the 2010 Australian Open, produced another close three setter which the American won 7-5 in the last. She has slid down the rankings a tad since those days and, with both wins on hard court, it's perhaps easy to overestimate the current 94 ranked player as she attempts to dump the seed. The price being so wrong as a reflection of the difference between them makes me want to bet! I can't resist such an over generous offer.

Romani Oprandi to beat Ekaterina Makarova - priced around [3.2]

If you take the previous form between 77 ranked Italian Oprandi and 36 ranked Russian Makarova literally you can only make one favourite. Oprandi holds a 2-0 head to head score and both wins came back in 2006 on her favoured clay surface that they'll meet on here. In the first three sets between the two, Makarova won only four games, going down 6-1 6-3 and 6-0 before rallying to tie ten games all in the two final sets of the three set match in Denain.

The Russian was only 17 then and pretty green and of course she has improved immeasurably since and passed her 25-year-old opponent in the rankings but that head to head form is never forgotten and always influential. Oprandi comes in to the game knowing how to beat Makarova and beat her convincingly while Makarova comes in with the reverse feeling and the pressure on her to justify her revised rating since last they met.

That's a strong reason for taking the lesser ranked player in my book, especially when you are being offered such a price differential.

Renata Voracova to beat Alize Cornet - priced at around [2.6]

For 122 ranked Czech Voracova, this is a first appearance at Roland Garros and she is likely to be in the bear pit against local heart throb Alize Cornet who has herself slipped to a lowly 80 ranking after 12 months of indifferent form. Back in 2007, great things were forecast for the 21-year-old French woman as she triumphed in the junior French Open. She's lost her way a fair bit since then and has an unimpressive head to head against the 27-year-old to boot. Defeats at Poiters in 2007 and Linz in 2010 were both in straight sets and Cornet has that ability to simply not turn up. No way would I want to back her as favourite - even with the partisan crowd on her side in this (just as much a negative as a positive depending on how well you are playing). The value clearly lies in the debutante at around [2.6].

Kirsten lipkens to beat Lucie Safarova priced around [4.8]

The diminutive Belgian has dropped to 96 in the rankings but can be fancied to overcome the odds against 24-year-old Czech Safarova who has a serve to die for and claims to like the clay. That liking is not transparent to this observer who might fancy her to take this on grass but can see the weakness in Safarova's groundstrokes being influential in the outcome here. Flipkens keeps it low and I remember watching their only previous meeting at Estoril back in 2008 where it was a closely contested affair, won 7-5 6-4 by the Belgian who exerted with her return.

When the Safarova serve is not dominating, she is not a difficult opponent to master and I seriously fancy the reverse here despite the huge gulf in current rankings. Value once more lies in taking on the 37 ranked Czech.

Pauline Parmentier to beat Ksenia Pervak - priced around [2.2]

Can't pretend to have seen much of the new Russian on the block - 19 year old Ksenia Pervak - about whom I've heard several dogs barking of late. Her 88 ranking tells me she is not yet that exciting however and this is one where the home support might work in underdog Parmentier's favour. The French player also boasts much greater match experience and in 2009 she was able to blow the diminutive Pervak away 6-2 6-3 in Barnstaple. That will do for me at the odds on offer. The least confident of my picks but another slice of value nevertheless.

Recommended bet is level stakes singles - all five with one, two or three needed to prevail to successfully register a profit.

It's day one at Roland Garros and Ben Caudell is here to select the best bets and find the value that could give you a winning start......

On the eve of the French Open, Sean Calvert selects five matches in which punters could find the first round value......

She is the world number one but still doesn't have a Grand Slam singles title. Guy McCrea as if Caroline Wozniacki will end that wait at the French Open ......

Play Casino & Poker here

Will Greenwood: Round four treble

Match Previews / Will Greenwood / 09 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will doesn't fancy facing this man - but is he playing in his best position?

"The match in Cardiff is probably the pick of the round four games. It should be a cracker as two sides heading in the right direction come face to face."

Last time out Will Greenwood rewarded backers by landing a 14/1 treble - can he pull off the same trick in round four?

Readers of this column know two things about me: I landed a 14/1 treble in round three and I have a lot of love for Italy. Here's where those two facts combine.

Italy are a massive [16.0] to beat France but they have performed admirably in their two games at home, causing problems for Ireland and Wales. I was gutted when Ronan O'Gara slotted that drop goal in round one to deny the Italian's a deserved victory. They possess excellent players and I've been impressed by Alberto Sgarbi as well as Sergio Parisse and Mirco Bergamasco. The latter pair play their club rugby in France so they know all about Saturday's opposition and will work hard to spread belief amongst the squad.

The French would need to slip-up in pursuit of a big win and everything would have to fall just right for the Italians.

But - and you knew there was a but coming - one of the golden rules of gambling is that in the event of a big win, you should not, repeat not, then go out and blow the winnings on a risky wager. I'd be delighted to see the look on the Italy players' faces when they finally win a big game. I hope that happens this Saturday but in the end the French will have too much and I have to back them to win a tight contest.

The match in Cardiff is probably the pick of the round four games. It should be a cracker as two sides heading in the right direction come face to face.

Both Wales and Ireland are at fascinating junctures, both within a gnat's whisker of being very good teams. The Welsh have shown glimpses of brilliance in their last two matches while the Irish are attempting to rediscover the fluidity that landed them the Grand Slam two years ago.

Ireland have named an unchanged side and I'm delighted to see Paul O'Connell getting back to his brilliant best. For Wales, the cavalry has arrived, with Jonathan Davies and Leigh Halfpenny set to start as James Hook moves to fly-half. Hook is a fantastic player but I actually prefer to see him in the centre. As a former number 12, I wouldn't fancy playing against him.

This one really is very close to call. That's reflected in the odds, with home advantage making Wales [1.94] favourites and Ireland at [2.12]. If ever there was a chance of landing the draw [23.0] this could be it so you might consider getting a fiver on. Over all, I think the Millenium crowd will give Wales the extra advantage to get over the line, so I'm backing the home side to win by less than 12.5 points at [2.22].

Will Greenwood's Six Nations Treble:
Back England to beat Scotland by over 12.5 points @ [1.34].
Back France to beat Italy by under 12.5 points @ [2.52]
Back Wales to beat Ireland by under 12.5 points @ [2.22]

*

To follow Will on Twitter click here and to visit his website click here.

Will explains why he anticipates a miserable return to Twickenham for Andy Robinson and why opponents around the world fear this England team....

Last time out Will Greenwood rewarded backers by landing a 14/1 treble - can he pull off the same trick in round four?...

Geoffrey Riddle suffered with the Scots a fortnight ago. So can they bounce back at Murrayfield against Ireland and where will our man put his money this time?...

Play Casino & Poker here

Will Greenwood: Round three treble

Match Previews / Will Greenwood / 23 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Sam Warburton has impressed Will so far

"Scotland need to up their game for a huge clash against Ireland..."

Will's backing England at [2.46] to beat France by less than 12.5 points but what bets is he adding from Wales v Italy and Scotland v Ireland?

I admit that I was surprised by Wales' victory over Scotland - you know I was because I lost my bet - but that's the beauty of sport. I was mightily impressed by their defensive intensity and I believe Sam Warburton may be the best number seven in the Championship so far. Which is saying something when you consider that he's filling the shoes of Martyn Williams.

Italy were torn apart by a clinical England side and, as somebody with a lot of affection for the Italians, I hope they weren't traumatised by the experience. I don't think that's likely under Nick Mallet and back at the Stadio Flamino they will make things difficult for Warren Gatland's men.

I expect Italy to pile in from the start and make things difficult as they did against Ireland. Wales should take control of the game in the second half, making their possession pay between the 50th and 70th minutes. I'm backing them to win by less than 12.5 points at 2.4.

I was disappointed for Scotland and Andy Robinson but they only had themselves to blame for their defeat against the Welsh. They were absolutely terrible, no excuses, it was a lame performance and, while Wales were strong at times, Scotland pressed every self-destruct button available. They let themselves and their supporters down.

They need to up their game for a huge clash against Ireland but perhaps fans need to put things in perspective. Limited in playing numbers and professional teams, perhaps the wins should be enjoyed more than the losses mourned. I don't fancy their chances of beating Ireland. Put in a good performance, be brave against England and try and pick off the Italians and avoid the wooden spoon on the final weekend.

Ireland were beaten last time out too but they have enough about them to come back at Murrayfield and record their second win of the campaign. Back Ireland to win by -12.5 points at [2.4].

Recommended bets:
Back England to win by -12.5 points @ [2.46]
Back Wales to win by -12.5 points @ [2.4]
Back Ireland to win by -12 points @ [2.4]

To back Will Greenwood's Six Nations Round three treble click here.

To follow Will on Twitter click here and to visit his website click here.

Two out of two for England and so far so good for Will Greenwood's bets on Johnno's men. But Saturday's match against France poses a big test to their Grand Slam ambitions and their aim of becoming one of the...

Will's backing England at [2.46] to beat France by less than 12.5 points but what bets is he adding from Wales v Italy and Scotland v Ireland?...

Geoffrey Riddle selects the best bets as two of the most formidable sides in the competition go head to head at the Aviva Stadium this Sunday......

Play Casino & Poker here

FA Cup Betting: All the latest odds after the fifth round draw

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 20 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Wazza faces Arsenal earlier this season

"United are favourites for Wembley glory at the moment and can be backed at [3.85] to lift the trophy, Arsenal are [5.5]."

An FA Cup classic is on the cards after Arsenal/Leyton Orient were pulled out of the hat to face Manchester United in the fifth round

The FA Cup is likely to see a clash between the two teams at the top of the betting after Manchester United were given a home tie against the winner of the Leyton Orient-Arsenal tie. The two London teams are set to replay following a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road this afternoon.

Should Arsenal get through, the mega-clash will pit together the two most successful clubs in the history of the competition with 21 wins between them.

United are favourites for Wembley glory and can be backed at [3.85] to lift the trophy, Arsenal are [5.5]. Next up is Manchester City - 5-0 conquerors of Notts County today - at [6.0].

Just one other team, Everton, trade in single figures ([9.2]). Reading ([160.0]) are next up for the Toffees, who would then play the winners of City's tussle with Aston Villa ([22.0]).

Stoke's reward for a 3-0 defeat of Brighton is a home tie against West Ham ([30.0]) or Burnley ([90.0]), who play on Monday night. The Potters are fifth favourites at [13.5].

Carling Cup finalists Birmingham ([18.0]) meet Bolton ([18.0]), 1-0 conquerors of Fulham, in the other quarter-final fixture.

To view the full list of odds click here

An FA Cup classic is on the cards after Arsenal/Leyton Orient were pulled out of the hat to face Manchester United in the fifth round...

Leyton Orient pull off a classic cup performance as [1.04] Arsenal are denied while five-star Manchester City sink Paul Ince's Notts County...

County's cup run should finish here, says Feizal Rahman, who has dug up a few bets to accompany that eventuality...

Play Casino & Poker here

Will Greenwood's Six Nations Treble: Round two

Match Previews / Will Greenwood / 09 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Gordon D'Arcy had a shocker in Rome

"Wales are in serious trouble and, if they lose to Scotland, my wooden spoon bet on Italy will be in jeopardy."

Last week, Will Greenwood missed out on an opening weekend treble by half a point. This week he's determined to pull off the hat-trick, but will the World Cup winner play safe or back a points extravaganza?

I was part of an England side that lost their opening Six Nations match in France in 1998 and it's a real test of a team to see if they can bounce back. Fortunately, we managed it with a big win over Wales at Twickenham but as a player you feel desperate after losing your opener.

That's the situation facing both Wales and Scotland when they meet at Murrayfield on Saturday. The away side are in serious trouble and, if they lose - which Betfair punters expect them to - my wooden spoon bet on Italy will be in jeopardy. I have to say, odds of 5.5 on the Welsh finishing bottom of the pile are quite appealing.

Scotland scored three tries in Paris and many people believe they are a strong side. But if the French had been more clinical with their final pass, they could have won by 50 points. I would have predicted a home win in this match by seven to nine points but we could see a fair few tries at Murrayfield and, if you fancy backing a points extravaganza, you could bet on Scotland to win by over 12.5 points at [3.15]. That would be a ballsy move, and the Scots will be buoyed by their performance in Cardiff last year, but I don't think they'll trounce the Welsh so I'm going to back Scotland with a handicap of 2.5 points at [1.81].

I'm currently turning out for a veterans team and even our coach would have pulled off Gordon D'Arcy on Saturday. The Ireland centre had a shocker in Rome but, with Declan Kidney's squad decimated by injuries, he should get a chance to redeem himself in what will be cracking game against France.

This is the first Six Nations match to be played at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin and I expect the home side to rise to the occasion. It's important to remember that Leinster have already beaten Clermont there this season and I'd be taking that as the form line for this match rather than recent internationals.

At times France were ridiculously good against Scotland but Ireland were holding something back against Italy and [2.62] is a great price for a home win.

Will Greenwood's Six Nations Treble:
Back England -22.5 points @ [2.04]
Back Scotland -2.5 @ [1.81]
Back Ireland @ [2.62]

To follow Will on Twitter click here and to visit his website click here.

Play Casino & Poker here