Ed's Betting Blog

Wales vs. Scotland

2009-11-11T13:05:00.002+01:00

This is one of the oldest international footballing rivals in the world as both Scotland and Wales have a long history of playing each other dating all the way back to 25 March 1876 in Glasgow. Scotland was victorious that day with 4-0 and since then Scotland have beaten Wales 60 times out of 103 outings. Wales won 20 times while 23 resulted in a draw. The 104 meeting between Wales and Scotland will be played in the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales Coach John Toshack has to re-adjust his squad after Manchester City striker Bellamy, Aston Villa defender Collins, West Ham's Collison, Blackpool's David Vaughan and Fulham's Davies have all withdrawn with injuries. Toshack has called up Earnshaw, Joe Allen and Darcy Blake while Cardiff City right-back Adam Matthews and St Mirren midfielder Andy Dorman could deputize against Scotland. Rookie Swansea City Under-19 goalkeeper David Cornell was surprised to be called up to replace injured Hull City keeper Boaz Myhill. Wales looks likely to put forward a team of second string but Toshack will certainly make sure his players are geared up for the challenge.

Scotland, under George Burley, have improved and slowly finding their stride in the European stages despite missing out of the qualification to the World Cup finals. Burley knows that Scotland have the potential as the selection of Scottish players have become more competitive and fiercest over the past year. Scotland will travel to Cardiff City Stadium without Rangers duo Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker and Burley has replaced them with Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam and Birmingham’s James McFadden.

On paper it might just look like a friendly match but once these two teams get on the field, there will be no love lost between them. Last time these two teams met Rob Earnshaw’s hat trick provide Wales rumbling Scotland 4-0 in the Millennium Stadium in February 2004. Scotland are weak favorites as they have been playing well under George Burley and they could revenge for their defeat incurred to them 5 years ago.

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Brazil vs. England

2009-11-11T12:59:00.003+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

A friendly might be the last thing on some of the players who are guaranteed to go to the World Cup next summer in South Africa. Both Brazilian Coach Dunga and England Coach Capello wanted to test a few more players out before the summer tournament starts. Both teams have already qualified so it will be an anxious wait for the World Cup draws in the beginning of next month. Apart from that, there is this international friendly to get past first.

Brazil Head Coach Dunga will not be taking this match lightly as he named a strong 24-man party to face England. He has taken a number of Brazil’s English-based players like Manchester City Robinho, Liverpool’s duo Fabio Aurelio and Luca while the several star players like Kaka, Daniel Alves, Luis Fabiano, Lucio, Diego and Hulk. Dunga has given a call up to Palermo Fabio Simplicio to replace thigh injury Benfica Rameries. Brazil is also contesting with Roma to release injured pair Doni and Juan.

Coach Fabio Capello has taken the opportunity to call up Sunderland striker, Darren Bent, Stephen Warnock and Tom Huddlestone to replace injured players to Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Aaron Lennon and Carlton Cole. Another name missing from the English squad is David Beckham as he will miss the friendly after his team, LA Galaxy, reached the Major League Soccer Western Conference Final. Surprisingly, Capello have decided not to include former Liverpool players, Michael Owen and David James for the trip to Doha.

No matter what the outcome of this match, it will be one of those games that will give us a flavor of what will be coming this summer. England could find themselves trying out a few new players in Doha but expect a strong Brazilian team as Dunga does not like losing. Last time it ended 1-1 in Wembley stadium and a draw this time won’t suit the occasion.

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Real Madrid - Alcorcon

2009-11-10T16:26:00.003+01:00

Even though the best teams in Spain don’t care too much about Copa del Rey, not only will Real Madrid try to win the game but to humiliate the opponents if possible. They simply need to show a response after the 4:0 defeat in the first leg. To concede four goals to a third division side is an embarrassment for any Primera team let alone Real Madrid that boast some of the best players in the world.

One of the biggest clubs in the world were humiliated two weeks ago and they now need to make amends. It seems as though Kaka and Van Nilsterooy will start and possibly Higuain. Even though Pellegrini doesn’t count on several players from one reason or another, he’s got more than enough quality players at his disposal. Guti’s been on the fringes for a while, whereas Benzema, Casillas, Alonso, Drenthe and Metzelder are also out. Ronaldo remains sidelined, while Ramos is suspended after picking up a red card against Atletico. Almost entire team will be watching the game from the stands but if Real cannot overturn the deficit against the third division side even with their second string side, then Copa del Rey is the least of their problems.
Real players looked completely indifferent in the first leg, which was something the hosts knew how to exploit and record a memorable win. It seems that the defeat acted as a wake-up call and the team haven’t lost since. Los Merengues defeated bitter rivals Atletico last weekend in what was a very tensed affair. They almost squandered the three-goal lead after Sergio Ramos was sent off and had to settle for a 3:2 win.

What can I say about a side from Spanish third division? To be honest, I hadn’t even heard of them before they were paired with Real in Copa del Rey. That would have probably not changed if it hadn’t been for the now famous match from two weeks ago. They are sitting six points clear of Real B in the third division but are far from the top of the standings. The win over Real was definitely the most important event in their history but we are yet to see if they can remain under the spotlight for a bit longer. We have no doubts they will give their best in this match and try to extend the Copa del Rey run, and the first match showed they weren’t afraid of all Real stars.

The bookies are offering pretty big margins for Asian handicap. Real remain the favourites to go through but they will be under a heavy pressure and missing plenty of first team players. The visitors will be looking to score at least one goal on the break and they look likely to succeed. I believe Real will go through and score at least five goals but it is much safer betting on over 4.5 goals than backing the hosts to beat a high handicap. The pitch at Santiago Bernabeu is much bigger than the one at Alcorcon and that will help the hosts a great deal.
Bet 8 on over 4.5 goals at 2.00 at Sportingbet

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Hoffenheim - Wolfsburg highlight

2009-11-10T16:19:00.002+01:00

1-0 Ibisevic 23'

1-1 Misimovic 52'

1-2 Grafite 57'

Sportsbook Betting Preview – November 9-12

2009-11-09T22:57:00.000+01:00

After a busy sportsbook weekend, online betting players really don’t have much time to catch their breath as the action kicks off this week with some Monday night football betting, and there’s always action on the ice and the hardwood to get you by until the weekend.

Monday Night Football Betting

Steelers vs Broncos odds (Monday, 8:30 PM ET) are backing Pittsburgh on the road by 2.5 points, and the Steelers are coming off a bye week while Denver lost their first game of the year to Pittsburgh’s AFC North rivals, Baltimore. Then, the Thursday action begins this week as Bears vs 49ers odds (Thursday, 8:20 PM ET) favor San Francisco at home by a field goal, and both are coming off losses. The way these teams have looked of late, the NFL odds of neither team looks that promising for the rest of the year.

NBA Betting

Nuggets vs Bulls odds (Tuesday, 8:00 PM ET) will see Denver trying to halt a two-game skid as they continue a lengthy road trip, while the young Bulls have won three in a row and should be sportsbook favorites at home.

Cavaliers vs Magic odds (Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET) features a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference finals, and the Magic should be favored at home as Cleveland is off to a slow start to their campaign as online betting favorites in the East.

For Thursday’s televised doubleheader, there is no shortage of stars when it comes to Cavaliers vs Heat odds (8:00 PM ET) or Suns vs Lakers odds (10:30 PM ET). In the first game, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade will have the spotlight on them, but remember: Cleveland’s Shaquille O’Neal helped Wade and the Heat to the title in 2006. In the late game, the top two teams in the Pacific conference will take the court, with the focus on Phoenix’s Steve Nash and the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, both former MVP winners.

NHL Betting

Thursday is a big night for sportsbook players on the ice, particularly in the Atlantic Division as Thrashers vs Rangers odds (7:00 PM ET) get it started in New York. Philadelphia are trying to keep pace in the division, and Senators vs Flyers odds (7:00 PM ET) should back them at home. Finally, the division leaders from New Jersey and Pittsburgh wrap up the action, and Devils vs Penguins odds (7:30 PM ET) should favor Sidney Crosby and company at home as you go to make your betting picks.

Online Betting Preview – November 6-8

2009-11-06T23:09:00.000+01:00

Online betting players have a lot of sportsbook options this weekend, as there is tons of football, along with the NBA, NHL, and the eighth race of the Chase in NASCAR.

NFL Betting

Ravens vs Bengals odds (1:00 PM ET): The Ravens would love to avenge a home loss to the Bengals earlier this year, and they’re surprising online betting favorites on the road, which may spark Cincinnati.

Texans vs Colts odds (1:00 PM ET): The Colts are still unbeaten, and they’ll be favored against the Texans, who trail Indy by two games in the AFC South.

Cowboys vs Eagles odds (8:20 PM ET): Both of these NFC East teams are hot right now, but it’s the Eagles who are home favorites as they face a Tony Romo-led offense that is clicking on all cylinders.

NCAA Football Betting

LSU vs Alabama odds (3:30 PM ET): The No.3 Crimson Tide are favored to end their four-game losing streak at home against the No.9 Tigers, and Alabama coach Nick Saban would love to get a win over the program he led to the 2003 national title.

Ohio State vs Penn State odds (3:30 PM ET): In what should be a typically hard-hitting Big Ten matchup, the No.11 Nittany Lions are favored at home against the No.16 Buckeyes, whose offense has stuttered this year behind Terrelle Pryor, who may still go as one of the top NFL picks in the draft when he leaves Ohio State.

NBA Betting

Nuggets vs Heat odds (Friday, 7:30 PM ET): The unbeaten Nuggets head to South Beach, and two of the NBA’s biggest stars are on display as Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Miami’s Dwyane Wade figure to light up the Florida sky.

Nuggets vs Hawks odds (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET): If they can get past Miami, the Nuggets have a tough online betting opponent waiting in Atlanta, who won four of their first five games of the season.

NHL Betting

Penguins vs Sharks odds (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET): As of Friday, these two were leading the NHL in points, along with Colorado. The Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup champions, while the Sharks have been known to be an online betting flake when it comes to the playoffs.

NASCAR Betting

It would be a gutsy online betting player to go against Jimmie Johnson, the favorite for the Dickies 500 (Sunday, 3:15 PM ET). Johnson finished second to teammate Jeff Gordon in the spring at Texas Motor Speedway, and a win here would essentially clinch his record fourth straight title, so watch for him when making a sports bet online.

Hoffenheim - Wolfsburg

2009-11-06T14:42:00.003+01:00

These two teams marked the last season in Bundesliga. Hoffenheim were league debutants that proved their quality and clearly stated that they won't settle for mere survival. They were even on the top of the pile in the first part of the season and who knows what cold have happened, if Ibisevic didn't get injured and missed the second part of the season. Wolfsburg used Hoffenheim's dip in form and Bayern's underperforming to earn the title in Bundesliga last year. They are very good this season and it would be no surprise if they defended the title.

Last season Hoffenheim managed to beat the wolves at home and they will try to do the same now. Ibisievic will again be the biggest threat. Hosts' best scorer has already scored four goals but he couldn't have done it without the big help of Obasi and Ba. The appetites of the club are bigger than last season and this year they are aiming at Europe.
Hoffenheim are a perfect example of how huge investments can create a successful club in a short time. They didn’t spend the money on big names without a plan. Ibisevic arrived to the club before the club got promoted to Bundesliga, which is the perfect example of the excellent scouting. Already in the first season, several players showed their full potential and much bigger clubs are interested in them, but Hoffenheim decided to keep them. Everyone in the club hopes that perhaps this season already they might just reach trophy.
Obasi and Ba will probably miss the game, which might be a problem for the hosts, but Hoffenheim showed on various occasions that their play doesn’t depend on one or two players.

Last season Wolfsburg fought a title and surprised everyone. Before the start of the season, no one gave them much chance but they were brilliant in the second part and reached the top spot in the finish. The prize was the debut in the Champions League, where they are also doing great so far. Few days ago they ran over Besiktas in Istanbul. This win showed that this team have a great attack and it was a big boost after two draws in Bundesliga. Misimovic is the best scorer of the tam together with new signing Martins. Misimovic confirmed to be one of the best Bundesliga players and he is not only one of the top scorers but he is also one of the best assistants in the league.
In the last league match they managed to score three goals but they allowed Mainz to take a point. The attack is flawless but there are some problems in defense. Still, when you have such a mighty attack, minor problems in defense are not that bad. Wolfsburg are five points behind the league leaders, so they must attack from the start. Wolfsburg can't play differently anyway. The great news is that Grafite should also be in the team. He missed the match against Besiktas but he will be a big boost for the team in this match.

Just like last season we expect an open match with plenty of goals and great football show. Both teams are offensive-minded and can’t defend, so it is no wonder that online bookmakers lowered the odds for over 2.5 goals to 1.6. I admit these it is not a tempting offer and if you are willing to risk bet on over 3.5 goals. This will be a big fight and a great game, so don’t miss it.
Bet 7 on over 2.5 goals at 1.60 at Expekt

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English football betting tips

2009-11-06T11:08:00.002+01:00

Manchester City have faltered somewhat of late and they’ve drawn their last four Premier League fixtures. They should put that right on Saturday afternoon when Burnley make the short journey to Eastlands. I have been impressed with Burnley in all honesty but I just don’t think they’ll be able to get anything out of Manchester City – especially as they have lost every game on their travels so far. At 1.35 (1/3) you won’t see a massive return on your investment but it looks a safe bet to me.

My final two betting tips come from Sunday’s English fixture list. One team who are in real danger of relegation are Hull City and they just don’t look as if they have what is needed in them to survive in the Premier League. Stoke City are the visitors to Hull’s KC Stadium on Sunday and I reckon Stoke will come away with all three points. They beat Spurs on their last away day and they should be able to increase the pressure on under fire Hull boss Phil Brown. At 2.64 (13/8) Stoke are the favourites and they should secure an important three points on their travels.

West Ham picked up their first home win of the season against Aston Villa on Wednesday night. Sometimes when a team has gone a while without winning then they manage to get one it can start a run and they welcome and injury hit Everton to Upton Park on Sunday afternoon. Everton also played during the week and they are really suffering from injuries at the moment, while West Ham really impressed me against Aston Villa. This is quite a big call but at 2.62 (13/8) I reckon West Ham are worth a nibble and they are very much capable of seeing off Everton.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Cheltenham 2010 betting tips for Betfair.

Toulouse - Shakhtar highlight

2009-11-06T11:03:00.002+01:00

Which League to Bet on? Bettingexpert.com Reveals

2009-11-05T13:54:00.004+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

Bettingexpert.com have been active with many sporting previews, casinos previews, twitter, forums and bonus/promotions lately and now they have an interesting report recently released on their website. They give an insight to what their registered tipsters picked in season 2008/2009 for different sporting events. It is certainly a must to read of the interesting article for those of you who are looking for good bets in a season and some advices before putting your hard earn cash on an event.

The report is call "A betting report for the 2008/2009 season" and in the report, Bettingexpert.com have collected all the picks in season 2008/09 across different sports and leagues, such as football, tennis, speedway, ice hockey and baseball etc. and analyze them to give an idea about which leagues and sports its best to bet on. Our report reveals the statistic for season 2008/09 “10 Best leagues to bet on” and the “10 Worst Leagues to Bet on”. Where you can check the different yielding picks between German Bundesliga vs. Spanish La Liga or the English Premiership vs. UEFA Champions League.

You can read the report here and if you want to leave a comment please feel free to do so at this blog.

The main take away from the report is that the bookmakers seem to be a lot better at estimating correct odds for German football than Spanish football. Of course, there is a lot more there for you to digest. So look carefully in the season 2009/2010 as the Bettingexpert.com tipsters could help you in picking the right team, right league and at the right time.

Lazio vs. AC Milan

2009-11-05T13:49:00.003+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

Two Milan teams will battle it out against two Rome teams on Sunday, AC Milan will be traveling to Rome to face Lazio in Stadio Olimpico, while Roma goes to the San Siro to fight it out against Inter later that Sunday evening. AC Milan recent form suggest that they are in the driving seat and they have a good record against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio could very much be feeling that the heavy schedule is taking the toll of their recent dip of form in all fronts. Their latest management change in the manager seat could well suggest that there is a need of positive result in the domestic front. The appointment of Marco Baroni yield only a point last weekend against Siena and he will have a chance to get all three points in front of his own fans against Milan. Lazio’s Simone Del Nero, Ousmane Dabo and Mourad Meghni are all injured.

Milan is on the road to recover from a bad spell earlier this season. They are now fourth in the Serie A with 19 point, just 2 points from the second and third spot while trailing league leaders, Inter, by 9 points. Things are looking up for Manager Leonardo as his team drew 1-1 in the midweek against Real Madrid and from time to time, they played wonderful direct passing football. Leonardo will most likely travel to Rome without Daniele Bonera, Christian Abbiati, Marco Storari, Alessandro Nesta, Marek Jankulovski and Oguchi Onyewu as they are all nursing their injuries. Milan could see the partnership between Borriello and Pato flourish in the Stadio Olimpico. Milan have not lost to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico since 1997/98 and that was 10 games ago. Last two visit to the capital’s light blue half resulted in a 5-1 win and the latest 3-0 win, Milan loves to get their points here. Lazio are having a tight time and could they be ready after traveling to Spain in the midweek? Check out Betsson as they are offering 2.30 for a Milan win.

Read the report on Bettingexpert.com called “A betting report for the 2008/2009 season“ and the tipsters might be able to help you decide where you want to bet.

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Current world cup betting odds

2009-11-04T14:25:00.003+01:00

Ahead of the World Cup qualifying play-off games which are taking place on November 14th and 18th, there has not been much change at the top of the list for the outright winners of the South Africa 2010 World Cup. The cream of the crop usually rises to the top, and that is the way it has been throughout the world qualifying zones, for the most part. As all places are not finally settled yet, with 8 teams alone in Europe battling it out for places, some of the teams involved like Portugal, France and Russia may be at slightly longer odds than they will be at the point, when, and if they get through. This means that it is a good chance to get some extra value for money by backing them early.

Spain and Brazil have led the way in odds for some time now, with the strong Europeans running out a flawless qualifying campaign in their Group. Current World Cup Betting Odds show no movement away from those two teams. The Euro 2008 winners will draw a lot of money at the Bookmakers over the coming months, because with their Euro 2008 win, it proved to a lot of doubters that they had the gusto to go all the way in a competition, something which their talent has never lived up to before. They had always been a hit and miss national team, but now Spanish football is in its prime, with the dominance of teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid at European club level. They will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

With the large amount of qualifying teams coming from the European zone, it is no surprise that European football is dominant in the list of current World Cup Betting Odds. Aside from Brazil, the only non-European teams to break into the top ten with the Bookies are Argentina, who legend Maradona lead to qualification by the skin of his teeth, and the Ivory Coast. There is a lot of talk around football circles, that World 2010 represents the best ever chance of an African nation genuinely challenging for the pinnacle of soccer honours, and the Ivory Coast will be leading the way.

Back home, England are a good price across the board, and represents just how far coach Fabio Capello has taken the squad forward. With only one defeat in qualifying, England secured their place in World Cup 2010 and will head there as one of the favourites, well ahead of the likes of Germany, Italy, France and Russia, the latter two still having to navigate their way through qualification play-offs. The Republic of Ireland are also involved, but are ranked at 250/1 outsiders as they square off against the French in the two-leg playoff contest.

Online Betting Odds on the World Cup 2010:

Spain - 9/2 at Bet365
Brazil - 5/1 at Paddy Power
England - 6/1 at Totesport
Argentina - 10/1 Blue Square
Germany - 12/1 at Bet365
Italy - 14/1 Stan James
Holland - 14/1 at William Hill
Portugal - 25/1 at Boylesports
*France - 25/1 at Stan James
Ivory Coast - 33/1 at Bet365
*Russia - 33/1 at SkyBet

*Involved in qualification playoffs.

Toulouse - Shakhtar

2009-11-04T14:03:00.002+01:00

Shakhtar continue defending the title. The next task is the away leg against Toulouse, after winning easily at home two weeks ago. The French team still haven't found the form from last year but rarely any French team manage to play few good seasons in a row.

As soon as some of them get hold of Europe, the problems occur. Toulouse are no exception. They obviously don’t have enough players for two competitions and it is no wonder they are at the bottom in French Ligue 1 now. The attack is still not working, though they did improve lately. They managed to win few games and fight a point at Velodrome even though they were outnumbered. Thanks to the first-round win in Belgrade, they are still in the game, but they have nothing to hope for in this match. The visitors are defending champions that have the quality for the Champions League.
The hosts will definitely start with caution and they will be more than satisfied if they fight a point. Still, the French side won’t defend only, but they will wait for their chance in the counterattack and use any chance they get. Home crowd will certainly be a big boost, but Shakhtar have shown many times that they don't let such things affect them.

Ukrainians have only one aim this season. To play in the Champions League next season. They won’t underestimate this competition, especially because the domestic championship is not that strong, so there is no need to rest the players. On the contrary, they will field the strongest line up and show why they are the champions, for those who don’t know yet. They scored 12 goals in the first three games and they could have scored even more if they wanted to. The difference between the Ukrainian team and the rest of the teams from the group is huge and obvious.
Attacking style with short passes, excellent wingers and killer strikers…you simply never now where the danger is coming from. They play patiently and slowly surround the opposite net and it is only a matter of time when they will score. Only Barcelona managed to beat them this season and even they needed extra time. A win in this match would definitely secure them a place in the next round so they will go for a win.

The difference in the quality is simply too big so the French have nothing to hope for. Betting odds are too high if you ask me. Anything over 2.00 on away win is a gift that must be used. If you like to risk try betting on the visitors with a handicap. I believe that Shakhtar will once again demonstrate force and it would be no surprise if we see four or five goals inside hosts’ net.
Bet 8 on away win at 2.20 at PaddyPower

If you don’t know where to watch this match, go online at Bet365 website and all you need is an account with deposit and you will be able to watch this exciting football match at www.bet365.com.

‘David Vs Goliath’ boxing betting preview

2009-11-04T10:12:00.002+01:00

On Saturday November 7 Britain’s David Haye takes on the giant Russian WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World Nikolai Valuev. At over 7ft Valuev dwarfs the 6ft2in Haye but amazingly Haye is the favourite with the online boxing betting odds at 1.72 (8/11), with Valuev at 2.46 (6/4). This could perhaps be because so much money has gone on Haye that the odds have shortened, because this is by no means an easy fight for the Brit.

Having fought most of his career at cruiserweight this will be a huge test for Haye, or the ‘Hayemaker’. Just finding a sparing partner of a similar size to Valuev will have been tough enough for the London-born fighter! Haye is a big hitter, his punch is his biggest weapon by far and he does have great technique, but what happens if he hits Valuev just right and the Russian doesn’t move? We don’t know if that is going to happen until the night unfortunately but I reckon Haye can cause some damage, if he can get close enough in to land the decent punches.

For Haye to win the fight he will need to keep his discipline. When smaller guys fight big guys they can get carried away when they do manage to get in close and try and land too many shots. However, David Haye is a very technically aware boxer (watch his demolition of Enzo Maccarinelli for evidence) and should be prepared as best as he can be to fight Valuev.

Personally, I think if Haye is going to win this fight he is going to have to knock Valuev out. The Russian has a far superior reach and will be able to land more jabs than Haye, remember Valuev isn’t just a hulk – he knows how to box. An online boxing bet on Haye to win by KO, TKO or DQ pays 3.8 (14/5), which looks a very attractive proposition when all things considered.

If you like to play it safe, or are unconvinced Haye has the punching power to knock Valuev out. Covering yourself by betting on Valuev to win by decision/tech decision might not be a bad idea, that pays a very attractive 4.9 (5/1), so a small stake could recover your losses.

This really is a hard fight to call in the fact that up until this point neither fighter has faced the same type of challenge. Haye has, of course, never fought anyone the sheer size of Valuev, while I would argue that Valuev has never fought anyone as technically gifted as Haye. Granted, the Russian has beaten the likes of Monte Barrett (on a TKO, Barrett took his punches and got up but his trainer threw in the towel) and former world champion Evander Holyfield (who was 46 when he faced Valuev) on points. Haye is in his prime and his people wouldn’t have arranged the Valuev fight if they didn’t think he stood a really good chance, which is why I think Haye to win by KO, TKO or DQ looks the best bet.

Xerez - Sevilla highlight

2009-11-04T10:01:00.002+01:00

Sportsbook Betting Preview – November 2-5

2009-11-02T23:16:00.000+01:00

Sportsbook players are waiting to see if the New York Yankees can wrap up this year’s World Series odds, while there’s also some Monday Night football betting featuring division rivals. The NBA is also underway, and the NHL moves into the second month of its schedule.

World Series Odds

Philadelphia is a -153 online betting favorite on Monday (7:57 PM ET), and being down 3-1, it’s win or go home (technically, stay home) for the Phillies. Cliff Lee gets the call to extend Philly’s season, while the Yankees go with A.J. Burnett on three days rest. Game 6 and 7, if necessary, will go in New York at 7:57 PM ET on Wednesday and Thursday.

NFL Betting

Undefeated New Orleans is favored by 11.5 points at home on Monday (8:30 PM ET) when the Saints host Atlanta in a battle of the NFC South’s top two teams. The Saints’ offense has scored 45 or more points in four of their six games, while the Falcons’ defense got lit up in Dallas last weekend.

NBA Betting

Wednesday night (8:30 PM ET) will see Ron Artest make his return to Houston when his Los Angeles Lakers head on the road to meet the Rockets, who lost to the Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference finals. The Lakers will also reunite with Trevor Ariza, who was signed by Houston to replace Artest. On Thursday night (8:00 PM ET), MVP (and online betting favorite to repeat) LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers kick off TNT’s weekly televised doubleheader when they host reigning Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls.

NHL Betting

Thursday is also a big night on the ice, starting with a meeting of Original Six rivals as Montreal heads to Boston (7:00 PM ET) with the intention of getting revenge for last season’s playoff sweep at the hands of the Bruins. To end the night, Pittsburgh heads to Los Angeles (10:30 PM ET) to face a young Kings team looking to copy the Penguins’ blueprint for success. The Kings don’t have the luxury of drafting a Sidney Crosby and/or Evgeni Malkin, but they’ve got some good young pieces in place, and they could be one of the trendier sleeper hockey picks of the year.

Liverpool vs. Lyon

2009-11-01T21:23:00.005+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

Liverpool are in a deep end if they do not get a victory in France. Lyon defeated the five times European Cup winner a fortnight ago at Anfield Road and now they are set to repeat this feature in their own backyard. The French top side will be hosting crisis form Liverpool side in Champions League Matchday 4.

Lyon are in the driving seat of the Champions League Group E and they look surely to secure a spot in the last 16. They could confirm their spot in the last 16 by beating Liverpool and virtually also knocking them out of the Champions League too. Lyon looks to have a strong squad available for Tuesday match as they came out winners with 1-0 and without any injuries against St. Etienne. Key players Cris, Makoun, Govou and Lisandro will certainly be in the starting lineup.

Liverpool have no choice but to win against Lyon if they want to preserve their chances in reaching the last 16. Manager Rafa Benitez will have some tough decision to make as his captain Gerrard is doubtful against Lyon. Fernando Torres will start and must certainly be on painkillers. Their weekend came crumbling down as they went down at Fulham 3-1 with 2 men sent off so this tie could put further misery for the Liverpool Reds. Albert Riera and Martin Kelly are injured while Javier Mascherano will return to marshal the midfield.

This is do or die situation for Liverpool. The Reds are desperate to win and Rafa Benitez has been there before. Lyon are virtually through to the next round so maybe a few fringe players could feature so watch out for a Liverpool surging striker in Lyon. Check out Betsson as they are offering Liverpool at 2.90 for a win.

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Online Sports Betting Preview – October 30-November 1

2009-10-30T20:35:00.000+01:00

Online sports betting players will have their hands full with a busy weekend in sports, highlighted by the return of a Green Bay Packer legend returning to Lambeau Field, but wearing the colors of a bitter rival.

NFL Betting

Vikings vs Packers odds (Sunday, 4:15 PM ET): Brett Favre returns to the scene of his biggest triumphs, but he’s sure to get a cold reception from Packers fans as he now plays for Minnesota, their NFC North rivals. The Packers are a 3-point favorite at home, and they’ll be out to avenge a 30-23 loss at Minnesota in Week 4. They’ll have to protect Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked eight times by the Vikings. This should be the most popular of all NFL picks this weekend.

NCAA Football Betting

USC vs Oregon odds (Saturday, 8:00 PM ET) finds the No.5 Trojans as a 3-point favorite at Autzen Stadium, one of the toughest places in the NCAA. The No.10 Ducks have won six straight since losing at Boise State to open the season.

Texas vs Oklahoma State odds (Saturday, 8:00 PM ET) has the No.3 Longhorns as a 9.5-point favorite on the road as they go for their 12^th win in a row over the No.14 Cowboys. Oklahoma State’s offense may have troubles with Texas’ No.2-ranked defense, which is the reason for the large NCAA football lines.

Florida vs Georgia odds (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET) sees the No.1 Gators as a 14.5-point favorite in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, and Florida has won eight of their last 10 meetings with the Bulldogs in Jacksonville, where this game has been held since 1933.

World Series Odds

After splitting the first two in Yankee Stadium, Phillies vs Yankees odds are dropping in Philadelphia’s favor. The Yankees are favored in Game 3 on Saturday (7:57 PM ET) as they give the ball to Andy Pettitte to face Cole Hamels, who was last year’s World Series MVP. The pitching matchups for Sunday’s Game 4 (8:20 PM ET) haven’t been decided, but a rematch of the Game 1 duel between New York’s C.C. Sabathia and Cleveland’s Cliff Lee is possible.

NASCAR Odds

Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon are the favorites to slug it out at the Amp Energy 500 on Sunday (1:00 PM ET) at Talladega Superspeedway. Brad Keselowski won the spring race in April by putting Carl Edwards almost in the grandstands of NASCAR’s biggest track, and this probably the worst track of the Chase for Jimmie Johnson, who is rolling towards his fourth consecutive title.

NHL Odds

Two of the biggest surprises in the NHL so far clash on Sunday night (9:00 PM ET) as Los Angeles heads to Phoenix to face the Coyotes, who were thisclose to losing their team. As of Friday, Phoenix were two points behind Los Angeles in the Pacific, and the Kings have lost two straight games by a 2-1 score in the shootout. The Coyotes had won two in a row ahead of Friday’s meeting with Anaheim. Sportsbook odds should favor Phoenix at home.

Xerez - Sevilla

2009-10-30T13:04:00.004+01:00

Sevilla practically secured their place in the Champions League next stage, so they can focus completely on Xerez and continue the title race with Barcelona and Real. Xerez have only got promoted this season and they will struggle to stay in Primera. It was obvious even before the season started.

Sevilla are one of two clubs that have won each of the three Champions League games. In theory they might miss out on the second stage but it would take a miracle. Sevilla won Stuttgart and Rangers away, so I don’t think that they will lose at home. Even if they lose the last three matches, they will have the chance to move through. Sevilla are also at the top in Primera. Only Barcelona and real are ahead, three and six points respectively It is not a big gap and the way Sevilla play this season, nothing is impossible. Over the last few years Sevilla have grown to become one of the strongest teams in Spain. They have been doing great in away games in the last month, except for the match against Deportivo. They scored 4 goals in three matches which shows the form of their strikers and this will be a very successful season for them. They play attractive football and more importantly they are efficient. Perhaps not so much in Primera, but that is the result of playing in the Champions League. Now they can focus on this match, which will reflect on the situation on the pitch. Luis Fabiano and Kanoute are excellent up front and when they are inspired, no defense can stop them.
When you know that their rivals have efficiency problems it is only natural to expect Sevilla to win easily here.

Xerez made it to Primera with only one aim- to stay there. Of course, it is easier said than done, which was soon obvious. It took them a long time to score their first goal in Primera. They managed to do that in the sixth round and so far they have scored three goals in eight matches. They have by far the weakest attack, so there are not many reasons for optimism against Sevilla. Xerez surprised in the last match and I think that it was pretty much it from them for now. They managed to beat Villarreal in front of home fans that expect another sensation. After that they lost the next two games and clearly it was just a bad day for Villarreal, not the wake-up sign for Xerez.
The hosts don’t have injury problems but that won’t be of much help here.

Sevilla seem mighty this season and it would be no surprise if they made a big feat in Europe. They also stand good chance in Primera. The team is well-coordinated and each players knows his task, so there aren’t many oscillations in the play. Online bookmakers offer pretty good odds. 1.65 is an offer you shouldn’t refuse. You can also try betting on a handicap, as Sevilla are very efficient away lately.
Bet 8 on away win at 1.65 at Expekt

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Premier League betting picks

2009-10-30T12:54:00.003+01:00

Struggling Portsmouth welcome Wigan Athletic to Fratton Park on Saturday. Pompey are in a period of real turmoil at the moment, aside from the fact they sit bottom of the league with just four points they’ve also been hit with a transfer ban because of the club’s debts. They did manage to beat Stoke 4-0 in the Carling Cup during the week but that was a severely depleted Potters team and I doubt they’ll repeat that performance against Roberto Martinez’s Wigan Athletic. The Latics have steadily improved under Martinez and players like Hugo Rodallega and Jason Scotland have really impressed this term. My Premier League football betting tip for this one is to back the away win, at 3.15 (11/5) it looks well worth backing to me.

On Sunday big-spending and high-flying Manchester City travel to newly promoted Birmingham City for the only Premier League fixture that day. Birmingham impressed last weekend by beating Sunderland at home but City are a much bigger threat. I don’t think I really need to explain in great detail why City should easily win this one, they’re playing well and should be too strong for Birmingham. If you’re as confident as me that they’ll take all three points the online betting odds on the away win are 1.91 (10/11) – and at just under evens I don’t think they can be ignored.

Sticking with the Premier League big boys, Liverpool picked up a vital three points against Manchester United last weekend but for that to count they need to back it up with a win against Fulham this Saturday. The game is at Craven Cottage so it won’t be easy for Rafael Benitez’s men. However, Liverpool will welcome back Steven Gerrard and they need to keep winning to stand any chance of lifting the title at the end of the season after such a poor start. At 1.94 (20/21) I’m very tempted by Liverpool and they’re definitely worth some serious consideration.

Fiorentina vs. Catania

2009-10-30T09:44:00.007+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

Both teams suffered two successive defeats in the last two rounds of the Serie A. Fiorentina have been pushed off back to the middle pack of the Serie while Catania have now joined the relegation battle. Both teams are in need of points and a draw would not be favorable in this occasion.

Fiorentina dropped to a lowly 12th position in the Serie A after experiencing two defeats in a roll. It certainly surprising that the Viola lost 1-0 to Napoli at home, a week ago, and securing another defeat in the hands of Genoa away, last Wednesday. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini served a touchline ban against Genoa and looks to return against Catania. He will be without the service of Cesare Natali, Martin Jorgensen and Mario Alberto Santan while the partnership between Jovetic and Gilardino could continue.

Catania looks very much relegation candidate after their two defeats in a roll. They lost 2-1 to Inter and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chievo at home. Things do not look very bright at the moment as they have 7 points out of ten matches and sitting firmly second last in the league. Defender Pablo Alvarez and midfielders Pablo Barrientos and Fabio Sciacca are ruled doubtful while Argentine Adrian Ricchiuti will have to continue his good run upfront.

This is no doubt that Fiorentina are favorites to beat Catania. The Viola boys are set find themselves in a pickle if they don’t get their act together. Three points are on the menu card and Catania looks very much in trouble. Check out Betsson as they are offering 1.47 for a home win.

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Current situation in Premier League Betting

2009-10-29T10:26:00.003+01:00

With things starting to settle down after all the excitement and furore of a brand new Premier League season, most teams are at the ten-match mark, and the early signs are that this season could be one of the most exciting in terms of competition at the top.

Just looking at the current situation in Premier League Betting, it is clear that there are some shifts in power among the top flight of English football. There is a lot of signs that the gap at the top is closing, and whether the complete dominance from Manchester United is slipping backwards in post Cristiano Ronaldo days, and whether the aging legs of Chelsea are starting to tread water, it is not clear. They are still the class teams of the Premier League, but maybe, with the trend of new investments happening, other teams are catching up. The Big Four will certainly not have everything their own way this year, and there is a lot more potential to lose points, as has already been shown.

The Bookmakers will continue to keep Manchester United and Chelsea on a tight reign, as the winner will, more likely than not come from one of those two teams. It has been said that whoever finishes above Chelsea will win the league, if not them. The Stamford Bridge outfit are tipped for the top, not only in the league, but to challenge hard for the Champions League as well. The Blues, despite a couple of small glitches, have hit some good goal scoring form over the past two matches, highlighting why Carlo Ancelotti’s men are one of, if not the force to be reckoned with. There is a crucial match coming up in a couple of weeks, when Manchester United head south to face them. Chelsea currently top the Premier League by two points, and the best odds that can be picked up for them are 6/1 at Coral.

The chasing pack consist of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, as to be expected, but they have been joined by more teams who are putting pressure on to break up the dominance of the so called Big Four. Aston Villa, Tottenham and big summer spenders Manchester City (14/1 at Bet365) are all making claims for a top four finish this season, as they look to at least claim a much coveted Champions League spot if not the league title itself. At the bottom of the Premier League, Portsmouth and their tale of woe so far this season, are rooted at the depths and cannot seem to find a way out. The current situation in Premier League Betting puts Hull City as favourites to take the drop, but also in a lot of danger are Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham, both of those two clubs without a home win so far. As much as the gap may be closing at the top, it could all mean that the gulf between the top and bottom of the league, will be a wider one than ever.

Current odds for your betting tips to Win Premier League:
Chelsea - 6/4 at Coral

Manchester United - 5/2 at Victor Chandler

Arsenal - 19.4 at SportingBet

Liverpool - 11/1 at Totesport

Manchester City - 14/1 at Bet365

Odds To Be Relegated

Hull - 5/1 at Coral

Portsmouth - 8/13 at Victor Chandler

Burnley - 6/4 at SkyBet

Wolves - 8/5 at Stan James

West Ham - 9/2 at SkyBet

Inter - Palermo

2009-10-28T16:23:00.002+01:00

Palermo recorded three wins in the last three matches and now they travel to Meazza intending to avoid defeat but it is a very hard thing to do. This is a chance for Inter to move farther ahead on top in case Juventus and Sampdoria draw but they too have a lot of problems before this match. They are in for a very important Champions League match next week and the injury list is expanding. Mourinho has enough players at his disposal, but he must carefully choose the starters as he can't afford any more injuries.

Inter eased past Catania in the last round and this is a perfect chance to move ahead on the standings. The first runners-up will face each other in Torino, so a win in this match would increase the gap in the title race. As I have mentioned Mourinho will have to think carefully who to field and who to rest before the important match. Sneijder will definitely miss this match through injury and the question is if he will be ready for the match in Kyiv. Milito might start the Champions league match, but we don’t think Mourinho will risk and field him against Palermo.
Inter’s defense is working great, at least in Serie A, so I expect it to be so this time too. Stankovic is by far the team's bets player this season and when he is out Inter face big problems. His aggressiveness in the midfield decides games, but it won’t be the same without Sneijder. Stankovic has more space since Sneijder came to the team, but he is injured and we will see how that will affect Stankovic's performance. After this match Inter will play with Livorno this weekend, so I expect Mourinho to rest most of the players in that match, while he might just field the strongest squad at Meazza.

Palermo have high ambitions and they want a place in the Champions League. Even though they didn’t get off to a great start, Zenga managed to find the form and they won three games in a row. Palermo are fourth at the moment, a place that leads to the Champions League, but the season is long. Hardly any team comes at Meazza planning to take points, but Palermo might take one here. Inter are already thinking about the game in Kyiv so the visitors can use that. According to online bookmakers anything but a home win will be a big surprise, but I think they exaggerated a bit. The visitors are definitely a weaker team but they stand some chance here.
Palermo too have tough defense and it has been a long time since they conceded more than one goal. They managed to keep a clean sheet against Udinese, which eventually earned them three points even though they weren’t brilliant. The win is what counts and all the rest should be forgotten. They will have to pay much better if they wish to avoid defeat here, as you can’t expect to keep a clean sheet against Inter.

A lot will depend on the line-ups here. Hosts have problems with the injured and not prepared players, while Zenga might rest some of the players for the upcoming duel against Genoa. That match will be direct clash for the Champions league spot and a new chance for Palermo to earn points. Anyway, visiting defense is the reason why they are so high on the standings, so I believe it will create problems for the hosts. Betting odds on under 2.5 goals are pretty good and it would be a waste not to use them. Perhaps it would be good to try with a handicap on Palermo as the tradition tells us that they rarely lose by more than one goal at Meazza.
Bet 5 on under 2.5 goals at 2.10 at Bet365

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Napoli - Milan

2009-10-27T10:19:00.002+01:00

By Joe, www.Bettingexpert.com

Things are getting interesting for both teams, both Napoli and Milan are slowly keeping up the pace with the top teams in the Serie A. Milan will be travelling to Stadio San Paolo to face Napoli who are trying to get back to their top half of the league. Napoli is trailing Milan with 2 points and only three spaces between them.

Napoli is currently in 9th position and beaming with confidence after beating Fiorentina 1-0 away with a last minute winner from Christian Maggio. They also miss a penalty during the match and their manager, Mazzarri, was sent off for dissent on 66 minutes. This means Napoli will be without their manager, Fabiano Santacroce and Juan Zuniga who are ruled out with injuries. Captain Paolo Cannavaro will return to the side after serving a suspension against Fiorentina.

Milan’s fortune changed ever since they beat Roma 2-1 in the San Siro. They even beat the might Real Madrid in their back yard with 3-2 and the week ended with another win last weekend against Chievo, two late goals from Nesta. This brings Milan back to the top half of the Serie with 15 points in 6th place but trailing the league leaders, Inter, with 7 points. Milan with be without Gennaro Gattuso, Daniele Bonera, Oguchi Onyewu, Christian Abbiati and Marco Storari. Massimo Ambrosini will return from a suspension and Marco Borriello could well be back in the starting lineup. If Milan could get all three points in Napoli, then they are certainly back on track for the title chase.

Napoli is a tough place to go and Milan knows all about that after losing to them last season. Napoli is currently undefeated at home and it will truly take something special to beat them. Milan could be back on track after running into a bit of bad form a few weeks ago. Could they continue this winning run? Well, a draw could go down as the alternative. Check out Betsson is offering odds 3.10 for a draw.
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BetOnline.com Preview – October 26-30

2009-10-27T10:16:00.002+01:00

BetOnline.com has you covered for one of the busiest times of the sports betting year, as World Series odds take center stage, while NFL betting, NCAA football odds and the NHL all have action, along with the beginning of the pro hoops season.

World Series Odds

The Fall Classic kicks off on Wednesday (7:57 PM ET) with what could be an epic pitching matchup as New York’s C.C. Sabathia gets the call to face his former Cleveland pal Cliff Lee, who has been the ace of Philadelphia’s staff during the postseason. Both also won Cy Young awards in Cleveland before they were shipped out. Game 2 goes Thursday night (7:57 PM ET) with New York’s A.J. Burnett taking on last year’s World Series MVP, Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels.

NFL Betting

The Monday night betting action comes from the nation’s capital (8:30 PM ET), where NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Washington go toe-to-toe. If you’re looking for some borderline criminal offensive play-calling, this is the game to watch. The Eagles are 8-point favorites on the road.

NCAA Football Odds

No.13 Virginia Tech is a 13.5-point favorite at home on Thursday night (8:00 PM ET) when they host North Carolina in an ACC clash, while the next night on Friday (8:00 PM ET), No.21 West Virginia is only favored by 3.5 points when they head to South Florida in a key Big East battle.

NBA Betting

The NBA season tips off on Tuesday with a huge matchup: Cleveland is a 5-point favorite at BetOnline.com when they host Boston (7:30 PM ET) in a battle of the top two teams in the East (Orlando may have something to say about that).

NHL Odds

This week’s big matchup to watch on the ice comes on Tuesday night (7:00 PM ET), when Philadelphia heads to Washington to take on the Capitals. These two played a spirited 6-5 overtime game in Philadelphia on October 6th, with Flyers’ captain Mike Richards netting a hat trick, while Washington’s Alex Ovchekin had a goal and two assists. Ovchekin was recently fined for slew-footing, but that shouldn’t tone down his physical play. Take a look at the posted total in your sportsbook.