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Best Bets of the Day – Friday, April 19th 2019

Leeds

Norwich v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship – 7.45 pm
Sky Sports

Friday is stacked with Championship action, which will lead to a whole host of best bets of the day. Norwich will be looking to take a step closer to the league title. They are the 8/15 favourites with leading bookmakers as they go at home against Sheffield Wednesday. The Canaries are four points clear at the top with four games to go. While they can’t seal top spot this weekend, they could ensure promotion with at least a top-two finish.

The Canaries are undefeated in their last ten league games, and in eight at Carrow Road. They haven’t lost a home game since the turn of the new year, winning six of eight played. Their home form has been immense and they have hit the back of the net in their last fifteen at home. Will that scoring power be enough to take down the Owls? Norwich are averaging over two goals per home game.

But then Sheffield Wednesday are no slouches as they have only suffered a defeat in two of their last twelve league games. They have lost just one of their last seven out on the road, which was a defeat at automatic promotion hopefuls, Leeds, last weekend. On the surface of it, the Owls, who have earned a clean sheet in four of their last seven road games, may have the tools to frustrate the hosts. The top bookies have them at 6/1 to pull off an upset though.

Leeds v Wigan
Championship – 3.00 pm
Sky Sports

Leeds still have some work to do in order to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League. They are in a tight tussle with Sheffield United and this could be a defining weekend in the race. Leeds start the weekend in second place, with a three-point advantage over third-placed Sheffield United. With this being a good fixture at home for Leeds, it is down to the Whites to take their chance. Their defence has been very good at Elland Road, conceding under a goal per game and they are 11/10 to get the win to nil over the struggling Latics on Friday.

Leeds have won four of their last five home games, losing the other one. The defeat in that sequence was against Sheffield United, which kept the duel for automatic promotion intense. Wigan are in all sorts of trouble at the other end of the table sitting just one place above the drop zone. The Latics have managed one away win all season, losing 16 of their 21 road games. It’s been an immense struggle for them and they have managed only two points from their last eight away from home. With them averaging under a goal per away game, will they have to enough defeat against the Whites?

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest
Championship – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports

The Blades need to get their foot back on the gas a little bit in this one. They are three points out of the automatic promotion places going into the weekend. They have, however, only drawn their last two and at this stage of the season, that’s not good enough. They need to rediscover that winning touch. They have had an impressive record on home soil though with a W13 D4 L4 record posted at Bramall Lane. They have conceded at under a goal per game at home as well. They are 11/20 with leading bookmakers to collect the win.

Nottingham Forest can be a hard side to read. They have enjoyed some good results on home soil, but out on their travels, they have collected just the three wins all season. They are W3 D11 L7 on their travels. The Tricky Trees have slumped to a defeat in three of their last four away games, and they are on a huge twelve match undefeated streak of away form. So there is little surprise that they are underdogs at 6/1. However, Forest have actually avoided defeat in all of their away games played against the other current top-nine (W2 D6) this season.

Sunderland v Doncaster
League One – 5.15 pm
Sky Sports

Sunderland have the chance to get their anatomic promotion push going again on Friday. They had a costly slip up at home against Coventry last weekend, a thrilling game with the Mackems being taken down 4-5. That result saw them give up second place in the League One table to Barnsley. So can Sunderland respond? They do have a game in hand over the top two in the league, but there are also three teams immediately below them who could all end up in second place this weekend.

It is a wonderfully tight battle for promotion. The loss against Coventry was Sunderland’s first home defeat of the season and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Doncaster are one of the teams who are hot the heels of the Black Cats and would leap above them by a couple of points if they could take the win on Wearside. Rovers are in tremendous form at the moment as well, with a four-match winning streak going. They were in horrendous run of away form though, going winless in seven before beating Bradford in their last road game. Their automatic promotion chances could hinge on this, can they pull off a surprise as 15/4 underdogs?

Get set for a hectic few days of sport over the Easter weekend, by reading Bobby’s Big Weekend Bets.

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Big Bets Bobby’s Take on the Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan Fight!

Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan

There are stacked cards both sides of the Atlantic this weekend, as the likes of Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia, Dereck Chisora and Amir Khan all take to the ring looking to fill the back pages with wins. With a mixture of match-ups, it’s a good weekend to find value in the boxing markets.

Terence Crawford to beat Amir Khan by KO, TKO or Disqualification (BetVictor)

Amir Khan travels to Madison Square Garden on Saturday night to take on pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford for the WBO welterweight title. With a flawless record of 34-0 (25 KOs), Crawford is making a huge name for himself in the sport with his switch-hitting style. The Nebraskan recently moved up from super lightweight after becoming the undisputed champion at the 140-pound limit, and now with a world title at 147-pounds, the 31-year-old is firmly in the conversation as being one of the best fighters on the planet.

Khan, once again, is stepping into the lion’s den. The Boltonian’s resume reads impressively, having fought at the highest of levels since his debut in 2005. Now in the twilight of his career, King Khan has chosen Crawford instead of a money-spinning grudge match with Kell Brook, and he is firmly of the belief that he can cause a big upset at MSG.

Three of Khan’s four losses have come via KO. Prescott, Garcia and Canelo all found Khan’s chin, with Amir arguably winning in all of those fights before the fatal blow came. Contentious points deductions against Peterson caused his fourth defeat, however, Khan knows he has the skill set to dance with the best in the sport. A scare against Samuel Vargas in his last outing will have raised concerns in the Khan camp; despite this, Khan has alluded to his struggles getting “up” for a fight of such little magnitude.

Under the lights of the Garden on Saturday, Khan needs to box to a detailed game plan – set out by legendary trainer Virgil Hunter – and avoid the bombs that Crawford will throw from impossible angles. Khan has what it takes to stay competitive in the first half of the fight and is likely to be ahead on the cards, but it’s hard to imagine a fighter of Crawford’s pedigree not to find the questionable jaw of Amir Khan.

If this fight goes the distance, it may be a nervy wait on the scorecards with a close contest. This being said, a mid-to-late stoppage for Crawford is where the money lies.

Senad Gashi to beat Dereck Chisora @ 6/1 (BetVictor)

Chisora vs. Gashi is on the Allen-Browne undercard at the O2 on Saturday, and with Chisora making it abundantly clear in recent years that he struggles for motivation against lower-ranked fighters, Gashi could prove a banana-skin opponent in East London. His two wars against Dillian Whyte showed the best Chisora has to offer, however, without that spite behind his punches, Saturday’s challenger may get some joy.

Only a small stake is worth lumping on Gashi. It’s unlikely, but the price holds real value knowing Chisora’s unpredictable past.

David Allen to beat Lucas Browne @ 4/11 (BetVictor)

The White Rhino is the people’s champion in boxing. David Allen has gathered thousands of supporters through his honesty in the sport, knowing fully well the ceiling to his talent. Former world champion Lucas Browne is a great test for him, but one he should pass. Browne turns 40 on Sunday and is well past his best; a KO defeat to Whyte last year may have turned out the fire in the stomach of the Australian.

Allen looks fit and ready for this fight having teamed up with former middleweight world champion Darren Barker. If he sticks to his game plan and lets his hands go, a stoppage win is highly likely, much to the approval of the expected 8,000 inside the O2 Arena.

Check out the Hottest Boxing Odds now at BigBetBookmaker’s BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY & BIG LIVE BETS NOW!

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Will England Match the Heroes of 2003?

England Rugby Martin Johnson

It is sixteen years since Jonny Wilkinson kicked that famous drop goal in extra time that won England the Rugby World Cup for the first and only time in their history.

That England team, led by Martin Johnson and coached by Clive Woodward, had been widely regarded as the best in the world and the favourites to lift the trophy. They’d won three of the first four Six Nations tournaments, and earlier that year they’d completed the Grand Slam. Yet even a team as strong and dominant as that one was struggled under the immense pressure of the World Cup, and it took a moment of pure class from Wilkinson to settle a tense and edgy game in the final seconds.

That November night in Sydney in 2003 will seem a long way off when England kick off their 2019 World Cup campaign against Tonga in Sapporo on September 22 but England fans tuning in to watch the ITV coverage of this ninth edition of the World Cup will be hoping that the current side can rise to the level set by the heroes of 2007.

In truth, aside from that 2003 triumph, England’s World Cup record has been poor. They reached the final again in 2007 but were unimpressive along the way and were beaten 15-6 in the final by South Africa – who had earlier beaten them 36-0 in the Pool Stage. In 2011, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals and last time round, in 2015, they suffered an ignoble exit when they finished third in Pool A behind Wales and Australia.

In the wake of that disappointment, England turned to Eddie Jones, who has produced a definite resurgence. Under his guidance, England won the Six Nations in 2016 and 2017 and came close to a third title in 2018. During 2016, they won a series in Australia 3-0 and went on to become only the second team in rugby after New Zealand to win all of their games during a calendar year.

Despite a run of poor form in 2018, and a shock draw at Twickenham against Scotland in their final Six Nations game of 2019, bookmakers remain optimistic about England’s chances in Japan. They are generally rated as 11/2 second favourites for the tournament, just ahead of Wales and Ireland in the betting. And those odds are based largely on the World Cup experience of Eddie Jones, who guided Australia to that 2003 final, played a crucial role as advisor to the 2007 South African World Cup winning side, and helped Japan to win three Pool games at the 2015 edition.

Under Jones, although England have slipped up at times, they have also showed the ability to play the kind of physical yet progressive rugby that has rarely been seen by a Northern Hemisphere side, as demonstrated by their breath-taking display in the opening Six Nations game of 2019, in which they dismantled a formidable Irish team in Dublin. If they can return to that kind of form ahead of this year’s big tournament, there will be plenty of BigBetBookmakers regulars who will be happy to back the men in white to emulate their predecessors and claim the famous Webb Ellis Cup this year.

The Hottest Rugby Bets are right here at BigBetBookmakers.com ! Go to the BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY & BIG LIVE BETS NOW to catch the Action! 

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Premier League Darts Betting Forecast for this Weekend in Cardiff

Welshman Gerwyn Price

With five weeks remaining until the playoffs at London’s O2 Arena, the pressure for points is building amongst the eight contenders in this season’s Premier League. Cardiff hosts the action this weekend, with Welshman Gerwyn Price expecting a rare good reception from his patriots inside the Motorpoint Arena.

Rob Cross and MVG are continuing to set the pace, with a five and four point gap, respectively, separating them from the four players tied on twelve points behind them. These four can only go into two spot, with Wade, Price, Suljovic and Gurney all vying for places three and four.

Wright and Smith aren’t quite out of it just yet, however, Snakebite and Bully Boy are both aware that they need to win a majority of their remaining matches if they are to feature on the 23rd May.

The headline match this week is the battle of the top two. Cross and van Gerwen will slug it out for top spot, with both guys peaking at the best time. Cross suffered last season following on from his dramatic maiden world championship win, but looks back on track dispelling the myth that he was a “one season wonder”.

Let’s take a closer look at the other action coming out of Cardiff on Thursday:

Mensur Suljovic vs Daryl Gurney

Mensur averaged only 89 last week in Liverpool, with Gentle showing abnormal form following four wins in five. Gurney has struggled to get over the line in the last couple of fixtures and knows that both points are needed to leap back into the top four. This one looks highly likely to go down to the wire, with a 7-7 draw worth a punt.

Suljovic vs Gurney draw @ 10/3 (BetVictor)

Rob Cross vs Michael van Gerwen

Both look secure in their hunt for a playoff spot this season, however, this fixture in Cardiff could well go on to determine the winner of this season’s league stage. Cross is the best player in the league at the moment and should be able to stifle MVG’s momentum at the oche. His slower pace may frustrate Mighty Mike. 8-6 to Cross in a thriller.

Rob Cross to win @ 10/3 (BetVictor)

Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price

Smith is four points off the playoff spots, knowing that five wins in his last five matches is realistically the only way Bully Boy will return to the O2. Price is back in the top four having gone unbeaten in three, this being said, Smith’s desperate hunger may prove the different in Price’s backyard. Smith to throw the most 180s and win this fixture, as Price fails to deal with the pressure.

Smith most 180s @ 4/6 (BetVictor)

Peter Wright vs James Wade

Stuck on twelve points with three other players, Wade knows that a single slip-up could see him escape out of the bottom of the playoff spots. Wright is capable of beating anyone on his day, but is proving too unpredictable week-on-week. Wade is the opposite, and should be able to get the better of Snakebite. 8-5 to Wade after a strong start. It’ll be tight in the 180 race.

8-5 to Wade @ 7/1 (BetVictor)

Find the Latest Betting Odds for Professional Darts here at BigBetBookmakers.com featured at the BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY& BIG LIVE BETS NOW Pages 

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Big Sporting Events: FIFA Women’s World Cup

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Over the last couple of decades, women’s football has been gathering momentum, and there are numerous International tournaments which now take place on a regular basis. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the highlight is the pinnacle event on the calendar, and it’s a chance for the very best players to compete on the biggest stage.

The competition is held every four years, and the inaugural event was held in China in 1991. USA have typically dominated this tournament, and they will be looking to notch their fourth World Cup success in the summer of 2019. They are one of four teams to lift the trophy.

USA are the current holders having beaten Japan in the final of the 2015 tournament, which was staged in Canada. This was the first tournament in which 24 teams competed, double the previous amount.

The qualification for the event is a long drawn-out process, and tends to be stretched across a three-year period. There are 23 slots available, and each nation will have the opportunity to qualify for the tournament. Teams are split into continental zones for qualifying to ensure that representatives from all across the world are given the chance to compete at the summer event.

Similar to the men’s tournament, this competition is staged over the course of a month, and begins with the group stage. This will be followed by the knock-out stage. 16 teams will progress to the knock-out stage, and these will eventually be whittled down to just two. These are one-off matches which may be settled by extra time and penalties.

The Women’s World Cup is broadcast across the world, and is enjoyed by a large number of soccer fans. The 2015 final was watched by 23 million viewers in the USA, with more than 750 million tuning in across the world.

Similar to the men’s tournament, the Golden Boot is awarded to the highest-scoring player, whilst the Golden Glove is given to the best goalkeeper at the event. There are a number of other awards presented including the Golden Ball, the Fair Play award and the Most Entertaining Team.

With the main European soccer leagues taking a break for the summer months, the Women’s World Cup tends to take centre stage, making it a huge betting event for punters. There are numerous markets priced up, and it is often the focal point for many bookmakers in the UK.

Brazilian football Marta currently holds the record for most goals at the tournament with 15 in total. She netted seven at the 2007 World Cup, but only scored once in 2015.

When and Where?

The Women’s World Cup is held every four years, and is staged at various locations. In 2019, France will host the tournament. It is typically played over the course of a month, usually in July.

Why is the Women’s World Cup so Popular?

It is a chance for fans of the game to support their country, and cheer on their side in the summer event. It also provides the opportunity for those who wouldn’t be able to follow the leagues week in-week out to see the best players in the world all feature on the same stage.

The competition is helped by its position in the sporting calendar. There are no major European leagues in action during July, and this helps shift the focus towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

 

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

Loads! Most bookmakers will price up the games throughout qualification, and they will have dedicated markets for the tournament itself. UK bookies will tend to prioritise England games, whilst American operators are likely to focus on the progress of the USA.

Ante-Post markets are typically available most of the year round, and as the tournament creeps closer, they will be joined by markets focusing on group betting and top goalscorers.

 

Key Betting Markets

Ante Post – Tournament Winner – This is easily the simplest market to understand, and unsurprisingly, it’s also the most popular. This is a case of predicting which team will lift the World Cup at the end of the month-long tournament. Previous winners will typically be priced up at the shortest odds.

Ante Post – Top Goalscorer – Star players tend to attract the headlines, and there are always numerous standout competitors on show. This market allows punters to predict which player will score the most goals throughout the competition. If two players are level on goals when the competition concludes, number of assists will be factored in.

Ante-Post – To Make the Quarter-Finals/Semi-Finals/The Final – Most bookmakers will typically offer markets on each nation to make it beyond a particular stage of the competition. If you aren’t confident about a team winning outright, you can simply predict them to make it to the final four instead.

Ante-Post – Team to Score the Most Goals – There are any number of ante-post markets to choose from, but this is one of the most popular. Punters can choose which nation will score the most goals throughout the entire tournament. This doesn’t neccessarily have to be the same side who lifts the trophy.

Match Market – Team to Win (1X2) – Each match will be priced up by the bookmakers, and betting will be available a couple of days prior to kick-off. Punters must select which team will emerge victorious. Cramped odds is commonplace, particularly during the group stages.

Match Market – Under/Over 2.5 Goals – This is ideal for those bettors who don’t feel as though they can confidently predict which team will win the match. This is a case of predicting how many goals will be scored during the 90 minutes. If two sides with porous defences meet, Over 2.5 Goals is usually the obvious way to wager.

Match Market – Match Handicaps – As previous mentioned, some matches can be extremely one-sided, and that doesn’t offer value for the punter. It is possible to give one of the two sides a handicap to overcome. -1 would require the favourites to win by two clear goals or more. Handicaps can also be used for closely contested games. Underdogs can be backed on the +1 handicap, which gives them a goal head-start. If the match is drawn, +1 on the handicap would be a winning bet.

Match Market – To Score First/To Score Anytime – This is another good way of betting without having to predict the outcome of the game. Punters can choose an in-form player to score at any point during the 90 minutes, or to score the first goal of the match. If the opening strike is an own goal, the first goalscorer market will move onto the second goal of the game.

Match Market – Double Result / HT/FT Betting – This is sometimes considered to be another good way of siding with an overwhelming favourite. Punters can predict that a side can be winning at both half-time and full-time. Alternatively, this market also allows players to predict the game to be all-square at the 45 minute mark, with Team A coming out on top in the second half.

Corners/Cards Markets – Most online bookmakers will now offer cards and corner markets on each game throughout the tournament. These will include Over X Corners in the Match, Over X Corners for Team A or Player B to be Carded. These are ideal for players using stat-based analysis ahead of each game.

 

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Women’s World Cup

Experience is Key – Tournament football is always an interesing dynamic. It is a case of spending a month in close confines with your team-mates often in an unknown country. It requires leaders, and sides with experience in their team always tend to fare better. A team of younger players may be vibrant, and go into the competition as a bit of an unknown, but it’s easy for them to get bullied by more savvy opponents. Ideally, teams are looking for the right blend of youth and experience, but those teams with experienced players tend to progress to the latter stages. Getting the right blend of personalities is vital.

Look for Teams Who are Making Up the Numbers – It may sound a little disrespectful, but there are always a couple of teams who are simply not good enough to compete at the tournament. FIFA ensure there is fairness right across the board, and teams will be able to qualify from all regions, but there is often a gulf in class. In 2015, Ivory Coast conceded 16 goals during the three-match group stage, and that included a 10-0 hammering to Germany. Thailand weren’t much better, conceding 10 in 270 minutes of football. In Group C, Ecuador went home with a goal difference of -16. Getting involved on the goals markets and the handicaps can be a great way of making money if you can spot an outlier. Teams who have the majority of their players competing in a poor domestic league usually struggle on the biggest stage.

Schedules Can be Punishing – The games come thick and fast during the late stages of the tournament, and it can often be profitable to back against the sides with the quickest turnarounds. If it’s Team A vs Team B in the semi-final, and Team A sailed through their last match on 21st July, but Team B needed extra-time and penalties on 22nd July, they may just be suffering from fatigue. It isn’t a hard and fast rule as quality will prevail, but quick turnarounds can sometimes count against sides in these kind of events.

Harmony in the Camp – At World Cup tournaments, I always pay careful attention to how many players are used to playing alongside one another. If the national team consists of players who compete in the same league, or even better, in the same team, this often makes the transition much easier. It can often result in a happier and more settled camp, which is often reflected in the results.

The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be broadcast live on the BBC and Eurosport. There will be extended highlights and coverage on their websites. 

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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 19TH-20TH APRIL

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Soccer – Premier League – Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

The first of my big betting events this weekend is starting to look incredibly familiar. Manchester City and Spurs must be sick of the sight of one another by now!

This will be the third time in the space of two weeks that the top flight foes have crossed swords, but each fixture so far has been tactically fascinating, and this one should follow suit.

Following their 2-0 victory over Chelsea, Liverpool continued to pressure Pep’s men at the top of the Premier League table, and this is City’s joint-toughest PL assignment left. How will they cope juggling so many fixtures in such a short space of time?

Some fans have questioned Pep’s selection methods over the last couple of weeks, and he simply can’t afford to get this wrong. Raheem Sterling has been in electric form recently, and he is almost guaranteed to start this game. It remains to be seen whether Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus will get the nod up front.

Spurs may be without Harry Kane, but they were at their destructive best against Huddersfield last weekend, and they have a number of dangermen here. Lucas Moura finally looks to be living up to his billing, whilst Son is a bundle of energy, and won’t give the City defence a moments respite.

It’ll be fascinating to see how each coach sets up his side ahead of this game, and whether it’ll be vastly different to the recent Champions League meeting.

With the Manchester-derby on the horizon, City must be vigilant here, but even a point would hand the initiative back to Liverpool. Pep’s men do have a game in hand, but they simply must be victorious in each of their remaining matches in order to keep up their title hopes.

The Citizens are heavily odds-on for this fixture, and they have netted seven goals in the last two meetings at this ground, but the fixture pile-up may not make it quite as easy this time around.

It’s an early kick-off on Saturday, and it should be a fascinating match-up once again. These two sides know each other well, and another absorbing 90 minutes surely awaits.

This Premier League game can be enjoyed on Sky Sports Main Event on Saturday lunchtime 

 

 

Aussie Rules – AFL – Greater Western Sydney vs Fremantle

The second of our big betting events comes from the UNSW Canberra Oval and takes place on Saturday morning in the UK.

It’s been a great start to the 2019 season for GWS, who have won three of their first four matches, and beat early pace-setters Geelong during the last round of fixtures. It was a narrow victory, but an important one.

It was the first time that they’ve won against the Cats at the MCG, and they will be aiming to take that momentum into this week’s match-up with the Dockers. If they want to prove their Grand Final credentials, they must win this contest.

It’s been a mixed start for Fremantle, with two wins and two losses to get their season underway. They were defeated at the Eagles last weekend, but they put on a decent show, and displayed plenty of fight throughout. A number of missed opportunities was the story of the game for the Dockers, and it’s something they may have been working on in training this week.

GWS can’t call upon the services of Callan Ward, who went down with a knee injury last weekend, but they still have plenty of talent in this squad, and they are relatively well-stocked in midfield. They have a hugely talented roster, and they simply must beat the Dockers here.

The last meeting between these sides was incredibly scrappy, with GWS continuing their domination in this fixture. They’ve now won each of the last four meetings between the pair.

This game is made even more interesting by the virtue that Rory Lobb comes up against his former employers. He walked out on GWS last season, and now lines up for Fremantle, and his team-mates are unlikely to show him much mercy here. He doesn’t always cope well with physical ruckman, so he could struggle against Shane Mumford, who took his place in the GWS side, and has stepped up superbly.

On paper, GWS should win this game fairly easily, and it should be another comfortable success for the hosts, but the Dockers have been unpredictable in recent weeks, and they are creating plenty of chances each week.

A fascinating match-up in the AFL, and it’ll be worth getting up early for!

All of the AFL highlights can be enjoyed on BT Sport this season, and also on the BT Sport App. 

 

Soccer – League One – Accrington vs Luton

Over the Easter weekend, there’s a whole host of live games to choose from, but Accrington vs Luton is going to be amongst the most interesting in my opinion. League One is absolutely fascinating this season, and that’s why this game is the third of my big betting events. 

Luton had their 28-match unbeaten run abruptly halted by Charlton last weekend, and they’ll be looking to get back on track here. It looks like the ideal fixture.

The Hatters have been absolutely superb this season, and promotion looks to be a formality this season. Mick Harford’s men are leading the way, but they’ve only won two of the last five games in League One. They’ve had a difficult set of fixtures recently, but this is far more palatable.

Accy are scrapping away at the bottom of the table, and they will be hoping to preserve their third tier status with three points here. John Coleman’s side continue to successfully punch above their weight, and they did beat Walsall at the weekend, to help steer themselves away from the bottom three.

There was plenty of needle last season between these two when they met during the League Two promotion race, and both teams have been victorious in this fixture recently. Luton ran out 2-1 winners last time they came to the Crown Ground, and a similar result would suit them here.

James Collins returns after his one-match suspension for the Hatters, and they will continue to trouble sides with their width, and energy on the flanks. Accrington will have to be at their defensive best here if they are to keep the Hatters at bay.

There’s an abundance of League One football on the television this weekend, and Burton vs Portsmouth should also be another interesting betting event.

Luton are odds-on in this game, but Accrington will make a decent contest of this, and it might be a bit closer than the odds suggest.

UK Football fans can enjoy this game on Sky Sports this weekend alongside all of the other easter EFL action. 

 

Boxing – Welterweight World Title – Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan

We’re off to Madison Square Gardens for the last of our big betting events this weekend with Amir Khan facing a tough task against Terence Crawford.

Pound-for-pound Terence Crawford is ranked number two in the world behind Vasyl Lomachenko. The Ukrainian displayed his credentials at the weekend in a thunderous display to destory Anthony Crolla, so Khan has plenty to be wary of.

The movement of Crawford could prove to be problematic for Khan here, and he can’t afford to take his eye off the ball at all here. The American also possesses plenty of intelligence, and could also out-smart the Boltonian in the ring.

We aren’t going to get rich backing Crawford here, but there are many ways to get involved, and many are predicting this to be over and done with in the first few rounds. Don’t expect to be staying up all night for this one, Khan may struggle to remain competitive.

With a perfect 35-0 record so far, Khan is up against it, but I’m fascinated to see which way he approaches this one. He knows he is the underdog, and he needs to approach it rationally and tactically.

Crawford’s reputation is on the up, and he will make it tough for his opponent here.

Just because this bout should be relatively one-sided, it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable, and I can’t wait to see how Amir Khan approaches this one.

UK viewers can enjoy this bout on BT Sport Box Office on Saturday night 

 

See the LATEST ODDS now for the above FEATURED BETS at BOBBY’S WEEKEND BETS!

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2019 Snooker World Championship Preview

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The Snooker World Championships 2019 start on April 20th and once again it is back to the famous Sheffield Crucible for the action. This two-week thrill-ride of green baize battles, begins with Mark Williams as the defending champion. That means that the Welshman will be going back as the top speed right at the top of the draw.

This is the tournament which all of the recent action has been building towards. Amidst the glittering array of talent, there is not exactly a surprise name at the head of the market. That will be Ronnie O’Sullivan who is at 5/2 with leading bookmakers to walk away with the title. If he does so then it will be his sixth, leaving him one short of tying Stephen Hendry’s record of seven.

The Snooker World Championship 2019 is being broadcast on the BBC.

“The Rocket”  to boost his season’s returns?

The five-time winner has been a rarely spotted player in the final of the World Snooker Championships. At least in recent times. He hasn’t made an appearance since back in 2013 when he missed out on making it three consecutive titles in a defeat against Mark Selby. It’s a strange thing, because this is the most coveted tournament on the circuit and probably the one tournament where a disinterested O’Sullivan has been seen the most in his career.

Last year he was knocked out in the second round by Ali Carter. His last four appearances have alternated between a quarter-final berth and a second-round exit. Should that streak continue it would at least mean brighter things for him this year at the Crucible. As for O’Sullivan’s current form, he is just one of two men to have won three tournaments in the 2018/19 snooker season. The other is Neil Robertson who will have plenty of backers too.

In-form Roberston a key contender

Australia’s Neil Robertson recently delivered a title at the China Open, which was the culmination of an upswing in recent form. He has been going so well that leading bookmakers now have him in at 11/2 to take the title at the 2019 Snooker World Championship. That win in China was his third title of the season and he is carrying some good form, which could be key at the Crucible. With the draw lined up as it is, he wouldn’t meet either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Judd trump until the final either.

Robertson has been in the winner’s circle at the World Championship before, claiming the crown on his one and only previous appearance in the final back in 2010. He took down Graeme Dott in that fixture. Since that success though, his record at the Crucible is pretty disappointing. He hasn’t been past the second round in the last three years, and half of his last eight appearances have ended in a first-round crash.

One Judd to trump them all?

We can’t go much further really without the mention of Judd Trump, this season’s Masters winner. That was a big breakthrough for him in terms of landing such a prestigious title. He has also picked up the Northern Ireland Open this season and he does have a fairly steady track record at the World Championships behind him.

The question is whether or not the extra step forward that he has taken this season will translate into a world title? Trump was a losing finalist in 2011 as a bit of a young upstart on the scene. Since then he has had two semi-finals and two quarterfinal finishes in his last six attempts at getting the big prize. He isn’t short on confidence and his record in recent ranking events is superb.

Who else is in the picture?

O’Sullivan, Trump and Robertson are three of just four players heading to the Crucible in single digits with the bookmakers. The other is Mark Selby who is 9/1 with leading bookies. However, Selby looks like he just can’t wait until the end of the season to come. It hasn’t been a terrific season from him really with the only title claimed by him being the China Championship back in September last year.

Selby hasn’t been to any final since in a ranking event. It has been a fruitless 2019. He looks to be struggling with his game although is still ranked second in the world. But his record at the World Championships speaks for itself. He has won three of the last five editions of the World Championship, so will this be the tournament that sparks him back into life as he does have a strong affinity with the Crucible?

How the draw lines up

In the first quarter, it is top seed Mark Williams who heads the section, but there are a couple of dangerous floaters in the field there with Kyren Wilson and Barry Hawkins (8th and 9th seed respectively), waiting to pounce.

Former World Champion John Higgins is the one who is opposing Neil Robertson in the second quarter of the draw. But as you would expect in this kind of tournament, it’s not that cut and dry with Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham in the quarter as well.

Out of the main contenders, Mark Selby does look to have the easiest of the sections to navigate. The highest seed that he could face on his way to the semi-finals would be the sixth seed, Mark Allen.

That leaves a pretty congested fourth quarter of the draw. Second seed Ronnie O’Sullivan is in there and could have to face 15th seed Stephen Maguire in the second round. Judd Trump is in the same quarter, a potential quarterfinal opponent for O’Sullivan, but Trump may have to get past Ding Junhui along the way first.

Summary

It’s the Holy Grail of snooker, the biggest title out there that there is to win. The arena that is the Crucible Theatre also adds to the history and enigma of this fantastic tournament. So the stakes are high. There is a spattering of former World Champions back in the mix. It is once again, going to be two of the most absorbing weeks on the snooker calendar year.

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