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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 23RD – 24TH MARCH

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Cricket – IPL – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hydrabad

The new IPL season is upon us, and I can’t wait to sit down and enjoy all of the action each weekend morning. Sunday throws up an intriguing contest, as the Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hydrabad, and it’s the first of my big betting events this weekend.

2016 champions Sunrisers Hydrabad begin as the narrow favourites in this season’s IPL, and they will be expecting to get off to a winning start here. They’ve won three of their last five meetings with the Knight Riders, and as the betting suggests, this game could go either way.

After the disappointment of losing in the 2018 final, they will be more determined than ever before to bounce back. Tom Moody can call upon Jonny Bairstow, David Warner and Martin Guptill, and they have a suitably strong squad for the season ahead.

This opener is a star-studded encounter with the Sunrisers able to name their strongest possible squad this weekend, with the exception of Kane Williamson. That’s great news for neutrals like me!

KKR have been dealt a blow with the news that Shivam Mavi will be out for the entire campaign, alongside fellow youngster Kamlesh Nagarkoti. This will take some pace out of the side, and it also diminishes their unpredictably. It’s a shame for KKR fans, who will have been looking forward to seeing the duo in action.

They do have a very consistent opening pair of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine, who are very effective, and are expected to be maintained for this opening IPL game. The latter showed good form in the BPL, and is likely carry that through. He could be a real threat here, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Sunrisers are able to combat his firepower. He’s bound to get some runs under his belt here.

After being banned in 2018, David Warner will be welcomed back into the fold this season, and IPL fans cannot wait to see him in action. With his place in the Australian squad under threat, Warner is likely to be keen on making an impression, and we can expect to see plenty more of his explosive play on Sunday morning.

The Aussie thanked the fans for their continued support, and said he cannot wait to get back to the IPL. This is understandably one of the best weekend fixtures, and although it’s starting slightly earlier this year, I cannot wait for the season to get underway!

Sky Sports will have coverage of every match throughout the IPL season and UK viewers can tune in for KKR vs the Sunrisers on Sunday morning. 

 

Aussie Rules – AFL – Brisbane Lions vs West Coast

As well as the IPL season getting underway, I’m also pleased to report that the new AFL campaign also begins this weekend. It feels like an age since West Coast defeated Collingwood in front of 100,000 spectators at MCG at the back end of September, but the wait is finally over…

Champs West Coast get back underway against the Brisbane Lions, and it’s the first of my big betting events. 

It’s going to be a tough task for the Lions, but there is growing expectation around this side, and they won’t go down without a fight. Chris Fagan’s men were  bitterly disappointing last year with just five wins to their name, as they struggled to find consistency throughout the season. Only three sides finished below them in the 2018 AFL Ladder, but many expect to see significant improvements after a reasonably positive off-season at the Gabba.

They did improve as the season progressed, but a much quicker start is absolutely imperative in 2019. They began with eight straight defeats last year, and starting against the 2018 AFL winners is far from ideal, but they should keep the scoreline close.

The first weekend is always hugely unpredictable, but with West Coast priced up at such a short price, there should be plenty of value and scope to get involved in the handicap markets. The additions of Lachie Neal, Lincoln McCarthy, Jarryd Lyons and Marcus Adams should help bolster the ranks, and they aren’t going to roll over here.

Josh Kennedy is a major doubt for the holders, and he is unlikely to be risked in this fixture. With the games coming thick and fast throughout April, they won’t to suffer any further setbacks as they bid to defend their crown this campaign.  Nic Naitanui will definitely miss this game however. West Coast did suffer from a number of inconsistencies throughout the season, they weren’t fluent at all times, and it was their finals form which helped them progress.

Tom Hickey has been drafted into the squad, and he will add yet more experience and depth. They often play with two rucks during the regular season, so he will add some much needed competition for places.

It’s an intriguing clash, and I can’t wait to see how it pans out. It’s always difficult to defend your title, and it’s even tougher when you come up against an rejuvinated outfit such as the Lions.

BT Sport will be showing live matches and highlights in the UK throughout the AFL season

 

Soccer – Euro 2020 Qualifiers – Netherlands vs Germany

There are a number of intriguing matches this weekend as the Euro 2020 Qualifiers begin. The International Breaks can be hit or miss, but there are some really tasty looking ties on Sunday, and this is one of them. Netherlands vs Germany is the third of my big betting events this weekend.

Joachim Low has been in the news this month for revamping his Germany squad, with a number of senior pros having been excluded from his future plans. Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummel won’t feature here, with a number of new faces included for this game.

I can’t wait to see the likes of Marco Reus and Leroy Sane in the squad, the latter has deserved his call-up, and has been in good form this campaign. After their disappointment this summer in Russia, it’s good to see a reaction from Low, and he’s described his squad as having a ‘new face’. Although there was plenty of dissatisfaction with the decision, the new-look squad will still be strong. However, one potential sticking point is the fact that Joshua Kimmich, team-mate of the exiled trio, has slammed the decision, and it remains to be seen whether that sits well with the boss.

Anyone who has watched the Bundesliga this season will have seen a number of talented young players come through, and establish themselves as top players. The likes of Maximilan Eggstein, Niklas Stark and Lukas Klosterman all hoping to get their first cap, whilst the likes of Kai Havertz and Leon Goretzka will continue to be younger members of the squad. With a number of Bayern players still in the squad, it’ll be interesting to see if Joachim Low can keep this squad together.

We will get to see the ultra-impressive Virgil Van Dijk in action on Sunday night, and he will be marshalling the Oranje’s back-line. He will be alongside Ryan Babel, the man who forced him into an uncharacteristic mistake during Fulham’s match against Liverpool at the weekend. Van Dijk was one of the scorers as the Netherlands mounted an unlikely comeback against Germany when the sides met in the Nations League at the end of 2018, and I’m expecting another close encounter.

With questions about the unity of the German squad, and a new feel-good factor surrounding this Netherlands side, it is going to be a hugely intriguing and entertaining 90 minutes.

Sky Sports Mix are showing this Euro 2020 Qualifier live on Sunday night

 

Soccer – League One – Walsall vs Barnsley

We’re dipping down into League One for my fourth big betting event of the weekend. Barnsley are in promotion contention, and after failing to beat local-rivals Doncaster last weekend, they will be determined to bounce back in the Midlands.

Walsall are exactly the kind of side who cause problems for the promotion contenders, and they asked questions of Sunderland last weekend. Dean Keates side are still not safe in League One, and although there are 13 sides who could potentially face the drop, they are scrapping for every point. The Saddlers have been forced to play a slightly different style with Andy Cook absent through suspension, and it’ll be interesting to see how they approach this clash.

Walsall’s last three games have all come from corners, with Jon Guthrie and Josh Gordon all scoring in recent weeks, and Barnsley will have to be at their best in order to keep them off the scoresheet.

Having said that, Barnsley’s XG rating has been superb this campaign, and they’ve given up the fewest chances in League One this year. Daniel Stendel’s men still have ground to make up on Luton, but they will be confident of returning to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The Tykes will start as the favourites for this tie, but Walsall will not make it easy, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Barnsley leave the Bescott with a very narrow victory. They’ve been excellent at home this year, and despite not being at their best last weekend, seven days off will certainly help them freshen up for this tie.

Sky Sports will be showing this League One game live on Saturday

 

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Best Bets of the Day – Sunday, March 17th 2019

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Millwall v Brighton
FA Cup – 2.00 pm
BBC

This will be the fourth and final FA Cup quarter-final for this season. It could be a decent scrap at The Den as well as Championship side Millwall look to claim a top-flight upset. The Lions have not been having a great time of things at all in the Championship, however, this is the type of game where all form can be thrown out of the window for the day. Just as they did earlier in the tournament. How well will they be supported in the bets of the day?

The Lions have already beaten a Premier League side, taking out Everton in the fourth round at The Den. Millwall are 5/2 underdogs with top bookmakers for this one. Brighton have just started to get some better things going for them with three wins in their last four. That was after they had been on a stretch of seven games without a victory in any competition. This is far from a comfortable game for the Seagulls, but they have won at Bournemouth and West Brom in this season’s FA Cup. They take on the challenge as 11/10 favourites for Sunday’s game.

Fulham v Liverpool
Premier League – 2.15 pm
Sky Sports

Liverpool will resume their Premier League title challenge with a trip to Fulham on Sunday. With Manchester City occupied by the FA Cup this weekend, it means that Liverpool have the chance to go back to the top of the pile if they can produce three points. The Reds, after a huge effort to win at Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek, are 1/4 odds on favourites with leading bookmakers for this one.

But the Reds have only drawn their last three Premier League away games. Fulham have placed Scott Parker in temporary charge. But there has been no change of fortunes for the Cottagers in the two games which he has overseen so far. Fulham are a long way from safety and they are on a six-match losing streak. It would be something epic if they were pull off a victory in this one. They are big 9/1 odds to be backed to do that.

Everton v Chelsea
Premier League – 4.30 pm
Sky Sports

Chelsea managed to salvage a point late on last weekend at home against Wolves. Eden Hazard rescued a draw to move them onto a three-match undefeated streak of form. Chelsea have lost three of their last four on the road in the top flight. It will be interesting to see just how they handle themselves at Goodison Park on the weekend. Chelsea will go to Merseyside as the 10/11 favourites.

Everton have had their struggles this season and have suffered a loss in five of their last eight top-flight games. In their last home game they produced a pretty solid display in earning a 0-0 draw against their rivals Liverpool. Last weekend though they went to Newcastle and suffered a loss. The Toffees have won just one of their last eight on home soil in the Premier League. They have won one of fifteen games home and away this season, against sides currently in the top half of the table. Everton are a big 3/1 underdog with leading bookmakers for this home game.

AC Milan v Inter
Serie A – 7.30 pm
Premier Sports

Neither of these have been able to get anywhere near winning the title in the Italian top flight this season. But then that is because the runaway leaders are Juventus. Both of the Milanese teams have still put together good seasons. AC Milan are third, one point and just one place above their rivals. In terms of form it is AC Milan with the hot hand at the moment. They are on a five-match winning streak in the league and they are 6/4 with leading bookmakers to take the three points.

There was a little more expectancy on Inter this season to get themselves together and at least be a little closer in the title race. It hasn’t happened and it’s a fight for a top-four finish that they have on their hands. Inter have just been struggling for consistency on their travels with one win in their last four away from home. They took a 1-0 home win over their rivals earlier this season, but are winless in their last five as the away side in the battle of these two San Siro teams.

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Best Bets of the Day – Saturday, March 16th 2019

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Watford v Crystal Palace
FA Cup 2.15 pm
BT Sport

The weekend of FA Cup action kicks off at Vicarage Road with Watford playing host to Crystal Palace in this all-Premier League clash. It looks as if it could be a tight duel between them as well. Watford have a bit of form behind them with four wins in their last six. They have gone W3 D2 L1 in their last six home games. So it has been pretty solid and steady stuff from them and they are 13/10 favourites.

But Palace are more than capable of putting up a fight and they have produced better away from home than at Selhurst Park. So they will want to get this done at the first time of asking. The Eagles are on a three-match winning streak away from home in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in each of those. The Eagles will turn up as 21/10 underdogs with leading bookmakers.

Wales v Ireland
Six Nations – 2.45 pm
BBC One

The Six Nations 2019 title is on the line here. Ireland have to collect a win in Cardiff to have a shot at the title. If they do that, they will sit one point clear at the top of the table before England face Scotland later in the day. Ireland would need Scotland to win at Twickenham to be crowned champions. So they have to turn up and throw the kitchen sink at this one, but they are 23/20 underdogs as it’s never easy winning away from home.

The Welsh are in a position where they know that if they win and collect a bonus point for at least four tries scored, they will be crowned champions. Second-placed England wouldn’t be able to catch them. With the Welsh having already beaten England in Cardiff during the campaign and with them having won three of their last four at home against Ireland in the Six Nations, the Dragons are 4/5 odds-on favourites with leading bookies for the match win.

England v Scotland
Six Nations – 5.00 pm
ITV

England will have the benefit of home soil and they will have the benefit of knowing what they may need to do in order to win this year’s Six Nations title. The only way that their title hopes stay alive is if Wales don’t beat Ireland with a bonus point earlier in the day. England have won each of their last five home games in the Six Nations against Scotland. The Red Rose have produced immense scoring power in this season’s championship too.

So much so that an England -18 handicap is at 10/11 odds with leading bookmakers. But last season it was Scotland who came out on top in the meeting between the two old foes. The Scots took a famous home win at Murrayfield, snapping a seven-match losing streak that they were on against the English. They have been below par in this season’s tournament though. But they would love nothing more than to ruin any chance of the title for England.

Swansea v Man City
FA Cup – 5.20 pm
BT Sport

Championship side Swansea have the tough task of trying to knock outright favourites Manchester City out of the FA Cup. This quarter-final duel from the Liberty stadium sees the Swans go as 16/1 underdogs which would easily be the best bet of the day if that came up for any bold punter. However, of course, the challenge of stopping the rampant Citizens is easier said than done.

Man City have scored a total of seven goals in their last two trips to the Liberty Stadium and they are on a three-match winning streak there. The Premier League title challengers have been in stunning form lately, including a 7-0 Champions League win over Schalke in midweek. What kind of margin will they be able to win by in South Wales? It’s one of those games where the Asian Handicap markets, where for example a Man City -2.5 option is at 21/20 odds, could be a good alternative to the match outright.

Wolves v Man Utd
FA Cup – 7.55 pm
BBC

The third and final FA Cup match of the day sees Manchester United head to Wolves. This should be a fascinating contest because across the course of the Premier League season, Wolves have shown time and time again that they have been able to stand up to and challenge the top sides in the country. Will they be able to make it count on home soil against the Red Devils?

Wolves are 21/10 with top bookmakers to pull off the win. Manchester United continue to go along in decent form, although they suffered a league defeat at Arsenal last weekend. They had won nine straight away games prior to that. But the Red Devils have shown up in a couple of big FA Cup games this season, taking wins at both Arsenal and Chelsea in the tournament. Will they be able to handle another tough away day for which they are 13/10 favourites?

A big day of betting action brings about the need to keep track of a lot, so stay up to date with the latest live bets.

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Best Bets of the Day – Friday, March 15th 2019

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Cheltenham Gold Cup
Horse Racing – 3.30 pm
ITV

This is the big race of the Cheltenham Festival 2019 and arguably it’s the most prestigious Chase of all. The Cheltenham Gold Cup sees last year’s winner Native River trying to defend his crown. He stormed the field twelve months ago not having had any kind of form behind him in his build up. So it was a bit of a bolt from the blue. This season seems to have gone the same way for him. Will he pull off another stunning run at Prestbury Park as 9/2 second favourite with top bookmakers?

This year’s renewal looks highly competitive with exciting 7-year-old Presenting Percy taking over at the head of the market. He is the 4/1 favourite with the leading bookmakers for the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup. This is a horse which has just gotten better and better and has produced some stunning results. He is looking for his third straight Cheltenham Festival win after taking the Pertemps and the RSA Chase in the last couple of years. Any punter that nails the winner of the Gold Cup always takes big bragging rights about their best bet of the day.

The leading English challenger is Clan Des Obeaux who took a double-figure win at the King George over Thistlecrack in December. That raised his stock and he continued that brilliant jumping form with a run at Ascot as part of his Gold Cup preps. He looks in tremendous shape to throw down a challenge. Last year’s runner up Might Bite has drifted to 14/1 odds after some poor form this season, but on his day could easily be a threat. The improving Kemboy could be the one to throw a curveball by challenging for a place finish.

Doncaster v Barnsley
League One – 7.45 pm
Sky Sports

In League One, the top five look pretty locked down for the season in terms of at least getting a playoff spot. That final playoff spot is still wide open though. Heading into the weekend it is Doncaster who are occupying the place but only by a point over their nearest challengers Peterborough. So there’s little margin for error for them at this point. Donny will be looking to snap a five-match winless streak of form in the league (D3 L2). While they have won only two of their last ten league games, they have tremendous home form.

Doncaster are unbeaten in nine at home, winning two of their last three at the Keepmoat. Rovers have won three of their last four at home against Barnsley (D1) too, but they won’t get an easy game here. Barnsley are sat in second place in the division. The Tykes are unbeaten in seventeen league games, and in each of their last seven on the road. It’s been highly impressive stuff from them and they are 29/20 favourites with leading bookies to win on Friday. Three points would see them move to within two points of leaders Luton.

Katie Taylor v Rose Volante
Boxing – 11.00 pm
Sky Sports

It is a big weekend for Irish fighter Kate Taylor in this St Patrick’s Day week. Taylor is going for a huge world title unification clash against Brazil’s Rose Volante. Taylor is looking to add the WBO crown that Volante holds, to the WBA and IBF belts that she already has. This is getting the top billing that the fight deserves and Taylor is 4/11 odds-on with leading bookmakers to get a decision win in the fight.

Taylor was supreme in her last fight, taking out Eva Wahlstrom in New York back at the end of last year. That leaves the Bray boxer with a W12 L0 career record, having landed five knockouts in that stretch. Volante is obviously going to be no pushover here though. In her last fight she decked Yolis Marrugo Franco in the third round of their dual back in October. That’s a perfect W14 L0 pro record from the Brazilian who has to defy 14/1 underdog odds on the night.

Moenchengladbach v Freiburg
Bundesliga – 7.30 pm
BT Sport

The German top flight delivers some action on Friday night with Borussia Monchengladbach playing host to Freiburg. Monchengladbach start the weekend in fourth place in the table and will jump above RB Leipzig into third with a point from this game. Last weekend they took a good way win at Schalke, snapping a run of just one point from four games that they were on. Still, they have lost their last three on home soil in the top flight. Can they turn that around?

They are the 7/11 odds on favourites with leading bookies for this match-up as they face up to a Freiburg side who are down in the bottom half of the table. However, Freiburg have been rallying a little bit lately with only the one loss in their last six. But it is their away form which creates the doubt on them, having won just twice on the road all season. They have no success in their last four away games. They have however scored at least two goals in five of their last seven played. Will, that edge them towards points on Friday night?

What a tremendous weekend of sporting action coming up, get more insights from Bobby’s big weekend bets.

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Is English Football Dominant in Europe Once More?

Jadon Sancho England

In the pre-Champions League era, when it was known as the European Cup, English teams enjoyed a spell of dominance in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Between 1977 and 1984, teams from the English First Division won six out of the seven editions of Europe’s top competition.

Liverpool were the most successful, with four trophies, but two European cup wins for Nottingham Forest and another for Aston Villa suggested that there was depth to the English supremacy.

But England’s European ascendancy came to an abrupt end in the mid-1980s as English teams were banned from European football following a string of violent incidents, most notably the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985 when Liverpool fans rioted and 39 people died.

The ban was lifted in the early 1990s, but it took many years for an English team to win Europe’s biggest prize. Following Manchester United’s win in 1999, there have been further successes for Liverpool (2005), Manchester United (2008) and Chelsea (2012), but Spain has been the dominant force in the Champions League, with nine wins this century.

But could that be changing? This year’s Champions League has produced four English quarter-finalists: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham. English fans watching the Champions League action on BT Sport will have plenty of opportunity to cheer on English teams. And football punters looking for the best Champions League bets on the BigBetBookmakers site will find an English team: Manchester City the 3/1 favourites.

There will be many pundits who suggest that this is indeed significant, and that it shows English football is now the dominant force in Europe. But the truth isn’t quite that simple. The English Premier League, which was founded in 1992, is the wealthiest league in European football, partly because it is the most competitive. Whereas Spanish, French, German and Italian football are now dominated by one or maybe two teams, English football has usually had four or five teams in contention.

And in recent seasons, the list of contenders has increased to encompass a ‘Big Six’, with the addition of Arsenal and Chelsea to the four teams already mentioned. These clubs have secured the lion’s share of the money coming into English football, which has enabled them all to potentially be able to compete in the latter stages of the Champions League.

That bigger pool of top teams means that English football has regularly produced more quarter-finalists than any other nation. In fact, this is the ninth time this century that England has been able to boast the biggest number of teams in the quarter-finals, and the third time that the country has had four representatives in the last eight. Yet that hasn’t translated into regular victories. Instead, Real Madrid and Barcelona, with their even deeper pockets, have been able to amass squads that have proven to be the best in the continent, led by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But while the presence of four English teams in the quarter-finals doesn’t necessarily indicate the strength of English football, there are other positive signs of the country’s resurgence, powered by the long overdue investments in coaching and development that began to accelerate after the 2010 World Cup. The English national team has reached a World Cup final and the last four of the UEFA Nations League, while young English players such as Jadon Sancho are increasingly in demand across the continent. Whatever happens in the Champions League, the future for English football looks bright.

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Premier League Darts – What does Nottingham have in store for us?

Peter.Wright.Darts

The Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham is ready to welcome Premier League darts this Thursday, as UK Open champion Nathan Aspinall look to become the first ‘Contender’ to take both points away from one of the field.

Last week saw the first whitewash of the season. James Wade flexed his muscles in a 7-0 sweep over Daryl Gurney, propping himself up at the top of the league standings taking seven points from a possible ten.

The other stand-out news was the 6-6 draw between John Henderson and Michael van Gerwen. MVG was a heavy favourite coming into this fixture, however, Hendo’s home support in Aberdeen was enough to push him over the line, restricting the world champion to just one point north of the border.

So Wade leads from Cross, van Gerwen and Price inside the playoff spots, with Smith and Barney propping up the table and in danger of being cut adrift if they don’t get a wriggle on.

What fixtures do Nottingham have in store for us?

Nathan Aspinall vs Michael Smith

Sixth ‘Contender’ Nathan Aspinall has a huge opportunity to dent Bully Boy’s hopes of making the playoffs this year. The Asp is fresh from his UK Open win and will be relishing the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd. Smith is still struggling, but his fluidity looks to be coming back after an injury stricken start to the year. Smith may become frustrated by Aspinall’s opportunistic finishing, with a 6-6 looking good value.

Aspinall 6-6 Smith @ 3/1 (BetVictor)

James Wade vs Mensur Suljovic

Wade is the form player in the Premier League at the moment, and after getting both points last week without dropping a leg, The Machine will be looking to kick on in style. Suljovic appears a little uncomfortable on the Premier League stage. His finishing is reliable, but his lack of 180 hitting may drag him into trouble come Judgement Night. Wade is playing too well to drop points here; his price holds value in the outrights.

Wade to win @ 10/11 (BetVictor)

Rob Cross vs Raymond van Barneveld

It’s do or die for Barney in the league. The Dutchman has picked up just two points in five matches so far, with time running out to put any pressure on the playoff spots. Cross sits comfortably in second spot having won his last two matches back-to-back. Voltage doesn’t look like holding up, with a flourish of heavy scoring leading to legs won against van Barneveld’s throw with ease. Cross to stroll the 180 race.

Rob Cross to score the most 180s @ 4/5 (BetVictor)

Gerwyn Price vs Michael van Gerwen

Gerwyn vs. Gerwen, as two of the top four slug it out for a grip on their playoff spot. Price is the only player without defeat so far in the league, with the Welshman throwing some of the best darts in his career. MVG is in a rough patch having gone his last four matches without victory; maybe Price can get under his skin in Nottingham. This looks destined to go the distance.

Gerwyn Price +2.5 legs handicap @ 4/5 (BetVictor)

Peter Wright vs Daryl Gurney

How Gurney reacts to last week’s 7-0 drubbing will prove critical in this match against a dangerous Snakebite. Wright is still gathering points without playing too well; he currently sits on six points, just one off the band of playoff players on seven points. Gurney has fight in him and needs a point or two to stay in touch with the top half of the league.

Over 11.5 legs @ 4/6 (BetVictor)

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Big Bets Bobby’s Take on the Mikey Garcia vs Errol Spence Jr Fight!

mikey.garcia vs errol.spence

Dmitry Bivol’s points win in New York last weekend got us back to winning ways with good value. This weekend’s action is stacked, however, there is one stand-out fight coming from Texas. Two of the top ten pound-for-pound stars slug it out in a fight contesting the IBF welterweight title, as Mikey Garcia jumps up two weights to take on the champion Errol Spence Jr.

It’s a ballsy move from Garcia. The former four-weight world champion (from featherweight to light-welterweight) is inexperienced in the deep, murky waters of the 147-pounds division, with size the talking point of this fight since it was made official last year.

Errol Spence Jr is a bit welterweight. The 29-year-old is unbeaten in his 24 fights, winning 21 by KO; his destruction of Kell Brook on enemy soil in 2017 underlined the power that “The Truth” possesses with both hands – something that Garcia will have to negate for a testing 36 minutes.

When this fight was made, it was thrown away by many as a huge mismatch between two guys chasing the money. Spence opened up as a huge favourite in the betting markets, but despite this, the needle on the narrative has shifted slightly as we approach the main event.

Teddy Atlas has been one of the respected views in the sport that has come out favouring Garcia now that time has ticked on, with the legendary trainer emphasizing the challengers skill-set.

“I do [like his chances] as long as he feints before delivering his punches.”

“Mikey is a terrific technical boxer. So, it is imperative that he doesn’t give up his defense for offense. Mikey has to get in and get out, put his punches together and not get too greedy. By getting off first, essentially Mikey is cutting the side of the beef off, by simply cutting the sides off and not the middle, Mikey can take small bites of the beef.”

“People think that the only way to win a fight is by a fighter exploiting the flaws in his opponent. Forget about what [Spence] does bad. Mikey must prevent Spence from doing everything that he does well. Everyone is (saying) that Mikey is at a disadvantage because he is the smaller man. No, he’s not (at a disadvantage.) As a result of being the smaller man, Mikey is quicker, he’s more fleet-footed against the more cement-footed Spence.”

A solid argument for the case of a Garcia upset. Garcia has looked fantastic in his recent outings against the likes of Robert Easter Jr., Sergey Lipinets and Adrien Broner, however, Spence knows that he just needs to connect with one of his dangerous combinations to put Mikey on his back foot. The narrative coming around to Garcia’s chance in this fight has provided an ounce of value in the market for a Spence stoppage win. An upset isn’t out of the question – but I’m not willing to back it.

Errol Spence to win by KO/TKO/DQ/Technical Decision @ 21/20 (BetFred)

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