Articles | Page 47 of 78 | Big Bet Bookmakers

January 24, 2019

The 2019 Six Nations Championship Prediction Report

The Six Nations Championship is an annual rugby union competition which is contested throughout Europe. National pride is at stake as each side vies to finish top of the standings and avoid the wooden spoon.

Unsurprisingly, given the name of the tournament, there are six teams competing each year with England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy all featuring in the competition. Prior to its current guise, it had previously been known as the Home Nations Championships. France and Italy were added to roster and the tournament changed its name to the Six Nations in 2000.

The games at staged at various grounds with each team getting the opportunity to host matches at their national stadiums. These venues include Twickenham, Stadio Olimpico and the Principality Stadium. Ties between teams will alternate between stadiums each year. For example, Ireland will play Wales at the Aviva Stadium one year before travelling to the Principality Stadium twelve months later.

It begins in February and concludes in mid-March. The games are played across the weekend with some matches being hosted on Friday nights. Bigger games tend to be reserved for Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Every team will face each other once during the tournament.

On occasion, the title may be shared between two sides if they cannot be separated at the top of the standings.

England are the most successful side to feature in the Six Nations Championship with 38 titles in total, with ten of these shared with another nation. Only Scotland and Italy have failed to win a Six Nations title since the year 2000.

The BBC broadcast the Six Nations in the UK and it is one of the most popular sporting events on the TV. Part-time rugby union fans often tune in to watch all of the action from the Six Nations Championship.

The 2019 Prediction Report

In June, reigning champions Ireland were priced up as the favourites in the betting market for the 2019 Six Nations and Joe Schmidt’s men were given a 44.44% implied probability for the upcoming tournament. They open the tournament against England and it is set to be a cracker. Dylan Hartley has been ruled out for their opponents and this has seen Ireland’s probability increase further. Owen Farrell is also a doubt for this opening clash.

Their success in the Grand Slam and the fact that Schmidt’s men lost just one game in 2018 has rightfully seen them start as the favourites and it’s that amazing run of form which saw their implied probability increased to 54.64% in December. By the beginning of January, that probability has increased to 55.56%.

Their resounding 16-9 victory over the All Blacks certainly made bettors sit up and take notice and that October success saw their implied probability leap from 44.44% to 50.00% in a matter of minutes.

Their first opponents, England, who are the most successful side in the tournament has been given an implied probability of 34.72% and are listed as the second favourites in the betting odds. That decreased to 28.57% in November. The Autumn Internationals gave England backers some hope that they can bounce back from a poor 2018 but their defeat the All Blacks set them back in the betting markets, especially considering the manner in which they blew the lead.

There are four uncapped players in the side and they look set to get off to a tough start against Ireland. Their implied probability is down to just 23.09% at the beginning of 2019.

Wales are third in the betting and have an implied probability of just 15.38% for this year’s tournament. They were solid throughout 2018 and picked up some notable wins in the Autumn Internationals which saw their implied probability increase to 18.18% as a result. There are a couple of injuries to overcome but they should be strong yet again.

Scotland and France have been given less of a chance of success in 2019 with the Scots rated as a 7.69% chance and this has been edged out from 9.09%. They rarely trouble the upper echelons of the Six Nations table. France’s surprise defeat to Fiji has seen their implied probability reduce and they are now rated as just a 6.67% chance. They did beat England at the 2018 Six Nations but struggled throughout the rest of the campaign.

2018 Six Nations Championship

England went into the tournament as defending champions but it was a struggle for Eddie Jones’ men and they weren’t able to defend their crown this time around. They finished fifth.

Ireland got off to a blistering start and won four from four which helped them secure the title in March. It was only the third time that they’ve won the tournament.

There were 78 tries scored in total with France’s Maxime Machenaud finishing as the tournament’s top point scorer.

Italy were unable to win any of their five matches at the Six Nations and finished bottom.

January 24, 2019

The 2019 National Rugby League (NRL) Prediction Report

The NRL is a league which comprises of professional men’s rugby teams and is extremely popular with sports fans. It is contested between March and October with the season running parallel to the Aussie Rules campaign. It has been running in its current form since the late 1990s.

It is also known as Telstra Premiership and is regularly televised across the country. It is the most watched and most attended rugby league competition in the world.

There are sixteen teams taking part each year with just one of those sides playing their rugby in New Zealand.

The season culminated in the NRL Grand Final which is a one-off showpiece event that helps determine the winner each year. This is one of the most watched sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere. The winners will also be invited to take part in a pre-season contest against the Super League champions. It is called the World Club Challenge.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are the most successful side in the NRL with 21-titles to their name. Other sides such as the Sydney Roosters have enjoyed recent success and they have been victorious on 14 occasions.

There have been a number of surprises over the years with the Penrith Panthers rising from the bottom of the table to clinch the title for the second time in their history back in 2003. It regularly throws up plenty of drama and excitement and it evokes plenty of passion and emotion amongst fans of the sport.

There are 201 matches player per season and the tournament continues to go from strength-to-strength.

2019 Prediction Report

Ahead of the 2019 season, which gets underway in mid-March, the reigning champions have unsurprisingly been priced up as the favourites.

The Roosters were very convincing throughout last season and won the Grand Final 21-6. Their foot-perfect first half performance flummoxed their opponents and they’ve understandably been given a 20.00% implied probability of securing a second successive title. That made it 14 titles for the decorated club and they appear to have strengthened yet again during the off-season.

They’ve added Ryan Hall, an England International to their squad alongside Brett Morris and the hugely talented Angus Crichton. They’ve also kept hold of their key players and they look like they will be difficult to stop in 2019.

Melbourne Storm, who were outclassed in the Grand Final have been assigned third place in the betting odds and have been granted a 16.67% implied probability of success according to the market. There have been plenty of changes over the last few months at the club with a number of ins and outs occurring and that could result in a slow start. Billy Slater announced his retirement last season and fans are hoping that Jahrome Hughes can step up this season.

The North Queensland Cowboys are also quite prominent in the betting markets and have been given an 18.18% implied probability this season.

Despite being given just an 8% implied probability this season, the Brisbane Broncos could be stronger this time around. They haven’t won a title since 2006 and despite being regarded as one of Australia’s most successful sporting clubs, they are enduring a barren spell at the moment. They appear to be stable off-the-pitch and 2019 could be the year that they challenge once again.

The most successful side in the competition, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have been given just 5.88% implied probability but they’re certainly not without a chance in 2019. The arrival of the highly-regarded Wayne Bennett has been one of the stories of the off-season and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see their odds shorten further before the campaign gets underway in March. Prop George Burgess has also turned down the chance to join the Eels and that’s a huge boost for the club.

Finally, the Cronulla Sharks have been assigned just a 6.67% chance of success this season whilst the implied probability for the Penrith Panthers is just 7.14%.

2018 NRL Championship

The Sydney Roosters were victorious once again in the NRL. They were the best side throughout the regular season and they blew away Melbourne Storm in the final. A 21-6 victory was convincing enough but they could have inflicted further damage on their opponents.

The Roosters finished top but were tied on the same points as the Storm and the Rabbitohs. The Cronulla Sharks also found themselves on 34 points, narrowly ahead of the Penrith Panthers and the Brisbane Broncos.

The Parramatta Eels finish bottom of the standings.

The Roosters easily swept aside the Sharks and Rabbitohs en-route to the Grand Final.

January 22, 2019January 23, 2019

Big Betting Sporting Events: The Europa League

The Europa League takes place every single and is played throughout the domestic European football season. It’s UEFA’s secondary club competition and although it is often eclipsed by the Champions League, it is one of the most-watched tournaments in the world and it regularly provides numerous betting opportunities.

Clubs qualify for the tournament based on performance in their domestic leagues although there are a number of qualifying rounds which precede the start of the competition and these allow so-called minnows a chance of qualification for the group stage.

The competition was previously known as the UEFA Cup and has produced a number of terrific stories and matches over the last forty years.

The group stage of the competition begins in September and consists of six match-days with the knock-out rounds commencing from February onwards. Teams who finish third in their Champions League groups will be allowed to enter the Europa League at this stage.

Spanish clubs tend to fare well in the Europa League with Sevilla having secured five titles and Atletico Madrid also enjoying recent success in the competition. Other winners of the competition include Liverpool, Inter Milan and Feyenoord.

Each country will have a number of co-efficients and some teams will also gain entry to the competition by winning their domestic cup competitions. In England, teams who finish seventh in the Premier League will often be given the opportunity to qualify for the tournament (depending on the FA Cup result).

When and Where?

The Europa League follows the same format each season. Many teams will begin their qualification campaign in July before domestic seasons have got underway. In September, twelve groups of four teams will battle it out for a place in the knock-out rounds.

The knock-out rounds begin in February and mirror the Champions League schedule.

Each team will have three home and three away games during the group stage. Knock-out ties are played over two legs, home and away.

Why is the Europa League so Popular?

The Europa League showcases a number of Europe’s top sides and although it doesn’t possess the glamour of the Champions League, it still manages to throw up a number of interesting ties throughout the season.

Top teams such as Sevilla, Ajax, Spurs and AC Milan have all recently featured in the competition and it provides a chance of European silverware for these clubs. It can also significantly raise the profile of relative unknowns such as Ostersunds, who reached the knock-out round in 2018 and played Arsenal over two legs.

Another possible reason for its popularity is that the competition is staged on Thursday evenings. This helps bridge the gap between the midweek Champions League matches and the weekend’s action. Thursday nights are not a hive of sporting activity and the Europa League is a superb way of keeping fans entertained.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

There are hundreds of betting opportunities available on the Europa League. Pre-season, bettors can wager on the tournament winner market and group winners and these provide long-term propositions.

On a weekly basis, there are number betting opportunities with all of the usual match markets priced up alongside total goal markets for the entire set of fixtures. Several bookmakers will also provide enhancements on the games each round.

Popular Betting Markets

Europa League Winner – This is a long-term bet and these markets are ideal for patient punters who don’t mind waiting for their cash. Before the tournament gets underway, every participating side will be priced up according to their chances of winning the Europa League. Bigger names can usually be found towards the top of the market. This market will remain in place throughout the campaign and will take shape following the group stage when the Champions League dropouts enter the competition.Big odds are available on this market.

To Finish Top Of… – This is a market which is available pre-season and applies to the group stage only. Each section will consist of four sides and each team will be priced up accordingly.

Match Winner – Each week, every match will be priced up and there will be numerous markets available for each clash. Match Winner markets are still the most popular way of playing and this is simply a case of deciding the outcome. It is also known as 1X2. All group stage matches will be played over 90 minutes whilst second leg matches during the knock-out stage may require extra time and penalties.

Under/Over – Goals markets are incredibly popular with Europa League bettors. The competition does have the habit of being relatively low-scoring and therefore Under 2.5 markets are often utilised. However, the tournament does all throw up drama and match-days 5 and 6 will often produce entertaining clashes.One of the major reasons for the popularity of Under/Over is that it doesn’t require a match prediction and it can often land with thirty minutes to spare. The Europa League regularly produces late goals.

Both Teams to Score – A similar goals-based bet for every single match in the competition. This requires both sides to get on the scoresheet in order to pay-out. Once again, it’s a great way of betting without having to predict which sides will win the game.

Handicaps – Many Europa League games can be seemingly one-sided affairs and teams such as AC Milan can often start games at prices such as 1/12 and 1/8. This is ideal for utilising the handicap markets. -1 and -2 are good ways of betting in these types of clashes.

To Qualify – This market comes into play during the knock-out round. Over the two-legs, punters can back either side to secure their place in the next stage of the competition. This is less risky than backing a team in 90 minutes.

Total Europa League Goals – With the majority of games kicking off at a similar time, many bookies now price up a total goals market for all of the game. This will often be set in the mid-30s and is based on the total accumulation of goals across all of the matches. It is a great way of keeping interest across all of the action without drilling down into specifics.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Europa League

Check Distances and travel plans – The Europa League is usually sat between two sets of domestic fixtures and it can be a testing time for the teams involved. I always check where a team are playing and who they are facing at the weekend. If a team from Norway come off the back of a tough away fixture and then have to travel to Greece, Cyprus of Kazakhstan just days later, they could be worth opposing. Home teams do tend to win often during the group stage, particularly those who are situated in far flung countries. There are no easy games in the Europa League but performances aren’t helped by fatigue and the possibility of jet lag.Scandinavian sides tend to fare poorly in southern Europe whilst the Greeks and Turkish sides don’t travel well in this tournament.

Team News is Vital – I usually like to have my bets an hour before the game as I always try to check team news first. Some managers treat the competition with respect whilst others aren’t so keen on the format. Many sides give youngsters the opportunity in this competition and that can help swing the result.

Match-day 5 and 6 can throw up strange results – Whilst the opening few games tend to go to form, match-days 5 and 6 are often erratic and unpredictable. At this stage of the competition, sides require particular results in order to qualify for the knock-out rounds. Teams who are already through will often rest players and play at half-pace whilst those who require three points will often come up trumps despite being underdogs.

Outright Bets are Often Best Struck in January – The outright market is available all season but the full line-up for the knock-out round will not be known until the end of the group stage. Champions League sides often prevail in the competition and until their participation is confirmed, I’d advise waiting until after Christmas.

Where Can I Watch the Europa League on TV in the UK?

BT Sport have recently acquired the rights to the Europa League and they show main games on their two channels in the UK. With the staggered kick-off times, this can often mean that four games are televised each Thursday.

Every single match is also available via their BT Sport App.

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

Big Bets Bobby’s Take On The Keith Thurman VS Josesito Lopez

Manny Pacquiao did the business for us last weekend as the Filipino – as expected – dissected Adrien Broner over twelve rounds of boxing. The focus of this week is still the 147-pounds, welterweight division as Keith Thurman makes his return to the ring after an absence of nearly two years.

One Time’s last outing was in March of 2017 as he tore Danny Garcia’s WBC strap away from him whilst retaining his WBA title in the process. Since then, an elbow injury has kept the 30-year-old out of the ring and away from the big money fights in what is surely one of the most interesting divisions in world boxing.

His opponent this weekend, Josesito Lopez, is a big underdog coming into the fight (a 12/1 shot with BetVictor to win the fight outright) – a clear indication of the gulf between both fighters inside the Barclays Center, New York.

Thurman is unbeaten in his 28 outings as a professional, with 22 coming inside the distance via KO, however, how strong he looks in his comeback fight will be the talk of the boxing world on Saturday night as we continue to argue about the man to beat in the welterweight division.

Lopez isn’t expected to offer much of a test for Thurman. A respected journeyman in the sport, the 34-year-old veteran will be used by Thurman to get the ring rust off and determine whether One Time has the desire back to succeed at the highest level. A journeyman, yes, a bum, no. Lopez is tough, experienced and knows how to dig in deep; whether he can take Thurman the distance is the biggest real question coming into the fight.

Losses to Andre Berto, Marcos Maidana, Canelo Alvarez and Jessie Vargas signify the level Lopez is at; he was stopped by three of these all in the first half of the fight – a measuring stick for anything Thurman throws at the challenger.

Yes, Lopez is tough, but if Thurman is close to peaking in the 147-pounds division again then he will stop ‘Riverside Rocky’. Four of Thurman’s last six wins have come on the scorecards but against much higher levels of opposition.

We can get 4/7 on the favourite winning the bout by stoppage. Unless there is a big shock in the Barclays Center, it looks a fairly safe bet with Thurman putting his foot on the gas in the latter stages of the fight. It’ll be a case of one more time for One Time.

Keith Thurman to beat Josesito Lopez by KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 4/7 (BetVictor)

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

January 22, 2019January 22, 2019

BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 26th-27th JANUARY

Cricket – Women’s Big Bash League – Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat

Whilst the Big Bash has been keeping me entertained over the last month, I’ve also managed to keep an eye on the women’s tournament and Saturday’s final is the first of the my big betting events this weekend.

It’s the first time, I’ve followed the Women’s Big Bash League and I’m sad that it’s nearly over for another year. It’s been suitably competitive and I can’t wait to settle down and watch the final. The Sydney Sixers began the season as favourites and were always expected to reach the latter stages but they are likely to face a tough test against Brisbane Heat.

Brisbane have already seen off one Sydney side as they beat the Thunder by four wickets last weekend and they are playing some superb cricket at the moment. A exemplary catch from Haidee Birkett played a huge part in their victory and her catch helped settle a do-or-die semi-final which had me on the edge of the my seat throughout.

The Heat will have to bat slightly better this time around after only setting their opponents a target of 141 and they will need to be on top of their game here against the Sixers.

Having said that, the Sixers were hardly at their fluent best in the semis and their batting struggles were evident throughout. It went into sudden death territory and Elysse Perry was the hero with her smashing six which added to her 54 off 59 balls earlier in the contest.

This may not be high on the priorities of sports fans this weekend but it’s a must-watch and it’s also a great contest to bet on. A pre-match wager is a great way of keeping an interest throughout but there are also likely to be plenty of in-play opportunities too. It could be a topsy-turvy affair and plenty of drama is guaranteed.

UK Viewers can enjoy all of the Big Bash action on BT Sport this weekend

Soccer – FA Cup – Barnet vs Brentford

I love FA Cup weekends! The fourth round takes place this weekend and Monday night’s fixture at the Hive is the second of my big betting events.

This is a battle of the Bees as non-league giant-killers Barnet take on Championship Brentford. John Still’s side are the only fifth tier side left in the competition and they’ll fancy their chances of making the next round of the competition. They surprised Sheffield United at the beginning of the month courtesy of a Shaquille Coulthirst goal and they will not be fazed by the visitors.

Brentford have improved under Thomas Frank and they will come into this game full of confidence following an unbeaten run. However, a decent run of the form doesn’t always equate to FA Cup success as the Blades were playing well prior to their humbling at the hands of Barnet.

Brentford are likely to be odds-on for this game and many people will be backing them at a short price but I think Barnet will probably frustrate them for long periods of the game. This is a game which will require patience and that opens up a myriad of betting opportunities.

I always make sure I check team news before FA Cup matches as managers are often tempted to make changes and I often do my betting just an hour before kick-off.

I can’t wait to see how Barnet line-up and how they begin to tackle the in-form Bees. The West Londoners have been a joy to watch in recent weeks and I’ll be intrigued to see if the likes of Kamohelo Mokotjo and Rico Henry are included in the squad. Either way, it won’t be straightforward for the visitors and this is the archetypal banana skin for the second tier side.

BT Sport will have comprehensive FA Cup coverage throughout the weekend and will be showing this game live on Monday night

Boxing – WBO Junior Middleweight – Jaime Munguia vs Takeshi Inoue

I wouldn’t normally dip into the Junior Middleweight divisions but with the lack of top-class boxing until March, I can’t resist watching this bout on Saturday night. After reading up on this fight, I am going to be glued to my screen throughout. It is the third of my big betting events this weekend.

This is taking place at the Toyota Center in Houston and there should be a decent crowd in attendance for this bout. Jaime Munguia is on the way up and he’s definitely one to keep an eye on. He was in action four times in 2018 and his crushing defeat of Sadam Ali was absolutely mesmeric. He’s had two successful title defences since and he’s becoming incredibly tough to beat.

Inoue is a lesser known quantity and he’s only fought outside of his homeland on one occasion. The fact that he’s a bit of an unknown means that he could potentially be dangerous and maybe underestimated by the betting markets as a result. His victory over Yuki Nonaka means that he’s earned the right to be here and I reckon he’s going to put up a hell of a fight!

These two bright young stars may be meeting further down the line and they both have bright futures ahead of them. I want to get one step ahead of the traders by watching these two in action and studying them ahead of future bouts.

Unsurprisingly, Munguia is the red-hot favourite for this contest and he probably will win but there are numerous betting markets to explore ahead of this fascinating match-up.

DAZN are showing the full fight live on Saturday night as well as the undercard.

Soccer – League Two – Bury vs Lincoln City

This is a fantastic televised tie in League Two and I urge any football fan to tune in. Premier League supporters may baulk at the idea of watching fourth-tier football but this should be a high-quality affair between two of the promotion frontrunners. It is the fourth of my big betting events for Saturday.

Lincoln play in midweek and they may not be as sharp as their opponents for this one. The Imps are an extremely effective side under Danny Cowley and they aren’t to everyones tastes but they are riding high and should be able to occupy one of the top three spots come the end of the season.

Bury have been absolutely delightful to watch in recent weeks and they are superb at Gigg Lane. They score goals for fun and have two of the best midfielders in the division: Jay O’Shea and Danny Mayor. Ryan Lowe has got his side purring and although they were lucky to beat Forest Green Rovers last weekend, they are likely to be back to their best in Lancashire on Saturday night.

This game could go either way and it’s a fascinating tussle between two super sides. It’s also a clash of styles and it’ll be interesting to see which approach wins here. This game could have a big say on the promotion race and I can’t wait to settle down on Saturday night and enjoy this one.

Sky Sports are Showing Bury vs Lincoln on Saturday night for UK viewers

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

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019

Arsenal v Man Utd FA Cup 4th Round Preview

Arsenal v Manchester United
FA Cup – 7.55 pm
Friday, January 25th
BBC One

I remember back in 1999 when Ryan Giggs produced one of the most famous moments in the history of the FA Cup. It was the FA Cup semi-final replay, with Manchester United trying to get past their rivals Arsenal. Giggs collected the ball inside his own half, meandered his way past the entire Arsenal defence and fired the ball into the roof of the net.

It is one of the best imagination-capturing goals ever scored in the competition.

The Red Devils went on to win the title that year, beating Newcastle in the final. That old FA Cup rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United gets renewed on Friday evening when the two clubs go at it in the fourth round of this year’s edition.

Between them, Arsenal and Manchester United have won the FA Cup 25 times, amassing 40 FA Cup final appearances between them (20 each). They are the two most successful clubs in the history of the competition, with Arsenal having lifted the trophy on 13 occasions, and the Red Devils doing so on 12 occasions.

Rivalry renewed

This will be the first meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup since their coming together back in March 2015, when Arsenal took a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. This will be their 16th meeting in the famous old competition and the head-to-head is just slightly being shaded by the Red Devils. United hold a W7 D2 L6 record against the Gunners in the FA Cup.

The two of them have already met this season as they squared off at the start of December last year in the Premier League. Twice in the match Arsenal went ahead and on both occasions, they were pegged back very quickly by United. In their last meeting at the Emirates, the Red Devils came away with a 3-1 victory in last season’s Premier League.

A giant will fall

Of course, with such a heavyweight meeting in the fourth round of the competition, one of the giants of the FA Cup will be taking an early tumble. Heading into the match Manchester United are 8/1 odds to win the tournament outright this season, with Arsenal around the 12/1 odds mark, depending on which leading bookmaker you go and have a look at. But make no mistake about it. At the end of the day there is going to be an early major casualty in this season’s tournament when the final whistle blows on this match.

No holds barred

Sometimes these cup competitions, with all the modern demands of the league and European action, can often fall by the wayside in terms of priority. However, because of the perceived difficulty facing both of these in this fourth-round clash, there is little doubt that the two will be going at it hammer and tongs. Both of them are very likely to field strong starting elevens. This is hardly the time to be sitting back and taking this lightly. For both, it will represent the final chance this season to get their hands on a piece of domestic silverware.

Red Devils roaring again

Since the autocratic methods of Jose Mourinho exited Old Trafford along with the Portuguese manager back in December, it is almost like a fog has been lifted over the Theatre of Dreams. Former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in, and has immediately breathed new life into the side. That includes guiding them to a massive three points in the Premier League recently away at Tottenham.

After such a laboured season under Mourinho, Manchester United have rediscovered some of that old attacking swagger. They are currently running on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions, including a home win over Championship side Reading in the third round of the FA Cup at the start of the year.

Arsenal impress at home

It’s been no secret really that Arsenal have had their problems with their form lately. When you take a look at the overall picture, you see a W4 D1 L4 record in their last nine games across all competitions. However, if you break it down to only look at their home form, things start to look much better for Unai Emery’s side. Why? Because the Gunners have won six of their last seven home games across all competitions. That includes what actually turned out to be an easy win in a London derby clash with Chelsea on the weekend.

With nine goals netted in their last three home fixtures, the Gunners are not likely to be any kind of a pushover on home soil when the Red Devils come to visit. Arsenal’s only home defeats this season have been against high-quality opposition. They lost their first home league game of the season against Manchester City, and their one other home reverse happened in mid-December when they lost in the league cup at the Emirates against Tottenham.

Summary

There is always something special when Arsenal and Manchester United come together. It immediately reignites some memories of fantastic previous battles between the two sides, and not just in the FA Cup.

I can recall that breathtaking moment in 1999 when Giggs stunned Wembley with his incredible solo effort, as well as I can recall their 2011 Premier League meeting when Manchester United fired eight goals past the Gunners. It’s just last season that I can look back on drama as well, with a last-gasp winner coming from Marouane Fellaini for United at Old Trafford. What magical moments will this latest clash deliver?

This is the pre-cursor to another big weekend of FA Cup action, check out Big Bobby’s best weekend bets as well!

January 20, 2019January 19, 2019

Best Bets of the Day – Sunday, January 20th 2019

Huddersfield v Man City
Premier League – 1.30 pm
Sky Sports

In the UK on Sunday lunchtime, Premier League action returns to our screens to warm up our best bets of the day preview. Reigning champions Manchester City make a trip to face current bottom side Huddersfield. Naturally, the Citizens are a strong odds-on option to win this. Many punters will probably be thinking that it is just about the size of the winning margin that they get. City have landed three wins on the bounce in the top flight and seem to have restored confidence after their blips in December.

As for Huddersfield, they are starting the weekend eight points from safety and by the time they kick off on Sunday at the John Smith’s, that gap could be wider. Boss David Wagner walked away from the club earlier in the week and with one point earned from their last nine Premier League fixtures, they are sizable 20/1 underdogs. It may be one of those games in which the Winning Margin market could be a good fit.

Fulham v Tottenham
Premier League – 4.00 pm
Sky Sports

More Premier League action fills up our Sunday and if what happened last weekend hadn’t have happened, my preview would have taken on a different context. But because I sat and watched Spurs lose at home against Manchester United. Because of the subsequent fall out from that defeat getting worse for Spurs with the loss of Harry Kane to injury, I only have questions. A big question.

Spurs have also lost in-form forward Son Heung Min to the Asian Cup and it’s hard not to raise the question of where the goals are going to come from for Spurs. Still, they are 3/4 odds-on favourites to win this game with leading bookmakers. That’s because Fulham are in a heap of trouble still with only three home wins all season. Those wins were all against sides who are currently living in the bottom six along with them. With a flimsy defence and little to offer going forward, they are underdogs. But will they be catching Spurs just at the right time to potentially pull out three very unexpected points?

LA Rams at New Orleans Saints
NFL – 8.05 pm
Sky Sports

I am going to have to squeeze in the two big NFL matches on Sunday. This is the NFC Championship matchup, with the winner going through to the Super Bowl. The Saints are the 4/7 favourites at leading bookmakers to be the ones moving ahead. There has actually been a big trend in matches between these two. In the last six meetings between the Rams and Saints, the home side on the day, has won.

So advantage Saints then. This is just the second time they have met in the postseason, the Saints winning their previous encounter back in 2000. Coupled with the Rams having only won one of five previous NFC Championship games away from home in their history, it’s clear to see the Saints as favourites. However, in last week’s win over Dallas, the Rams set a couple of franchise records as they produced a high-quality attacking display. They need that and more to upset the odds.

New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs
NFL – 11.40 pm
Sky Sports

The Patriots are back in the AFC Championship match once again. But they are going to find themselves in the unfamiliar position of being underdogs for this one as they visit the Arrowhead Stadium. The Patriots have only picked up one win in six previous trips to Kansas. But they did take a win over them back on week six of the regular season. But that was on home soil and was a tight squeeze by three points.

While the Pats were perfect at home this season, they only won three of eight away games. The Chiefs have been in terrific form though as they have powered their way into this position. It says a lot about them on home soil starting as 4/6 favourites against the Pats. Kansas won their last home game against them 42-17 in 2017. Can they pull off a repeat victory and stop the Patriots making a Super Bowl return?