Posted on

2018/19 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Draw & Preview

After the long grind of the UEFA Champions League group stage, the draw was made on Monday, Decmber 17th, 2018 for the round of sixteen. Frankly there were no great surprises as to who the final sixteen teams were that managed to qualify for the knockout stage.

But that’s no bad thing as there are some massive, high-profile ties to come among Europe’s elite.  The next round doesn’t start until the middle of February 2019, but it is well worth taking a look ahead to the action that is to come. You will be able to tune into BT Sport to watch the round of sixteen fxxitures.

Manchester United v PSG
12 February & 6 March

The Red Devils could have their backs against the wall in this tie. They do have time to get their ship steadied after having sacked Jose Mourinho in mid-December. It has been a very poor season by their standards though and it will forever remain a mystery as to why they didn’t go all out to try and win their match day six fixture against Valencia. The chance of winning the group was still there and that could have led to the avoidance of a big-gun.

But this is the bed they have made for themselves. PSG traded home wins with Liverpool in the group stage so have faced English opposition already this campaign. Given how easily Liverpool beat Manchester United in a December EPL meeting, it is easy to see why the bookmakers have the French champions as 1/5 odds-on favourites To Qualify from the tie. It shows the sizeable task ahead for the Red Devils. Will the change of manager bring new fortunes though? This will be the first-ever action between the two clubs

Roma v Porto
12 February & 6 March

Roma, after their second place finish behind Real Madrid in Group G will have nervously looked at the potential sides they could have faced. They will be breathing a sigh of relief after avoiding the big guns in the draw. The Italians, who lost in last season’s semi-final against Liverpool, get a shot against Portuguese outfit Porto. But will it be an easy tie for them? Because there is a bit of recent prior between these two.

In last season’s qualification playoff round, Porto went up against Roma and they dumped the Italians out 4-1 on aggregate. Porto are just shading things with the top bookmakers as 3/4 favourites To Qualify from this new meeting. The Portuguese powerhouses topped their group over Schalke and to be fair it was the easiest of the eight groups in the first round of this season’s Champions League. FC Porto went unbeaten with a W5 D1 record which shouldn’t be knocked though.

Ajax v Real Madrid
13 February & 5 March

Ajax are the ones charged with taking on the reigning European champions in the round of sixteen. Will it be too big of a task for them, or will they thrive as underdogs? They don’t have great history against Real Madrid. Ajax have lost their last six games in a row against them. Los Merengues won 4-1 in both meetings when they last met up, which was in the 2012/13 Champions League group stage.

Madrid have scored at least three goals in each of their last five games against the Dutch outfit. But Real Madrid did produce some below-par performances in the group stage. Notably they got stunned in a defeat against CSKA Moscow. Ajax meanwhile did only finish second in their group but they earned a tremendous point in a 1-1 away draw at Bayern Munich. It was the Germans who finished above them in their group. Ajax are big 10/3 underdogs in general at the top bookmakers to get through this tie.

Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund
13 February & 5 March

It was a remarkable comeback story for Tottenham in the group stage. After losing their opening two games of their campaign against Inter and then Barcelona, Spurs looked totally out of the running. More so when they could only manage a draw at PSV in their third fixture. Then it all turned around for them as they pulled themselves back into things, including a dramatic late goal in a draw at the Nou Camp against Barca on match day six.

It showed plenty of resilience from the Lilywhites and they are going to need it going forward. This is a tough tie against Dortmund, who are powering along so strongly at the head of the Bundesliga. The Germans topped their Champions League group over Atletico Madrid and BVB are a massive threat in this tournament overall. They will be out for revenge too after losing their two group stage matches against Spurs last season. Can they find a way to break the resilience of Tottenham? It is Dortmund who slightly edge things as 4/5 favourites in the To Qualify market for this tie.

Liverpool v Bayern Munich
13 February & 5 March

This could be the tie of the round. What a clash Liverpool have landed with after only finishing second in their group to PSG. It means they have drawn another of Europe’s elite. It is Bayern Munich who the Reds will have to showdown against in the round of sixteen. However, looking at the current status of things, it may not be a bad draw for the Premier League side. Liverpool are having a tremendous Premier League season and showed their experience last season in reaching the final.

Bayern Munich are not the Die Roten that we have seen over the last few seasons, because by their standards, they have been having a tough season. They are trailing badly in the Bundesliga title race, unable to stand up to the surprise form of Borussia Dortmund there. But this is a side full of quality and proven quality at that. Even though things on the domestic front haven’t been great for them, they simply coasted through their Champions League group stage. It’s a fascinating tie and the top bookmakers have Liverpool at a general 4/5 odds favourite to win through.

Lyon v Barcelona
13 February & 5 March

Barcelona may look at this tie on paper and be relatively happy with things. The Catalans found themselves facing a tricky group stage campaign, having been lumped together with Spurs and Inter Milan. However, Barcelona never batted an eyelid as they cruised their way calmly to top spot in the group. At times during the campaign, they (more specifically, Lionel Messi) were simply irresistible.

Lyon though should not be totally underestimated. They beat Manchester City in the group stage at the Etihad and then earned a draw back on home soil against them. They played so very well in those two games. It has to be put into context the strength that Lyon showed in those games against Manchester City. The Citizens are the outright favourites to win the tournament this season. Still, it hasn’t stopped bookmakers being fully aware of the threat of Barcelona, making the overwhelming odds-on favourites to qualify from this tie. The Catalans hold an unbeaten match record against Lyon from six previous clashes.

Atletico Madrid v Juventus
20 February & 12 March

This may be some tussle between Atletico and Juventus. Atletico missed out on top spot in their group stage campaign against Borussia Dortmund. They did finish level on points with the Germans after trading blows with them. Atletico are such a difficult side to get the better and they are going to know the importance of staying strong on home in the first leg of this epic tie.

Juventus did have a couple of slips in their group. They surprisingly threw away a lead late on in Turin against Manchester United. Then on match day six, they suffered an even bigger shock defeat out on the road against Young Boys. Still, when it comes to the crunch, they have Cristiano Ronaldo and they are not just going to be rolled over easily. It could be a long war of attrition in this spectacular tie which Juve are 4/9 odds-on favourites to win with the top bookmakers.

Schalke v Man City
20 February & 12 March

Schalke are one of the big outsiders to lift the Champions League title this season. The Germans won’t be too pleased about their draw for the round of sixteen. Schalke made it through their group stage campaign in second place behind Porto. That was in Group D which was arguably the weakest of all the groups. So what kind of stead does that leave them in to face Manchester City?

The Citizens are red-hot favourites according to the leading bookmakers, which is no great surprise. City did have a scare of their own in the group stage, losing on match day one on home soil against French side Lyon. Despite behind held to a draw in the reverse fixture against Lyon, Manchester City showed their class to recover well enough to come back and win their group after their early set back. This would be a great Champions League upset if the Germans got through this tie.

Don’t forget that as all the sporting action rolls around day by day, to keep a track of the best live bets around!

Posted on

BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 22ND -23RD DECEMBER

DupSO7gWwAIPupA

Boxing – Featherweight Division – Carl Frampton vs Josh Warrington

I love boxing and I cannot wait to see how Josh Warrington fares in the first defence of his featherweight title on Saturday night. This pre-Christmas bout is absolutely fascinating and It’s the first of my big betting events for this weekend.

Despite the fact that he is defending his title, Warrington has been priced up as the underdog here and I find that absolutely fascinating. He looked very impressive against Lee Selby despite requiring a split decision and I wouldn’t be writing him off just yet.

Carl Frampton may be smaller than his opponent but he is a big hitter and with 15 career knock-outs from 26 bouts, I can see why the market is favouring him but it’s rare to see the odds stacked in his favour.  Especially considering that Warrington has an unblemished record so far. He may not KO his opponents often but he’s a hugely tactical fighter who knows his way around the ring and won’t surrender his title easily. This is the toughest assignment of his career and he will be looking to make a name for himself at the Manchester Arena.

Frampton is a shade of odds-on at the time of writing and he has been well-backed by his faithful army of fans but it won’t be straightforward for him. Warrington has the momentum and will be roared on by swathes of supporters and this looks set to be an absolutely fascinating pre-Christmas bout.

I can’t wait to see how it plays out and with a decent undercard scheduled, it’s set to be a big night for Boxing fans such as myself.

You can follow all of the action BT Sport Box Office on Saturday night. 

Soccer – League One – Portsmouth vs Sunderland

Every now and again, it’s good to dip into the lower leagues and two former Premier League outfits meet at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon. It’s hard to believe that this game is a League One clash and this third tier match between Portsmouth and Sunderland should be a cracker. It’s the second of my big betting events taking place this weekend.

Pompey have been much better away from home this season and Kenny Jackett’s side will be hoping to keep one of their promotion rivals at arms length with three points in this mouthwatering clash.

Burton are the only side to have beaten Sunderland this season but the Black Cats have dropped points away from home in their last two outings and they cannot afford to lose any more ground on the South Coast club here.

It should also be an entertaining clash for the neutral with Sunderland being the only side in the EFL to have scored in every single match and they are likely to find the net once again here. Pompey conceded twice to Charlton last week and it’s been a busy week for the club. They will be hoping to pick up their seventh home win of the campaign here.

Portsmouth will be top of League One at Christmas regardless of what happens over the course of the 90 minutes but the ball is in Sunderland’s court and they must ensure they don’t let their opponents pull away over the festive period. What an absorbing game of football we have in prospect.

Highlights of this game can be viewed on Quest TV on Sky Sports on Saturday evening

Soccer – Premier League – Huddersfield vs Southampton

This season’s Premier League seems to be full of fascinating relegation battles and another six-pointer takes place on Saturday afternoon. Both of these sides are desperate for the points as they look to scramble away from the dreaded dropzone.

This may not be the highest quality game in the top flight but it makes for a decent betting event and its set up nicely. Since taking seven points from a possible nine, the Terriers have lost four in a row and scored just two goals in that time. They are generally tougher to beat in West Yorkshire and David Wagner’s side will be suitably organised and ready to try and take something from this clash. Chelsea are the only side who have netted more than two goals against them at the John Smiths Stadium and Southampton will need to be creative in order to penetrate their backline.

Southampton pulled off the shock of the weekend by beating Arsenal last Sunday and the Saints looked much better going forward. Shane Long is back from the wilderness and will be aiming to make a nuisance of himself once again here.

After failing to find the net throughout October, the South Coast side have now scored in six of their last seven games and it’s a fascinating contrast of styles. A draw will help neither side although it will maintain equilibrium between the two teams. Saints have a two point cushion as things stand and Huddersfield will see this as the perfect opportunity to drag them back into the relegation mire.

What a tense 90 minutes this could be! I cannot wait to see which way it goes.

This game can be viewed in the UK on Sky Sports Match Choice on Saturday night. 

Cricket – Big Bash League – Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers

The Big Bash kicks off on Saturday and I cannot wait for it to get underway. It is hard to take your eyes off this fascinating division and I make this opening encounter one of my best betting events of the weekend.

I though the Sixers were incredibly unlucky to miss out last season and they ended the campaign as the form side in the BBL and I cannot wait to see if they take that momentum into this season. The Perth Scorchers did make the semi-finals and they are always competitive in this fast-paced division. It’s a terrific opening day match-up between two highly exciting outfits.

A huge crowd is expected for the opening match and there should be a terrific atmosphere as the teams enter the field at the SCG.

There’s a couple of interesting inclusions in the Sydney side with Australia’s Jack Edwards and Lloyd Pope both likely to make a big impact this season and they are players to watch in this year’s competition.

During the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, the BBL is a shining light and is great for betting in-play. The action-packed overs mean that markets change frequently and I love to get involved throughout the competition.

These two sides are surely going to be involved at the business end of the season and I can’t wait to see which of the pair will make the fastest start to the new campaign.

UK viewers can enjoy all of the action from the BBL on BT Sport 1 this winter

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

 

 

 

 

Posted on

The 2018 St.Leger Prediction Report

Dt0aMc6XcAACTNu

The St.Leger is an annual race which is staged at Doncaster Racecourse in South Yorkshire. It is a group 1 event and is one of the most anticipated contests of the flat season which runs throughout the summer months in the UK.

There are five ‘classics’ which take place throughout the summer and these contests always attract a number of top class entries. The St.Leger is the oldest of the quintet and typically takes place at the beginning of September and is seen by many to signify ‘the end of summer’.

It is staged over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards and is always a hugely competitive heat. It is open to three-year old colts and fillies and recent winners include Encke, Leading Light and Capri.

Aidan O’Brien is one of a number of trainers who possess a great record in the race with the contest typically attracting top trainers and jockeys to the track. The Irish handler first won the race back in 2001 and has been victorious on six different occasions. Other successful trainers to have clinched the St.Leger are John Gosden, Saeed Bin Suroor and Luca Cumani.

 

Prediction Report

As always the 2018 staging of the St.Leger attracted a talented field with Kew Gardens firmly placed at the top of the betting market going into the contest. The Aidan O’Brien runner was entering for top connections and had previously been victorious in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot and also at Longchamp in 2018. It was unsurprising to see the three-year old at the head of the market.

At the end of June, Kew Gardens had the implied probability of 4.76% alongside fellow raiders Delano Roosevelt and Saxon Warrior. The Pentagon and Amadeo Modigliani were also chalked up as having a decent chance in the final classic of the season with implied probability of 3.85% and 2.94% respectively narrowly ahead of Gustav Klimt and Brundtland.

After putting in an underwhelming performance at the Curragh, Delano Roosevelt briefly slipped down the betting and the O’Brien runner’s implied probability also decreased substantially. The implied probability of stablemate Saxon Warrior increased as a result with the Japanese-bred competitor being given a 4.76% implied probability by the biggest bookmakers in the UK.

Prior to the race getting underway, Delano Roosevelt returned to the betting with a joint highest implied probability of 4.76% once again alongside market ever-present Kew Gardens. Who had been tipped by many experts during the build-up to the event.

 

 

2018 Result

Aidan O’Brien arrived with a three-strong hand in the race and added another victory in the race to his ever-growing tally. The Irish trainer is a dab hand in group races and he was delighted to see Kew Gardens cross the line ahead of his eleven rivals. A market leader, who went off as the 3-1 favourite saw off the challenge of Lah Ti Dar to land the spoils on a wet and windy day in South Yorkshire.

One of the outsiders, Southern France finished third in the race whilst one of the aforementioned market frontrunners, The Pentagon could only finish in 11th place.

 

Last Year

It was back-to-back successes for Aidan O’Brien following the success of Capri in 2017. Ryan Moore was on board once again as the three-year old saw off the challenge of Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius.

O’Brien’s other runner Venice Beach was only able to finish tenth in the contest.

 

 

Posted on

Big Betting Sporting Events: The FA Cup

DtPULvYU4AAwNKz

Football is hugely popular in the UK and one of the countries favourite competitions is the FA Cup. It takes place each year and is staged over a number of months. It has produced countless memorable moments over the years and there are many iconic images which are conjured up by a mere mention of the competition.

It is usually won by a Premier League side however the competition is exceptionally important to teams in the lower echelons of the football pyramid and provides a terrific financial boost for those sides. Over 600 clubs feature in the competition although not all at the same time.

The preliminary rounds begin as early as mid-August with the competition concluding at Wembley Stadium at the end of May.

The first and second rounds of the competition will see a number of non-league sides compete against teams from the higher reaches and these games are often televised. If the unfancied side are victorious, it is often described as a ‘giant-killing’. The competition can also be a welcome distraction from poor league form for many sides.

If games are not decided within 90 minutes, replays will take place. This process has recently been scrapped from the fifth round onwards in order to avoid potential fixture congestion. The draw for the FA Cup will typically take place on a Monday evening and is usually televised on the BBC.

 

Where and When

The FA Cup begins as early as August although betting opportunities on the preliminary rounds are often prohibitive. Premier League teams enter the competition in January at the third round stage with these fixtures taking place on the first Saturday of the year.

All games are played at the ground of the team who are drawn out of the hat first. Replays are staged at the opponent’s stadium. Semi-Finals and Finals are held at the National Stadium.

 

Why is the FA Cup so Popular?

The FA Cup has been a mainstay of British football for many years and it has produced a number of memorable moments. These usually revolve around so-called ‘minnows’ unexpectedly beating top flight sides. It is also a chance for lower teams to test themselves against bigger teams and the prospect of the likes of Liverpool or Manchester United having to visit a non-league ground is hugely exciting for everyone involved.

From a betting perspective, it’s a great chance to profit from generous odds on unexpected outcomes in these games and this is something I enjoy exploring on a regular basis.

 

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

There are many opportunities available for bettors with the outright market always a decent place to start. This is simply predicting which team will lift the trophy at Wembley at the end of May. The competition is typically won by a Premier League side and it tends to be awarded to a top six team.

There are attractive prices available on this market with the majority of teams priced at 5/1 or bigger prior to the third round getting underway.

Big Bookmakers will also provide prices on each individual game throughout the tournament although very few online operators will have odds available on the preliminary stage.

 

Popular Betting Markets

Outright – As mentioned, the outright market is particularly popular and is usually dominated by the top six sides in the Premier League. Each-way betting is available although teams would need to make it all the way to the final in order to receive a pay-out.

Individual Match Markets – Each game is priced up throughout the tournament and the biggest bookmakers will provide markets on the Match Result (1X2), Under/Over Goals, First Goalscorer and Correct Score markets amongst many others. These will usually be weighted towards the higher-ranked side although the FA Cup does throw up many shocks each season.

Accumulators – Ahead of each round, many bettors like to put together accumulators for the FA Cup. These usually consist of sides who are expected to win their match against lower-ranked opposition. Every side would need to be victorious in order for punters to secure a pay-out

To Qualify – In addition to standard match odds, the FA Cup will also have a ‘To Qualify’ market which will offer a shorter price on each side to make it through to the next round of the competition. This could be achieved via either extra time or on penalties. This provides a safer option for bettors and allows the possibility of a draw after 90 minutes.

 

 

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the FA Cup

  • Always Check Team News: Some managers will opt to make wholesale changes ahead of a cup tie. This is particularly common for sides who don’t require the financial windfall. A heavily-rotated side may lack fitness and may not be motivated for the tie. It could be worth backing against them.

 

  • Manager Preference: Some managers have a lot of respect for the competition whilst others will always prioritise the league. It’s always worth checking a manager’s history in the FA Cup. How did they fare last season? Did they put together a good run at their previous club? Some head coaches just know to rally their troops and get them pumped up ahead of the match and these are always worth siding with.

 

  • 3G Pitches: A relatively new addition is the 3G pitch which has become increasingly common amongst non-league clubs. It is forbidden by the EFL and some clubs from the higher tiers may struggle to adapt to these surfaces and it could be worth backing them to make a slow start or even slip-up.

 

  • ‘Difficult Place to Go’: Many non-league and League Two clubs will be deemed a ‘difficult place to go’ by pundits and this is usually true in the FA Cup. Some grounds are pokey and noisy and intimidating and opposition clubs frequently struggle to pick up points. If Premier League clubs are travelling to face a lower-league outfit, they could be in for a difficult afternoon. Always search for sides who have a formidable home record in the lower echelons.

 

  • Late Goals are Common: Lower ranked sides are always full of energy during the early stages of games but they can often be undone later in the match. Fitness levels are often inferior to Premier League and Championship sides and these can be key in the final ten minutes. If the unfancied outsiders are in the lead with ten minutes to go, they will sit deep and try and preserve their lead and this often results in a late equaliser. Look for back a goal after 80 mins.

 

Where can I watch the FA Cup in the UK?

The coverage of the FA Cup is shared between the BBC and BT Sport. Each broadcaster will show two or three matches per round and will also have highlights from competition throughout the season.

The BBC will also show a round-up and continuous updates from around-the-grounds on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Posted on

Best Bets of the Day – Sunday December 16th 2018

salah e1544805497419

Liverpool v Man Utd
Premier League – 4.00 pm
Sky Sports

It is a mouth-watering rivalry at the best of times and the big feature of the Bets of the Day for Sunday dials in on Anfield. It’s Liverpool v Man Utd time! The weekend will see Manchester United having a massive test of character as they look to avoid a chasm opening up between themselves and Liverpool. So this rivalry has a new spice to it. It’s usually a battle between two sides scrapping for prominence near the top of the league table. This time around it sees title-contenders Liverpool looking for points against a Manchester United side who are already well-adrift of the top six.

Manchester United are sixteen points behind Liverpool and have just the one win in their last five league games (D3 L1). Their defence has had massive struggles this season and are taking on a Liverpool side brimming with confidence. Will Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho be able to come up with a master plan to stifle the Reds? They are 5/1 general underdogs at top bookmakers in the match outright. Liverpool are on a five-match winning streak in the league and are the only remaining unbeaten side in the EPL. They are unbeaten in 28 league home games now and have conceded in just one of their last 12 league home games. Will they be able to deliver on their 4/7 odds favouritism at Anfield?

Hibs v Celtic
Scottish Premiership – 12.30pm
Sky Sports

There was a profitable weekend for Celtic last time out. They jumped to the top of the table as they beat the then-Premiership leaders Kilmarnock 5-1 at Celtic Park. That was a big show of intent from the reigning champions. It leaves them two points clear of rivals Rangers at the top of the pile. Plus Celtic have games in hand over everyone else. It’s not a bad position for them to be in. They hit the road this weekend to visit Easter Road and take on Hibs. Celtic are only W1 D2 in their last three away games.

Does that open the door for Hibs to avoid defeat? The draw is a general 10/3 odds option at the leading bookmakers with Celtic the odds-on favourites. Hibs have only been beaten once this season at a home in a W3 D3 L1 record. They have averaged almost 2.5 goals per home game. Given that 71% of their home fixtures have ended over 2.5 goals, then the over/under 2.5 goals market comes into play well for this game. Hibs took four points from their two home league games against Celtic last season. Can the Hibees frustrate them again?

Newcastle v Edinburgh
European Cup Rugby – 3:15 pm
BT Sport

It is a straight out battle for top spot in Pool 5 of the European Champions Cup at Kingston Park on Sunday. Edinburgh are the leaders heading into the weekend with a three-point advantage being held over the Falcons. This is matchday four of the campaign and it will be the reverse of last weekend’s meeting. In that game, the Scottish side made a pretty big statement at Murrayfield. They ran out 31-13 winners over the Falcons, limiting the visitors to only the one try and three kicks. Edinburgh meanwhile ran up four tries in the match, helping them land the winning bonus point as well. So another win for the Falcons will guarantee that Edinburgh stays top with two to play.

Newcastle have to come up with a big answer here now. It’s getting to the point of all-or-nothing. The biggest problem that the Falcons will have is in trying to break the very stern Edinburgh defence. They didn’t get much change out of them last weekend and will have to come up with a new game plan in a game on home soil. This is a game which Newcastle really can’t afford to lose. Given the occasion, the bookmakers are expecting a tight game with only a -3 handicap on Newcastle at 10/11 odds. It is the Falcons who are favourites on home soil in the match outright. How badly they need to make amends for last weekend’s loss north of the border.

Get help finding the right bookmaker for you with our best bookmaker’s section.

Posted on

Best Bets of the Day – Saturday December 15th 2018

football 2697766 1280

Manchester City v Everton
Premier League – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports

Where other to start Saturday’s Bets of the Day than at the Etihad? The Citizens got a big wake up call last weekend in the Premier League. They are not invincible after all it would seem, as Chelsea took them down at Stamford Bridge. City lost that trip to London 2-0, their first league defeat of the season. It snapped a seven-match winning streak that they were on in the top flight. So this is a going to be a test of character but they are still massive 1/5 odds-on favourites at the top bookmakers to claim three points in this one against Everton.

City have a perfect home record of eight wins from eight this season in the Premier League. They have averaged 3.75 goals per game at the Etihad. Everton have had a season of improvement under Marco Silva but are looking for what would be just their second away win of the season in the top flight. But a recent 0-0 draw out at Chelsea, and a heartbreaking late defeat at Anfield against rivals Liverpool shows that they are at the very least competition and hard to knock down. Can they frustrate the reigning champions at the Etihad?

Toulouse v Wasps
European Cup Rugby – 3:15 pm
BT Sport

It is top versus bottom in Pool 1 of the European Champions Cup on Saturday afternoon. Wasps make the trip to France to take on leaders Toulouse after having been humbled by them at the Ricoh Arena last weekend. They lost their home game 16-24 against the French side. Wasps were only outscored 2-1 on the try count, but it was the boot of Thomas Ramos that saw the French gain the advantage. From their winless position heading into the fourth round of matches, Wasps look to have an insurmountable job ahead.

A qualification push looks a long way off. Will Toulouse put them to the sword at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on the weekend? That will further strengthen their own ambitions in the tournament. In their one home game so far they edged Leinster by a single point in an epic duel. All the pressure is going to be on Toulouse to deliver on home soil in this one. Are Wasps, who are sitting fourth in the English Premiership, able to pull off the upset to blow the Pool wide open? The leading bookmakers have given the English side a generous +17 in the handicap at 10/11 odds.

Bristol City v Norwich
Championship – 5.30 pm
Sky Sports

The Robins have started to see a little bit of improvement in their current form. After a four-match losing streak that they were on (failing to score in three), the Robins have taken seven points from their last three outings. Granted two of those games were against current bottom-four sides. But still, it has helped them gain momentum. Bristol City are winless in three at Ashton Gate (D1 L2) so clearly need a bump in their current home form. The top bookmakers have the Robins at 7/4 underdogs to claim three points on the weekend. Part of their problem in extending their recovery, is the form of visitors Norwich.

The Canaries are the league leaders and have some stunning form behind them. They are W7 D1 in their last eight league games and have won three of their last four on the road (D1). The Canaries have scored at least three goals in five of their last six league games (home and away). They look as if they are going to take some stopping. But 19th-placed Hull managed to find a way to stop the Canaries winning, in what was Norwich’s last away game. The Tigers dug in for a 0-0 draw on home soil against them.

Can Bristol City take some inspiration from that and least and avoid defeat? That’s an outcome which could be backed in a Double Chance option. The Canaries are favourites to win the fixture, but they have not been backed into an odds-on chance. Still, that will appeal in value terms for their backers at 6/4 odds.

Katie Taylor v Eva Wahlstrom
Boxing – 11:00 pm
Sky Sports

Ireland’s Katie Taylor hops back into the ring late on Saturday evening (UK time). She is putting her WBA and IBF lightweight titles on the line at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York as she battles Finland’s Eva Wahlstrom. Taylor is the heavy odds-on favourite to land the win as she looks to extend her professional career a step further. She holds an unbeaten 11-0 record in her career so far and this will be the fifth defence of her WBA title and the third of her IBF. 38-year-old Wahlstrom could be a tricky customer though.

She has been holding the WBC super-featherweight tiles since 2015 so will be stepping up a little bit in weight here. Wahlstrom also puts her unbeaten career record on the line, taking a W22 D1 record into the fight. Her most recent fight was a title defence against America’s Mills St Vil back in April. The Finn has won her last sixteen fights by Unanimous Decisions. Just three of her career wins have been by knockout. Taylor, in contrast, has five knockout wins in eleven fights. So those are trends which could swing punters either way. Backing Taylor for a knockout win is at 12/5 with top bookmakers. Wahlstrom to get the Decision is at 14/1 odds. Can the Finn’s experience and class help her avoid the punching power of Taylor?

Check out more of the weekend’s top tips with Big Bets Bobby!

Posted on

Best Bets of the Day – Friday December 14th 2018

gloucester

Sheffield United v West Brom
Championship – 7.45 pm
Sky Sports

This will be a fascinating battle between two teams who have promotion in mind this season in the Championship. West Brom travel to Bramall Lane to take on the Blades on Friday night. Just one point separates the two inside the top five. Sheffield start in third place and three points from the game would see them close the gap on second-placed Leeds to two points. A loss and they will be shoved down the standings ahead of Saturday’s round of matches. So this is a big scrap. The Blades have had a decent season at home, but have gone off the boil there. They lost their last home game, which was against Leeds.

The Blades have failed to score in their last two at home. They are 13/10 favourites at home to win this game among the top bookmakers for Best Bets of the Day. Will their misfires in front of goal be problematic against West Brom? The Baggies are the top scorers in the division. West Brom (11/5 to win the match) have roared back into form with a five-match unbeaten streak of form going, but their vulnerabilities at the back continue with no clean sheet in twelve. What we basically have is the league’s best attack taking on the Blades defence which is the joint-third best in the division. Which prevails? This match is a clear highlight of the

Gloucester v Exeter
European Cup Rugby – 7.45 pm
BT Sport

Gloucester blew Pool 2 wide open last weekend as they went to Exeter and pulled a 27-19 victory out of their hat at Sandy Park. The difference at the end of the day was largely the boot of Danny Cipriani. After having started the game as underdogs, the four points that Gloucester got from the game swings a massive advantage to them now. They get to host Exeter in the reverse fixture in the European Champions Cup Pool, knowing that another four points would pretty much put the Chiefs out of contention to win the group. At the same time it keeps their own Pool-winning ambitions hopes alive.

Gloucester, who are odds-on favourites to win this home game, start in second place in the group, three points behind Irish powerhouses Munster, so have to keep driving on. Can they deliver at Kingsholm? The handicap market once again will offer stacks of value and the leading bookmakers have narrowed the margin for this one to Gloucester -4 at 10/11 from last weekend’s clash. Exeter, who are second in the Premiership remains winless in the Pool. After last week’s result, this just adds extra intensity to this weekend’s rematch. Can Exeter reverse their fortunes or can the Cherry and Whites topple them again?

New Zealand v Sri Lanka 1st Test
Cricket 23:00
Sky Sports

New Zealand host Sri Lanka in Wellington on Friday night in the first of two Test matches in this series. The Black Caps will be looking to make the most of home advantage here. They are fresh off a notable success over Pakistan in a three-Test series out in the Middle East. New Zealand won that series 2-1. New Zealand have good home form, having gone W1 D1 in their two Tests at home against England earlier this year. During 2017 they went W4 D2 L1 in seven home Test matches, crushing Bangladesh and West Indies while playing out a D2 L1 series against South Africa. It is those results against Bangladesh and West Indies, neither of those being in great form, which indicates their favouritism over Sri Lanka. The Kiwis are 2/7 to win this Wellington duel at leading bookmakers.

The Sri Lanka side are in a bit of transition. Mix together injuries, retirements and losses of form and they are going to have to dig deep. They suffered a three-match loss in their recent series at home against England. That having been said, on their last tour, they won both games against South Africa back in the middle of the year. Maybe the pressure of not playing in front of their own support is something that will gel them together again. They need to find a way to redress the balance against the Black Caps. Sri Lanka have lost their last four Test matches against the Kiwis and have won just two of their previous seventeen in New Zealand. Sometimes sport boils down to character. The tourists have to show plenty of it to overturn 8/1 odds on them to win this opening foray in the series.

With so much action coming your way on Friday, keep up to date with the latest live bets!