The big news out of the Davis Cup was the injury suffered by Novak Djokovic, although it does seem like the World Number 1 has escaped anything too serious. He has been told to rest and that does put his place in the Monte Carlo Masters draw in doubt for next week, although reports that he would be a doubt for the French Open have proved to be unfounded.
The loss of Djokovic from the draw would surely make Rafael Nadal a very strong favourite to win the tournament at Roland Garros, although it would also improve the chances of Andy Murray to go all the way as he would go in as the Number 1 seed in the draw.
However, that all seems unlikely now and I wouldn't be surprised if Djokovic decides he will follow Roger Federer's lead and not take part in his first clay court event until the Madrid Masters at the beginning of May.
This is the first day that I will make picks from the tournaments being played this week, although I do have some outright picks which can be seen here.
Robin Haase v Roberto Bautista-Agut: Now before I go on, I will happily admit that Robin Haase is one of the most frustratingly inconsistent players on the Main Tour, although I don't believe he should be the underdog in this match.
Haase has proved he is capable of playing on the clay courts at this level, having a 23-18 record over the last couple of seasons and also winning in Kitzbuhel last season. He does struggle to put in a lot of quality weeks, but he does have the tennis that is capable of seeing off Roberto Bautista-Agut in this First Round match.
The Spaniard has been suffering with a stomach injury that saw him retire in the First Round in Miami and I think he may be a touch over-rated in this match as his nationality will mean he has played a lot of tennis on the clay courts. However, take out Bautista-Agut's run to the Final in Chennai, and he is just 3-7 on the season and he hasn't ever won a clay court match on the Main Tour.
I just think Haase is capable of playing enough quality tennis to get through the match and he is worth a small interest in this match.
Lleyton Hewitt - 3.5 games v Martin Alund: This is the one match that was most appealing to me from the tournament in Houston and it is perhaps a surprising choice to back the veteran Lleyton Hewitt against a clay court specialist like Martin Alund.
While Alund is definitely the more secure on the clay courts, I do think he has spent most of his time at a lesser level than Hewitt operates, although the lack of clay court tournaments for the Australian over the last couple of seasons would be a concern.
However, Hewitt is a former winner here in Houston and the courts here are definitely different to the European and the South American clay courts and that may be enough for Hewitt to find a way through against his Argentinian opponent.
The chance of this going into a third set is a slight concern as Hewitt does struggle to protect his serve somewhat, but I think he will be too tough mentally and will book his place in the Second Round after a 6-3, 7-6 win.
MY PICKS: Robin Haase @ 2.25 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Lleyton Hewitt - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
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Boxing Picks 2026- Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton (Saturday 26th September)
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Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Midweek Football Picks (April 9-11)
The second legs of the Champions League and the Europa League Quarter Finals will be completed this week and the draw for the Semi Finals will be made at the end of the week. Most of the interest in the games this week, from an English standpoint, won't be until Thursday as there is no representation in the Champions League.
The Europa League second legs are likely to be the more interesting as there seems to be more doubt about the winners of those ties than there seems to be in the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are all in strong positions to get through to the Semi Finals of the Champions League and I would be surprised if any of those names are not involved in a couple of weeks time.
On the other hand, the Basle-Tottenham Hotspur Europa League tie still looks finely balance, while Newcastle United had enough joy in the first leg at Benfica to think they can find a way to turn that tie around.
Hopefully it will be a good week of football for neutrals to enjoy at the least.
Borussia Dortmund v Malaga Pick: Borussia Dortmund had chances to take a lead in the first leg in Spain last week, but I still think they are in a strong position to book their place in the Semi Final.
The 0-0 draw is a concern in that Dortmund have to really win this game and a score draw would see them exit the competition, but they will feel confident in winning in front of their own fans. The side have won 5 straight games at home in all competitions and they have scored at least 3 goals in each of those games, while winning comfortably in each of those games.
The German side have also won all 4 home games in the Champions League, while Malaga have picked up just 1 win in their last 5 away games in all competitions including a 1-0 loss at Porto in the Second Round of the Champions League.
Malaga did pick up score draws at Zenit St Petersburg and Milan in the Group Stage of the Champions League, but they have been struggling in the second half of the season and they could be ripe for the picking if Dortmund take the lead in this game.
I can see Dortmund being a little too good for Malaga from the off and I like their chances of winning this game by at least a couple of goals.
Juventus v Bayern Munich Pick: Bayern Munich almost blew a two goal lead in the Second Round of the Champions League against Arsenal, but I believe the 2-0 lead they have over Juventus before this game in Turin will prove to be decisive.
The problem for Juventus is that they do need to get much more forward than they did in the first leg last week at the Allianz Arena and that will only leave them open for the counter attack that Bayern Munich used to devastating effect at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal when winning 1-3.
I do think Juventus are capable of restoring some pride after a limp display in Munich, but I can't see them keeping Bayern from scoring here too and the over 2.5 goals looks the best way to get on this game.
Juventus won't stop attacking as they need to score goals, and we have seen two high-scoring second legs in the Quarter Finals so far and I do believe this game will follow suit. Even if the game is level at 1-1 or Juventus are leading 1-0, you have to think this will be an open game and goals are likely to follow.
Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain Pick: If you read my comments at the top of this thread, you will know that I do fancy Barcelona to make it through to the Semi Finals after their 2-2 draw in Paris last week. However, after further research, I do think Paris Saint-Germain are going to cause some real problems for Barcelona in this game and certainly look capable of scoring at least once here.
Most people will be looking for the former Barcelona player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to be the player that will likely profit for any defensive lapses that the home side are likely to have, but I am instead going to look for Ezequiel Lavezzi who has scored in 4 consecutive Champions League games before the game at home against Barcelona last week.
He scored in Spain against Valencia in the Second Round and will be in and around the dangerous areas with Paris needing to score at least once, but much more likely need to score twice to prolong their stay in the Champions League.
Lavezzi is priced at 6.00 to score at anytime and I'll look for him to continue a fine scoring record in this competition at the Nou Camp.
Rubin Kazan v Chelsea Pick: I am not a big fan of Rafa Benitez (what Manchester United fan could be), but I think he is perfectly in his element in a European knock out tie with his side defending a lead from the first leg.
Time after time at Liverpool, Benitez made sure his side was organised enough to keep things tight in these away games and there has been a similar trend in his two games as Chelsea manager in the Europa League with neither away game seeing more than one goal scored.
With a two goal lead and a FA Cup Semi Final against Manchester City on deck, I can see Benitez sending his side out to be very tight in Russia and looking to make sure that Rubin Kazan can't pick up ahead of steam. Rubin themselves failed to score in their last two home games in this competition, losing to Atletico Madrid and drawing with Levante before putting them away in extra time and so a lack of goals may just be the situation for this second leg.
Newcastle United v Benfica Pick: Newcastle United created enough chances in the first leg to have come away with a much better result than the 3-1 deficit they are facing, but those opportunities will also fire the belief that they can win this game and move through to the Semi Final of the Europa League.
However, it will be dangerous to rule out Benfica, although their game plan is harder to determine- do they stick with the two goal lead or do they twist by trying to wipe off the away goal that Newcastle United picked up in Lisbon last week.
I do think there will be goals in the game as Benfica are a little more direct and won't have long periods of possession like Bayern Munich did in their game at Juventus and so I do also think Newcastle will get chances in the games. The prices have come down, but backing Over 2.5 goals looks the call in this one.
MY PICKS: Borussia Dortmund - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Juventus-Bayern Munich Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Coral (2 Units)
Ezequiel Lavezzi to score anytime @ 6.00 Coral (1 Unit)
Rubin Kazan-Chelsea Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.25 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Newcastle United-Benfica Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
April Update: 5-11, - 4.25 Units (20 Units Staked, - 21.25% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)
The Europa League second legs are likely to be the more interesting as there seems to be more doubt about the winners of those ties than there seems to be in the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are all in strong positions to get through to the Semi Finals of the Champions League and I would be surprised if any of those names are not involved in a couple of weeks time.
On the other hand, the Basle-Tottenham Hotspur Europa League tie still looks finely balance, while Newcastle United had enough joy in the first leg at Benfica to think they can find a way to turn that tie around.
Hopefully it will be a good week of football for neutrals to enjoy at the least.
Borussia Dortmund v Malaga Pick: Borussia Dortmund had chances to take a lead in the first leg in Spain last week, but I still think they are in a strong position to book their place in the Semi Final.
The 0-0 draw is a concern in that Dortmund have to really win this game and a score draw would see them exit the competition, but they will feel confident in winning in front of their own fans. The side have won 5 straight games at home in all competitions and they have scored at least 3 goals in each of those games, while winning comfortably in each of those games.
The German side have also won all 4 home games in the Champions League, while Malaga have picked up just 1 win in their last 5 away games in all competitions including a 1-0 loss at Porto in the Second Round of the Champions League.
Malaga did pick up score draws at Zenit St Petersburg and Milan in the Group Stage of the Champions League, but they have been struggling in the second half of the season and they could be ripe for the picking if Dortmund take the lead in this game.
I can see Dortmund being a little too good for Malaga from the off and I like their chances of winning this game by at least a couple of goals.
Juventus v Bayern Munich Pick: Bayern Munich almost blew a two goal lead in the Second Round of the Champions League against Arsenal, but I believe the 2-0 lead they have over Juventus before this game in Turin will prove to be decisive.
The problem for Juventus is that they do need to get much more forward than they did in the first leg last week at the Allianz Arena and that will only leave them open for the counter attack that Bayern Munich used to devastating effect at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal when winning 1-3.
I do think Juventus are capable of restoring some pride after a limp display in Munich, but I can't see them keeping Bayern from scoring here too and the over 2.5 goals looks the best way to get on this game.
Juventus won't stop attacking as they need to score goals, and we have seen two high-scoring second legs in the Quarter Finals so far and I do believe this game will follow suit. Even if the game is level at 1-1 or Juventus are leading 1-0, you have to think this will be an open game and goals are likely to follow.
Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain Pick: If you read my comments at the top of this thread, you will know that I do fancy Barcelona to make it through to the Semi Finals after their 2-2 draw in Paris last week. However, after further research, I do think Paris Saint-Germain are going to cause some real problems for Barcelona in this game and certainly look capable of scoring at least once here.
Most people will be looking for the former Barcelona player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to be the player that will likely profit for any defensive lapses that the home side are likely to have, but I am instead going to look for Ezequiel Lavezzi who has scored in 4 consecutive Champions League games before the game at home against Barcelona last week.
He scored in Spain against Valencia in the Second Round and will be in and around the dangerous areas with Paris needing to score at least once, but much more likely need to score twice to prolong their stay in the Champions League.
Lavezzi is priced at 6.00 to score at anytime and I'll look for him to continue a fine scoring record in this competition at the Nou Camp.
Rubin Kazan v Chelsea Pick: I am not a big fan of Rafa Benitez (what Manchester United fan could be), but I think he is perfectly in his element in a European knock out tie with his side defending a lead from the first leg.
Time after time at Liverpool, Benitez made sure his side was organised enough to keep things tight in these away games and there has been a similar trend in his two games as Chelsea manager in the Europa League with neither away game seeing more than one goal scored.
With a two goal lead and a FA Cup Semi Final against Manchester City on deck, I can see Benitez sending his side out to be very tight in Russia and looking to make sure that Rubin Kazan can't pick up ahead of steam. Rubin themselves failed to score in their last two home games in this competition, losing to Atletico Madrid and drawing with Levante before putting them away in extra time and so a lack of goals may just be the situation for this second leg.
Newcastle United v Benfica Pick: Newcastle United created enough chances in the first leg to have come away with a much better result than the 3-1 deficit they are facing, but those opportunities will also fire the belief that they can win this game and move through to the Semi Final of the Europa League.
However, it will be dangerous to rule out Benfica, although their game plan is harder to determine- do they stick with the two goal lead or do they twist by trying to wipe off the away goal that Newcastle United picked up in Lisbon last week.
I do think there will be goals in the game as Benfica are a little more direct and won't have long periods of possession like Bayern Munich did in their game at Juventus and so I do also think Newcastle will get chances in the games. The prices have come down, but backing Over 2.5 goals looks the call in this one.
MY PICKS: Borussia Dortmund - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Juventus-Bayern Munich Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Coral (2 Units)
Ezequiel Lavezzi to score anytime @ 6.00 Coral (1 Unit)
Rubin Kazan-Chelsea Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.25 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Newcastle United-Benfica Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
April Update: 5-11, - 4.25 Units (20 Units Staked, - 21.25% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Tennis Outright Picks 2013 (April 8-14)
So we have got through the Davis Cup Quarter Finals and the early hard court part of the season and one of my favourite periods in the tennis season will begin this week- that's right, it is time for clay court action.
This is a quiet week in terms of big names as most will be saving themselves for the main run towards the French Open- the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will certainly include Monte Carlo in their scheduling, which begins next Sunday, while the WTA Tour has had a couple of their premier events back to back and so the main players that will be competing for the French Open title will not be in action this week.
All of this doesn't mean we can't learn anything from the tournaments taking place in Morocco, Poland and the United States and I think the events do provide some interest ahead of the first clay court Masters of the season.
ATP Morocco
This week we have two defending Champions in Morocco as Pablo Andujar looks to make it three in a row at this tournament, while the Number 1 seeded Stanislas Wawrinka returns to the event for the first time since winning it in 2010 in his first time in Morocco.
Stanislas Wawrinka certainly looks the player to beat this week and it is unsurprising that he has been set as the favourite considering how kind the draw has been for him. Even his absence since Indian Wells isn't really a worry as he did the same last season before reaching the Quarter Final at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The Swiss Number 2 certainly is very comfortable on the clay courts and has already reached the Final of an event on the surface earlier this season, although falling short against David Ferrer. He has a 64-31 on the clay courts, at ATP Main Tour level, in the last five seasons and he does look head and shoulders the best player in his half of the draw, after receiving a bye in the First Round.
I think Jurgen Melzer has shown a mini-resurgence in the last couple of tournaments he has played so he could pose problems as a possible Semi Final opponent, but the Austrian has not performed at his best on the clay courts over the last couple of seasons so I would fancy Wawrinka, with some matches under his belt, at that stage.
The big names on the other side of the draw to look out for this week are Kevin Anderson and Pablo Andujar, but I think there could be some benefit in backing Martin Klizan to find some form and perhaps make it through to the Final.
Klizan is the Number 3 seed here, but four consecutive losses on the Tour means he is a big outsider to win the tournament, but the Slovakian has certainly showed his ability on the clay courts over the last twelve months and could surprise. There is no doubt that he hasn't got the best draw with matches against Paul-Henri Mathieu and Robin Haase to come before any Semi Final against one of the other two big names in his half of the draw, but Klizan did win four Challenger tournaments on this surface last season as well as reaching the Final of another.
I will be honest and say that Klizan hasn't transferred that kind of form onto the Main Tour events on the clay courts just yet, but I think he is worth a small interest to find a bit of a run here.
ATP Houston
You can sometimes tell how good a field is by looking at the weakest seed in the draw and this week it is Michael Russell, although there are still some quality names in the draw.
However, it does mean that the top of the outright market is dominated by five players and I would be surprised if the winner of the tournament comes from outside of Nicolas Almagro, Tommy Haas, Sam Querrey, Juan Monaco or John Isner.
Personally I can't buy Juan Monaco's chances of defending his crown from last season in the form he has been to open up 2013, including a heavy loss in the Davis Cup on Sunday against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, although Monaco is certainly in the best Quarter of the draw.
In my mind, the Number 1 seed, Nicolas Almagro is the one most likely to win this tournament as he makes his first appearance here in Houston, even though the clay courts here tend to play faster than they do in Europe. However, as I have mentioned before, Almagro certainly has the style of play that can be transferred from the clay courts to the faster surfaces so I don't imagine he will be hindered as much as other players might be.
Almagro certainly has a tough opening match against the winner of the Gael Monfils-James Blake clash, but I would favour him to beat either on the clay, while the Spaniard has a strong winning record against Sam Querrey who is a potential Semi Final opponent.
One player that would certainly have been an awkward opponent a few months ago would have been Fernando Verdasco, but he has not been himself in recent weeks as he is supposedly suffering from some kind of neck issue. I would be surprised if Verdasco could move through to the Semi Final to play Almagro with the lack of form he has displayed, so backing the top seed and favourite will be my pick from this tournament.
MY PICKS: Stanislas Wawrinka @ 3.10 Coral (1 Unit)
Martin Klizan @ 21.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit E/W)
Nicolas Almagro @ 3.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Daily Picks: 2-1, + 1.54 Units (6 Units Staked, + 25.67% Yield)
Season 2013: + 48.57 Units (445 Units Staked, + 10.91% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units
This is a quiet week in terms of big names as most will be saving themselves for the main run towards the French Open- the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will certainly include Monte Carlo in their scheduling, which begins next Sunday, while the WTA Tour has had a couple of their premier events back to back and so the main players that will be competing for the French Open title will not be in action this week.
All of this doesn't mean we can't learn anything from the tournaments taking place in Morocco, Poland and the United States and I think the events do provide some interest ahead of the first clay court Masters of the season.
ATP Morocco
This week we have two defending Champions in Morocco as Pablo Andujar looks to make it three in a row at this tournament, while the Number 1 seeded Stanislas Wawrinka returns to the event for the first time since winning it in 2010 in his first time in Morocco.
Stanislas Wawrinka certainly looks the player to beat this week and it is unsurprising that he has been set as the favourite considering how kind the draw has been for him. Even his absence since Indian Wells isn't really a worry as he did the same last season before reaching the Quarter Final at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The Swiss Number 2 certainly is very comfortable on the clay courts and has already reached the Final of an event on the surface earlier this season, although falling short against David Ferrer. He has a 64-31 on the clay courts, at ATP Main Tour level, in the last five seasons and he does look head and shoulders the best player in his half of the draw, after receiving a bye in the First Round.
I think Jurgen Melzer has shown a mini-resurgence in the last couple of tournaments he has played so he could pose problems as a possible Semi Final opponent, but the Austrian has not performed at his best on the clay courts over the last couple of seasons so I would fancy Wawrinka, with some matches under his belt, at that stage.
The big names on the other side of the draw to look out for this week are Kevin Anderson and Pablo Andujar, but I think there could be some benefit in backing Martin Klizan to find some form and perhaps make it through to the Final.
Klizan is the Number 3 seed here, but four consecutive losses on the Tour means he is a big outsider to win the tournament, but the Slovakian has certainly showed his ability on the clay courts over the last twelve months and could surprise. There is no doubt that he hasn't got the best draw with matches against Paul-Henri Mathieu and Robin Haase to come before any Semi Final against one of the other two big names in his half of the draw, but Klizan did win four Challenger tournaments on this surface last season as well as reaching the Final of another.
I will be honest and say that Klizan hasn't transferred that kind of form onto the Main Tour events on the clay courts just yet, but I think he is worth a small interest to find a bit of a run here.
ATP Houston
You can sometimes tell how good a field is by looking at the weakest seed in the draw and this week it is Michael Russell, although there are still some quality names in the draw.
However, it does mean that the top of the outright market is dominated by five players and I would be surprised if the winner of the tournament comes from outside of Nicolas Almagro, Tommy Haas, Sam Querrey, Juan Monaco or John Isner.
Personally I can't buy Juan Monaco's chances of defending his crown from last season in the form he has been to open up 2013, including a heavy loss in the Davis Cup on Sunday against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, although Monaco is certainly in the best Quarter of the draw.
In my mind, the Number 1 seed, Nicolas Almagro is the one most likely to win this tournament as he makes his first appearance here in Houston, even though the clay courts here tend to play faster than they do in Europe. However, as I have mentioned before, Almagro certainly has the style of play that can be transferred from the clay courts to the faster surfaces so I don't imagine he will be hindered as much as other players might be.
Almagro certainly has a tough opening match against the winner of the Gael Monfils-James Blake clash, but I would favour him to beat either on the clay, while the Spaniard has a strong winning record against Sam Querrey who is a potential Semi Final opponent.
One player that would certainly have been an awkward opponent a few months ago would have been Fernando Verdasco, but he has not been himself in recent weeks as he is supposedly suffering from some kind of neck issue. I would be surprised if Verdasco could move through to the Semi Final to play Almagro with the lack of form he has displayed, so backing the top seed and favourite will be my pick from this tournament.
MY PICKS: Stanislas Wawrinka @ 3.10 Coral (1 Unit)
Martin Klizan @ 21.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit E/W)
Nicolas Almagro @ 3.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Daily Picks: 2-1, + 1.54 Units (6 Units Staked, + 25.67% Yield)
Season 2013: + 48.57 Units (445 Units Staked, + 10.91% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Weekend Football Picks 2013 (April 6-8)
This is an important weekend for a number of teams in the top flights around Europe, especially the Premier League where some of the issues at the top and bottom of the League will be looking a little clearer at the end of the weekend.
Of course, Sky Sports are probably the most disappointed as they haven't been able to overhype the Manchester derby this week as United maintained their 15 point lead over City last weekend and look in a very strong position to take back the Premier League crown from their local rivals. That doesn't mean that the players and fans of both clubs will not be up for the game and I think it could be a very interesting game on Monday evening.
Before that, the likes of Reading and Queens Park Rangers have huge home games in their fight to survive in the top flight, while Tottenham Hotspur are going to be missing Gareth Bale for the next couple of weeks as they try to hold off the likes of Arsenal and Everton in the race for the top four.
Reading v Southampton Pick: Nigel Adkins would surely have been a little bitter with the way his job was taken from him at Southampton and the new Reading manager has a real chance to earn a measure of revenge by leading his current club to the three points in this game.
It won't be easy for the home side considering they have lost 7 in a row in the Premier League and a defeat in this one would virtually ensure that they are playing in the Championship next season, although only 2 of those losses have come at the Majedski Stadium. Both defeats were disappointing considering they came against Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, but prior to that Reading had won 3 of 4 home games in the League.
Last weekend, Southampton turned over Chelsea and have also beaten Liverpool and Manchester City at St Mary's in the last couple of months to keep themselves ahead of the relegation zone and they are now as high as 12th in the Premier League, although only 4 points clear of Aston Villa in 18th.
However, the Saints have not been the same on their travels where they have failed to win in 5 games in a row and this is the last chance saloon for Reading. I expect Nigel Adkins to get his troops fired up and I have a sneaky feeling the home side can sneak the three points and give themselves a glimmer of hope of survival.
Stoke City v Aston Villa Pick: Stoke City have been in a miserable run of form since the turn of the New Year and they can thank their early season form that they are not in any more trouble than they are facing at the moment. With just 4 points separating these sides, this is an important game for the home side and one that I can think they win.
It is hard to trust Stoke considering their run of 4 losses in their last 5 games and Aston Villa have certainly been playing with a little more freedom in their away games to suggest there is a chance they can cause a surprise.
However, I just think their young side could be bullied somewhat by the Stoke City players and that may be the difference in the home side winning the game. This will be a tight game, and one where there could be a lot of tension for the home fans considering Manchester United are the next visitors to the Brittania Stadium. While Stoke will be pushed, I do think they are worth a small interest at odds against to win this one.
West Brom v Arsenal Pick: Arsenal look like a side that are very confident in their chances of finishing in the top four and to do so, they have to win games like this.
It won't be an easy task against a West Brom team and I don't really have a real feeling for which of these teams will come away with the three points, although I do think there will be a winner.
West Brom have seen a lot of goals scored in their recent home games, while Arsenal's defence is always liable to give the opposition some chances in games. The recent history between the teams have also seen a fair few goals shared between them and I think there will be at least 3 goals scored in this game.
Liverpool v West Ham United Pick: Surprisingly, despite a terrible start to the season, Liverpool are still with an outside chance of finishing in the top four- Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal have all dropped points at unexpected moments and all three have some tough games to go this season so a late push from Liverpool may just pay dividends.
However, there are currently 8 points between Arsenal in 4th and Liverpool in 7th so games like this have to be won by the home side if they are to give themselves any chance of closing that gap and I am sure Brendan Rodgers expects his team to finish on a bright note this season no matter what they actually are rewarded with.
There is still the motivation of finishing above Everton to keep the Liverpool team focused, and a place in Europe will be expected by the fans so I expect Liverpool to come out and win this game.
Liverpool have certainly been playing better at Anfield in recent weeks and I think they will prove to be too strong for West Ham United in this one. The Hammers are on course to prolong their stay in the Premier League, but they have had their most success at Upton Park and I think they will struggle to contain Liverpool here. Liverpool have been scoring plenty of goals at Anfield and I don't think West Ham will keep up with them and I expect the home side win this by a couple of goals at least.
Newcastle United v Fulham Pick: Newcastle United have suffered three defeats in a row, but all of those have come away from home and they have won 4 of their last 5 games at St James' Park.
I expect they can make it another win on the board in this one against a Fulham team that have notoriously struggled away from home in the Premier League, although one that has been in good form and picked up a 0-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in their last away game.
They will look to take advantage of any tiredness in the Newcastle squad after their 3-1 loss in Benfica on Thursday night, but Newcastle certainly created enough chances in that game, and others recently, to think they will be avoid relegation. However, they need to pick up a win here to make sure there are enough points between themselves and 18th place in the Premier League and I do believe they will do enough to grab the three points in this one.
Newcastle will have needed to bring in their shooting boots to this game as Fulham are certainly capable of scoring at least one goal, but the Magpies have created enough chances in recent games for me being comfortable taking them to win this one.
Chelsea v Sunderland Pick: Chelsea play their fourth game in nine days, but they have a chance to move back into the top four after booking a place in the FA Cup Semi Final and getting halfway to getting through to the Europa League Semi Final with a 3-1 win over Rubin Kazan on Thursday.
There will be some changes made to the starting line up, and that can make it hard to figure which Chelsea will turn up, but they are facing a Sunderland team that could be a little discouraged after some recent poor results.
The arrival of Paolo Di Canio has brought a storm that Sunderland would not have wanted at this stage of the season with the team tumbling down the table, but the Italian has certainly shown he can invigorate a squad of players from his time at Swindon Town. He will need to do that as injuries are taking their toll on a limited squad and we may not see the best of his work until the following week at Newcastle United rather than here at Chelsea.
I do think Rafa Benitez understands the significance of Chelsea making it back to the Champions League next season with a top four finish and the result against Rubin means he can play a stronger team here than the one that will go to Russia on Thursday.
Chelsea should win the game and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep a clean sheet in the contest too.
Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic Pick: Neither one of these teams are exactly high-scoring, but both defences have been very generous in recent weeks and it would be a surprise if there isn't at least 3 goals in the game.
Queens Park Rangers have to win this game if they have real ambitions of staying in the Premier League and so they will likely be on the front foot as much as possible and that will surely give Wigan Athletic the chance to use the counter attack that has been so effective for them under Roberto Martinez.
The game between the teams at the DW Stadium ended 2-2 earlier this season, while Rangers beat Wigan 3-1 here last season and I wouldn't be surprised if the four goal mark is hit again in the game. However, I will simply take the over 2.5 goals in this one as I feel a 2-1 scoreline either way is very much on the cards in this one.
Manchester United v Manchester City Pick: While there are still some points to go, Manchester United are almost certainly going to win the Premier League this season and that could lead to an open and entertaining second Manchester derby of the season.
Usually games between the top team and second place in April would be tense affairs, but the 15 point gap between the sides means there should be less pressure on both to perform and it could go the way of recent derbies which have produced a lot of goals.
Both teams will want to put a marker down for the next campaign and both teams will want to prove they have the better of the other. I think there is every chance that both teams go on the attack in this one and games at Old Trafford between the rivals have been fairly entertaining affairs.
I won't be surprised if we see at least 4 goals shared in this one and I hope the party will continue long into the night at Old Trafford with a 3-1 United win in the books.
MY PICKS: Reading @ 3.40 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 2.14 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
West Brom-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Newcastle United @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Queens Park Rangers-Wigan Athletic Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester United-Manchester City Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.10 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
April Update: 3-5, + 0.05 Units (8 Units Staked, + 0.06% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)
Of course, Sky Sports are probably the most disappointed as they haven't been able to overhype the Manchester derby this week as United maintained their 15 point lead over City last weekend and look in a very strong position to take back the Premier League crown from their local rivals. That doesn't mean that the players and fans of both clubs will not be up for the game and I think it could be a very interesting game on Monday evening.
Before that, the likes of Reading and Queens Park Rangers have huge home games in their fight to survive in the top flight, while Tottenham Hotspur are going to be missing Gareth Bale for the next couple of weeks as they try to hold off the likes of Arsenal and Everton in the race for the top four.
Reading v Southampton Pick: Nigel Adkins would surely have been a little bitter with the way his job was taken from him at Southampton and the new Reading manager has a real chance to earn a measure of revenge by leading his current club to the three points in this game.
It won't be easy for the home side considering they have lost 7 in a row in the Premier League and a defeat in this one would virtually ensure that they are playing in the Championship next season, although only 2 of those losses have come at the Majedski Stadium. Both defeats were disappointing considering they came against Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, but prior to that Reading had won 3 of 4 home games in the League.
Last weekend, Southampton turned over Chelsea and have also beaten Liverpool and Manchester City at St Mary's in the last couple of months to keep themselves ahead of the relegation zone and they are now as high as 12th in the Premier League, although only 4 points clear of Aston Villa in 18th.
However, the Saints have not been the same on their travels where they have failed to win in 5 games in a row and this is the last chance saloon for Reading. I expect Nigel Adkins to get his troops fired up and I have a sneaky feeling the home side can sneak the three points and give themselves a glimmer of hope of survival.
Stoke City v Aston Villa Pick: Stoke City have been in a miserable run of form since the turn of the New Year and they can thank their early season form that they are not in any more trouble than they are facing at the moment. With just 4 points separating these sides, this is an important game for the home side and one that I can think they win.
It is hard to trust Stoke considering their run of 4 losses in their last 5 games and Aston Villa have certainly been playing with a little more freedom in their away games to suggest there is a chance they can cause a surprise.
However, I just think their young side could be bullied somewhat by the Stoke City players and that may be the difference in the home side winning the game. This will be a tight game, and one where there could be a lot of tension for the home fans considering Manchester United are the next visitors to the Brittania Stadium. While Stoke will be pushed, I do think they are worth a small interest at odds against to win this one.
West Brom v Arsenal Pick: Arsenal look like a side that are very confident in their chances of finishing in the top four and to do so, they have to win games like this.
It won't be an easy task against a West Brom team and I don't really have a real feeling for which of these teams will come away with the three points, although I do think there will be a winner.
West Brom have seen a lot of goals scored in their recent home games, while Arsenal's defence is always liable to give the opposition some chances in games. The recent history between the teams have also seen a fair few goals shared between them and I think there will be at least 3 goals scored in this game.
Liverpool v West Ham United Pick: Surprisingly, despite a terrible start to the season, Liverpool are still with an outside chance of finishing in the top four- Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal have all dropped points at unexpected moments and all three have some tough games to go this season so a late push from Liverpool may just pay dividends.
However, there are currently 8 points between Arsenal in 4th and Liverpool in 7th so games like this have to be won by the home side if they are to give themselves any chance of closing that gap and I am sure Brendan Rodgers expects his team to finish on a bright note this season no matter what they actually are rewarded with.
There is still the motivation of finishing above Everton to keep the Liverpool team focused, and a place in Europe will be expected by the fans so I expect Liverpool to come out and win this game.
Liverpool have certainly been playing better at Anfield in recent weeks and I think they will prove to be too strong for West Ham United in this one. The Hammers are on course to prolong their stay in the Premier League, but they have had their most success at Upton Park and I think they will struggle to contain Liverpool here. Liverpool have been scoring plenty of goals at Anfield and I don't think West Ham will keep up with them and I expect the home side win this by a couple of goals at least.
Newcastle United v Fulham Pick: Newcastle United have suffered three defeats in a row, but all of those have come away from home and they have won 4 of their last 5 games at St James' Park.
I expect they can make it another win on the board in this one against a Fulham team that have notoriously struggled away from home in the Premier League, although one that has been in good form and picked up a 0-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in their last away game.
They will look to take advantage of any tiredness in the Newcastle squad after their 3-1 loss in Benfica on Thursday night, but Newcastle certainly created enough chances in that game, and others recently, to think they will be avoid relegation. However, they need to pick up a win here to make sure there are enough points between themselves and 18th place in the Premier League and I do believe they will do enough to grab the three points in this one.
Newcastle will have needed to bring in their shooting boots to this game as Fulham are certainly capable of scoring at least one goal, but the Magpies have created enough chances in recent games for me being comfortable taking them to win this one.
Chelsea v Sunderland Pick: Chelsea play their fourth game in nine days, but they have a chance to move back into the top four after booking a place in the FA Cup Semi Final and getting halfway to getting through to the Europa League Semi Final with a 3-1 win over Rubin Kazan on Thursday.
There will be some changes made to the starting line up, and that can make it hard to figure which Chelsea will turn up, but they are facing a Sunderland team that could be a little discouraged after some recent poor results.
The arrival of Paolo Di Canio has brought a storm that Sunderland would not have wanted at this stage of the season with the team tumbling down the table, but the Italian has certainly shown he can invigorate a squad of players from his time at Swindon Town. He will need to do that as injuries are taking their toll on a limited squad and we may not see the best of his work until the following week at Newcastle United rather than here at Chelsea.
I do think Rafa Benitez understands the significance of Chelsea making it back to the Champions League next season with a top four finish and the result against Rubin means he can play a stronger team here than the one that will go to Russia on Thursday.
Chelsea should win the game and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep a clean sheet in the contest too.
Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic Pick: Neither one of these teams are exactly high-scoring, but both defences have been very generous in recent weeks and it would be a surprise if there isn't at least 3 goals in the game.
Queens Park Rangers have to win this game if they have real ambitions of staying in the Premier League and so they will likely be on the front foot as much as possible and that will surely give Wigan Athletic the chance to use the counter attack that has been so effective for them under Roberto Martinez.
The game between the teams at the DW Stadium ended 2-2 earlier this season, while Rangers beat Wigan 3-1 here last season and I wouldn't be surprised if the four goal mark is hit again in the game. However, I will simply take the over 2.5 goals in this one as I feel a 2-1 scoreline either way is very much on the cards in this one.
Manchester United v Manchester City Pick: While there are still some points to go, Manchester United are almost certainly going to win the Premier League this season and that could lead to an open and entertaining second Manchester derby of the season.
Usually games between the top team and second place in April would be tense affairs, but the 15 point gap between the sides means there should be less pressure on both to perform and it could go the way of recent derbies which have produced a lot of goals.
Both teams will want to put a marker down for the next campaign and both teams will want to prove they have the better of the other. I think there is every chance that both teams go on the attack in this one and games at Old Trafford between the rivals have been fairly entertaining affairs.
I won't be surprised if we see at least 4 goals shared in this one and I hope the party will continue long into the night at Old Trafford with a 3-1 United win in the books.
MY PICKS: Reading @ 3.40 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Stoke City @ 2.14 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
West Brom-Arsenal Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Newcastle United @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Chelsea Win to Nil @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Queens Park Rangers-Wigan Athletic Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Manchester United-Manchester City Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.10 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
April Update: 3-5, + 0.05 Units (8 Units Staked, + 0.06% Yield)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)
Friday, 5 April 2013
Tennis Picks Davis Cup 2013 (April 5th)
I have taken a week off from the tennis picks I have been making after another successful tournament in Miami, mainly because there really wasn't anything that has taken my fancy from the Women's events taking place.
The ATP Tour has had a break in anticipation of the Davis Cup ties and will return to action next week as the first of the clay courts in preparation for the French Open take place. Most of the big names won't be in action until the Monte Carlo Masters which begins on April 14th and then we will quickly see some of the big tournaments taking place in Madrid (which have thankfully removed the blue clay that caused so many issues last season) and Rome before the French Open begins on May 26th.
This weekend we will see the conclusion of the Davis Cup Quarter Finals, but most of the big names on the Tour are not going to take part. However, that doesn't mean there aren't some interesting matches taking place and these are my picks from the Friday matches.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 4.5 games v Carlos Berlocq: I'll be honest with you- if this was the game spread between these players in a best of three set match, I would be a little tempted to go in on the Frenchman, so having the added benefit of this being a best of five means I will be backing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga isn't the best on the clay courts, but he is effective enough to cause Carlos Berlocq some real problems and I was a little surprised that Argentina didn't pick up Horacio Zeballos in one of the first two matches.
I think there is every chance that Berlocq can take a set off of Tsonga, who has been erratic at times this season, but the big serving players cause the Argentine some real problems as his own serve will give his opponent chances to break.
This match looks like one that the French can win, likely with Tsonga taking a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Gilles Simon - 3.5 games v Juan Monaco: Juan Monaco looks like a player that is going to be falling down the Rankings at a rapid rate this season as he has struggled mightily to open 2013. When you're not feeling yourself, and have been struggling for wins, facing someone like Gilles Simon is the last thing you would want to be facing.
These two players have met six times in the past, but only once since 2008 and I think Simon has certainly been in the better form of the two players to open this season.
Simon also played well on the clay courts last season, reaching the Semi Final in Monte Carlo, and if he can keep hold of his emotions, I do think he can earn the French the second match in this tie and put them in a strong position to get into the Semi Finals of the Davis Cup.
I believe Simon will likely need four sets, but can come through with a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Venus Williams - 2.5 games v Varvara Lepchenko: It would be foolish to rule out a player that has beaten both Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci on the clay courts this season as Varvara Lepchenko has, but I still think Venus Williams is good enough to see her off on this surface.
The one concern I do have is that the winner of this match will have to play twice today and we know that Venus Williams has fitness concerns and could decide that playing twice in one day is not for her.
However, she has had additional rest with the day's play being almost completely wiped out yesterday and I do think Venus still has enough in the tank to beat Lepchenko. While Lepchenko has had a very good 14 months or so or the Tour, it is tough to play one of the Williams sisters in the United States and I think Venus will find a way to pull through.
MY PICKS: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Gilles Simon - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Venus Williams - 2.5 Games @ 1.92 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Daily Picks: 17-11, + 10.74 Units (56 Units Staked, + 19.18% Yield)
Outright Picks: 1-4, - 6.70 Units (13 Units Staked, - 51.54% Yield)
Season 2013: + 47.03 Units (439 Units Staked, + 10.71% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units
The ATP Tour has had a break in anticipation of the Davis Cup ties and will return to action next week as the first of the clay courts in preparation for the French Open take place. Most of the big names won't be in action until the Monte Carlo Masters which begins on April 14th and then we will quickly see some of the big tournaments taking place in Madrid (which have thankfully removed the blue clay that caused so many issues last season) and Rome before the French Open begins on May 26th.
This weekend we will see the conclusion of the Davis Cup Quarter Finals, but most of the big names on the Tour are not going to take part. However, that doesn't mean there aren't some interesting matches taking place and these are my picks from the Friday matches.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 4.5 games v Carlos Berlocq: I'll be honest with you- if this was the game spread between these players in a best of three set match, I would be a little tempted to go in on the Frenchman, so having the added benefit of this being a best of five means I will be backing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga isn't the best on the clay courts, but he is effective enough to cause Carlos Berlocq some real problems and I was a little surprised that Argentina didn't pick up Horacio Zeballos in one of the first two matches.
I think there is every chance that Berlocq can take a set off of Tsonga, who has been erratic at times this season, but the big serving players cause the Argentine some real problems as his own serve will give his opponent chances to break.
This match looks like one that the French can win, likely with Tsonga taking a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Gilles Simon - 3.5 games v Juan Monaco: Juan Monaco looks like a player that is going to be falling down the Rankings at a rapid rate this season as he has struggled mightily to open 2013. When you're not feeling yourself, and have been struggling for wins, facing someone like Gilles Simon is the last thing you would want to be facing.
These two players have met six times in the past, but only once since 2008 and I think Simon has certainly been in the better form of the two players to open this season.
Simon also played well on the clay courts last season, reaching the Semi Final in Monte Carlo, and if he can keep hold of his emotions, I do think he can earn the French the second match in this tie and put them in a strong position to get into the Semi Finals of the Davis Cup.
I believe Simon will likely need four sets, but can come through with a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Venus Williams - 2.5 games v Varvara Lepchenko: It would be foolish to rule out a player that has beaten both Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci on the clay courts this season as Varvara Lepchenko has, but I still think Venus Williams is good enough to see her off on this surface.
The one concern I do have is that the winner of this match will have to play twice today and we know that Venus Williams has fitness concerns and could decide that playing twice in one day is not for her.
However, she has had additional rest with the day's play being almost completely wiped out yesterday and I do think Venus still has enough in the tank to beat Lepchenko. While Lepchenko has had a very good 14 months or so or the Tour, it is tough to play one of the Williams sisters in the United States and I think Venus will find a way to pull through.
MY PICKS: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Gilles Simon - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Venus Williams - 2.5 Games @ 1.92 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Daily Picks: 17-11, + 10.74 Units (56 Units Staked, + 19.18% Yield)
Outright Picks: 1-4, - 6.70 Units (13 Units Staked, - 51.54% Yield)
Season 2013: + 47.03 Units (439 Units Staked, + 10.71% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units
Thursday, 4 April 2013
NBA April Picks 2013
The NBA is just about at the Play Off phase of this year and that means the final two weeks of the regular season is a bit of a minefield. Some teams are beginning to wind down their starters for the post-season, some are still fighting for Play Off position and others are just trying to get into the post-season.
Then you have teams that are looking to improve their lottery position and begin to tank during their final games with next season and holidays in mind.
All of this means you have to be careful when capping games before the Play Offs begin and try to get a feel for motivations of teams and what wins and losses mean to them at this late stage of the regular season.
Last season, this period of to weeks before the Play Offs proved troubling for me and hopefully I will be able to keep a little more focused this time around.
April 4th
Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Pick: I know there is still this race for the Number 4 seed in the Eastern Conference with both of these teams involved, but I have a feeling the Bulls are already looking to the Play Offs and will be happy as either the Number 6 or Number 7 seed.
They will be short-handed again tonight and I think Brooklyn are definitely playing the better basketball. Brooklyn are off a long road trip, but they were able to rest their starters in the win over Cleveland last night so I expect the Nets will be ready to go.
Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets Pick: The Denver Nuggets are on course to finish as the Number 3 seed in the Western Conference and I believe they want that position desperately to avoid what would be an incredibly tough First Round against either Memphis or the LA Clippers.
Denver have been incredibly tough at home and may be able to snap their two game losing run here against the Dallas Mavericks who have to be a little disheartened following their heavy loss at the LA Lakers in their last game.
That loss has really put Dallas in a tough spot to make it back to the Play Offs, and I think Denver will be too strong for them, even in the absence of Ty Lawson and I like the Nuggets to cover.
April 5th
Tough start to the month with both picks falling by the wayside, both in difficult circumstances. Today, I have four picks from the NBA which can be seen in the 'My Picks' section as I haven't had the time to put down full reasons for them.
April 9th
Washington Wizards @ New York Knicks Pick: The New York Knicks are looking to go into the Play Offs with some huge momentum behind them as they put their winning streak on the line against the Washington Wizards.
I have little doubt that Washington would be playing in the Play Offs if they hadn't had so many key injuries to open the season and they have certainly been ahead of the point spread more often than not. However, the Knicks do match up well against them, even without Tyson Chandler, and I think New York maintain their winning run.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Miami Heat Pick: This looks like being one of the First Round Play Off match ups and that means the game here could be interesting to watch as neither team will want to give away their secrets. The Milwaukee Bucks can still catch up with the Boston Celtics for the Number 7 seed if they can finish the season strong so they will want to win this game, although that won't be easy against the Miami Heat with LeBron James in the line up.
If Milwaukee get hot from beyond the arc, I certainly can see them keeping this close, but too many times I have seen the Bucks fall apart on the road and I think the Heat can take this win with the cover.
Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets Pick: Houston are in a position to try and get their seed improved to Number 6 in the Western Conference and I have no doubt they will want to avoid both the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the First Round by overtaking the Golden State Warriors.
Facing the Phoenix Suns comes at the right time as the Suns are clearly playing out the string at the end of this season and Houston recorded a 20 point win over Phoenix here last month. I think the Rockets have too much scoring power for a Phoenix team that has not been performing on that side of the court and I think Houston can cover this big spread.
New Orleans Hornets @ LA Lakers Pick: The LA Lakers are in a desperate position when it comes to the Play Offs and they will certainly be looking to finish the season with 5 straight wins and hope the Utah Jazz can drop a couple of games to let the Lakers into the post-season.
A loss to the Clippers and a sweep in that series has hurt the Lakers, but they do play the New Orleans Hornets who have been struggling a little down the stretch and certainly have had some problems between some of the players and Monty Williams, the Head Coach. I just think the Lakers may rally in this one and cover the spread, although they may also have one eye on how Utah are getting on against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
April 10th
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics Pick: There is a small chance that this could be one of the First Round match ups in the Play Offs, although I don't think the Boston Celtics are going to be worrying about improving from either the Number 6 or Number 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. That would mean they would avoid the Miami Heat until the Eastern Conference Finals, although Boston are still trying to hold off the Milwaukee Bucks in Number 8.
I think the Celtics will likely be a little too strong for Brooklyn in this game with the latter perhaps already looking to keep the troops fresh for the Play Offs with the Number 4 seed almost certainly wrapped up. Boston are back to full health, or as full as they are going to be going into the Play Offs and I think the Celtics win this one and cover the spread.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Orlando Magic Pick: The Milwaukee Bucks are backing into the Play Offs and will surely want to get some momentum ahead of the the likely First Round clash with the Miami Heat. The Bucks lost in Miami last night, but they have the scoring power, on occasion, to beat the Orlando Magic tonight.
Orlando have just begun to struggle as injuries have taken their toll on the squad over the season and I think they can't see the season end soon enough. There will be some motivation from the players that were traded from the Bucks to the Magic for JJ Redick, for example Tobias Harris, but I think the Bucks have enough three point scorers to pull away for the win.
San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets Pick: This is a game between two of the better teams in the Western Conference, but both teams will look a little different to how they want to go into the Play Offs as injuries take their toll.
However, Denver still have the athletic ability to make life tough for the older San Antonio Spurs and their home record is very impressive that I think the Nuggets pull away for the vital win that puts them a step closer to picking up the Number 3 seed in the West that is going to be very important.
April 11th
New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls Pick: The Chicago Bulls are just concerned with getting healthy for the Play Offs and they are missing too many important bodies to win this one in my opinion. New York are in great form and, even without Tyson Chandler, I think the Knicks are more motivated to win this game and should be able to do so while covering the spread.
Unlike Brooklyn here recently, I think if New York get a big lead, they are shooting well enough from beyond the arc to keep ahead of the Bulls and are unlikely to blow a big lead. Momentum is the key to the Knicks, who want the Number 2 seed, and I don't think Chicago will be that disheartened if they finish either Number 6 or Number 7 in the East and that means losing games down the stretch, so I can't see enough fight in them to take this one.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors Pick: I like the Oklahoma City Thunder to win this one in California as they have been playing in Play Off mode all month and definitely want to pick up the Number 1 seed in the Western Conference.
I also believe Golden State are motivated, but they may just have relaxed enough after securing their Play Off place on Tuesday to think they struggle to keep up with the Thunder. However, I do respect this Warriors squad that are capable of scoring plenty of points, particularly at home, although I do think the Thunder find a way to win and cover.
April 12th
Not quite sure how the Knicks blew the lead they had last night... Two silly turnovers midway through the third changed the feeling of the game and gave Chicago the momentum to take over and eventually rally for the season sweep.
Been having a nightmare with my laptop this evening so only putting the picks up for the NBA games on slate tonight which can be found below.
MY PICKS: 04/04 Brooklyn Nets - 5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
04/04 Denver Nuggets - 7 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 New York Knicks - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Minnesota Timberwolves - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Utah Jazz - 8 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Golden State Warriors - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 New York Knicks - 8.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 Miami Heat - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 Houston Rockets - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 LA Lakers - 8.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Boston Celtics - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Milwaukee Bucks - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Denver Nuggets - 3 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
11/04 New York Knicks - 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
11/04 Oklahoma City Thunder - 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Washington Wizards - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Atlanta Hawks - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Denver Nuggets - 3 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
12/04 Golden State Warriors + 7.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
April Update: 6-9, - 3.40 Units
March Final: 20-16-1, + 3.08 Units
February Final: 6-3, + 2.61 Units
January Final: 5-14, - 9.31 Units
Season 2013: 61-48-3, + 13.60 Units
Season 2012: 79-53-1, + 27.48 Units
Then you have teams that are looking to improve their lottery position and begin to tank during their final games with next season and holidays in mind.
All of this means you have to be careful when capping games before the Play Offs begin and try to get a feel for motivations of teams and what wins and losses mean to them at this late stage of the regular season.
Last season, this period of to weeks before the Play Offs proved troubling for me and hopefully I will be able to keep a little more focused this time around.
April 4th
Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Pick: I know there is still this race for the Number 4 seed in the Eastern Conference with both of these teams involved, but I have a feeling the Bulls are already looking to the Play Offs and will be happy as either the Number 6 or Number 7 seed.
They will be short-handed again tonight and I think Brooklyn are definitely playing the better basketball. Brooklyn are off a long road trip, but they were able to rest their starters in the win over Cleveland last night so I expect the Nets will be ready to go.
Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets Pick: The Denver Nuggets are on course to finish as the Number 3 seed in the Western Conference and I believe they want that position desperately to avoid what would be an incredibly tough First Round against either Memphis or the LA Clippers.
Denver have been incredibly tough at home and may be able to snap their two game losing run here against the Dallas Mavericks who have to be a little disheartened following their heavy loss at the LA Lakers in their last game.
That loss has really put Dallas in a tough spot to make it back to the Play Offs, and I think Denver will be too strong for them, even in the absence of Ty Lawson and I like the Nuggets to cover.
April 5th
Tough start to the month with both picks falling by the wayside, both in difficult circumstances. Today, I have four picks from the NBA which can be seen in the 'My Picks' section as I haven't had the time to put down full reasons for them.
April 9th
Washington Wizards @ New York Knicks Pick: The New York Knicks are looking to go into the Play Offs with some huge momentum behind them as they put their winning streak on the line against the Washington Wizards.
I have little doubt that Washington would be playing in the Play Offs if they hadn't had so many key injuries to open the season and they have certainly been ahead of the point spread more often than not. However, the Knicks do match up well against them, even without Tyson Chandler, and I think New York maintain their winning run.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Miami Heat Pick: This looks like being one of the First Round Play Off match ups and that means the game here could be interesting to watch as neither team will want to give away their secrets. The Milwaukee Bucks can still catch up with the Boston Celtics for the Number 7 seed if they can finish the season strong so they will want to win this game, although that won't be easy against the Miami Heat with LeBron James in the line up.
If Milwaukee get hot from beyond the arc, I certainly can see them keeping this close, but too many times I have seen the Bucks fall apart on the road and I think the Heat can take this win with the cover.
Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets Pick: Houston are in a position to try and get their seed improved to Number 6 in the Western Conference and I have no doubt they will want to avoid both the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the First Round by overtaking the Golden State Warriors.
Facing the Phoenix Suns comes at the right time as the Suns are clearly playing out the string at the end of this season and Houston recorded a 20 point win over Phoenix here last month. I think the Rockets have too much scoring power for a Phoenix team that has not been performing on that side of the court and I think Houston can cover this big spread.
New Orleans Hornets @ LA Lakers Pick: The LA Lakers are in a desperate position when it comes to the Play Offs and they will certainly be looking to finish the season with 5 straight wins and hope the Utah Jazz can drop a couple of games to let the Lakers into the post-season.
A loss to the Clippers and a sweep in that series has hurt the Lakers, but they do play the New Orleans Hornets who have been struggling a little down the stretch and certainly have had some problems between some of the players and Monty Williams, the Head Coach. I just think the Lakers may rally in this one and cover the spread, although they may also have one eye on how Utah are getting on against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
April 10th
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics Pick: There is a small chance that this could be one of the First Round match ups in the Play Offs, although I don't think the Boston Celtics are going to be worrying about improving from either the Number 6 or Number 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. That would mean they would avoid the Miami Heat until the Eastern Conference Finals, although Boston are still trying to hold off the Milwaukee Bucks in Number 8.
I think the Celtics will likely be a little too strong for Brooklyn in this game with the latter perhaps already looking to keep the troops fresh for the Play Offs with the Number 4 seed almost certainly wrapped up. Boston are back to full health, or as full as they are going to be going into the Play Offs and I think the Celtics win this one and cover the spread.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Orlando Magic Pick: The Milwaukee Bucks are backing into the Play Offs and will surely want to get some momentum ahead of the the likely First Round clash with the Miami Heat. The Bucks lost in Miami last night, but they have the scoring power, on occasion, to beat the Orlando Magic tonight.
Orlando have just begun to struggle as injuries have taken their toll on the squad over the season and I think they can't see the season end soon enough. There will be some motivation from the players that were traded from the Bucks to the Magic for JJ Redick, for example Tobias Harris, but I think the Bucks have enough three point scorers to pull away for the win.
San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets Pick: This is a game between two of the better teams in the Western Conference, but both teams will look a little different to how they want to go into the Play Offs as injuries take their toll.
However, Denver still have the athletic ability to make life tough for the older San Antonio Spurs and their home record is very impressive that I think the Nuggets pull away for the vital win that puts them a step closer to picking up the Number 3 seed in the West that is going to be very important.
April 11th
New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls Pick: The Chicago Bulls are just concerned with getting healthy for the Play Offs and they are missing too many important bodies to win this one in my opinion. New York are in great form and, even without Tyson Chandler, I think the Knicks are more motivated to win this game and should be able to do so while covering the spread.
Unlike Brooklyn here recently, I think if New York get a big lead, they are shooting well enough from beyond the arc to keep ahead of the Bulls and are unlikely to blow a big lead. Momentum is the key to the Knicks, who want the Number 2 seed, and I don't think Chicago will be that disheartened if they finish either Number 6 or Number 7 in the East and that means losing games down the stretch, so I can't see enough fight in them to take this one.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors Pick: I like the Oklahoma City Thunder to win this one in California as they have been playing in Play Off mode all month and definitely want to pick up the Number 1 seed in the Western Conference.
I also believe Golden State are motivated, but they may just have relaxed enough after securing their Play Off place on Tuesday to think they struggle to keep up with the Thunder. However, I do respect this Warriors squad that are capable of scoring plenty of points, particularly at home, although I do think the Thunder find a way to win and cover.
April 12th
Not quite sure how the Knicks blew the lead they had last night... Two silly turnovers midway through the third changed the feeling of the game and gave Chicago the momentum to take over and eventually rally for the season sweep.
Been having a nightmare with my laptop this evening so only putting the picks up for the NBA games on slate tonight which can be found below.
MY PICKS: 04/04 Brooklyn Nets - 5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
04/04 Denver Nuggets - 7 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 New York Knicks - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Minnesota Timberwolves - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Utah Jazz - 8 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
05/04 Golden State Warriors - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 New York Knicks - 8.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 Miami Heat - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 Houston Rockets - 14.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
09/04 LA Lakers - 8.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Boston Celtics - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Milwaukee Bucks - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
10/04 Denver Nuggets - 3 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
11/04 New York Knicks - 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
11/04 Oklahoma City Thunder - 4 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Washington Wizards - 5.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Atlanta Hawks - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
12/04 Denver Nuggets - 3 Points @ 1.92 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
12/04 Golden State Warriors + 7.5 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
April Update: 6-9, - 3.40 Units
March Final: 20-16-1, + 3.08 Units
February Final: 6-3, + 2.61 Units
January Final: 5-14, - 9.31 Units
December Final: 17-7-1, + 9.19 Units
November Final: 13-8-1, + 8.03 Units
Season 2013: 61-48-3, + 13.60 Units
Season 2012: 79-53-1, + 27.48 Units
Monday, 1 April 2013
Midweek Football Picks (April 1-4)
This is the start of a week that will still be a little painful for me as the Champions League gets into the Quarter Final games, a stage in which I still believe Manchester United were robbed from competing in.
However, it is better to look forward at the success United are surely going to have in the Premier League this season, while there is the surprise addition of a FA Cup replay at Stamford Bridge on Easter Monday to negotiate. With a potential Semi Final against Manchester City on offer, the fans are obviously very excited at Old Trafford as to how this season will end.
In August, I would have been happy if someone had told me that Manchester United would end the season as Champions of England and anything more would be a bonus... However, there is nothing wrong with being a little greedy when the side put themselves in a strong position and the FA Cup is definitely more significant with the lead established in the League.
The opportunity to knock out a team managed by Rafa Benitez and then trying to stop Manchester City ending the season with any silverware is eagerly anticipated, although the first game at Chelsea is a very tough hurdle to try and negotiate on Monday lunchtime.
Chelsea v Manchester United Pick: As I said above, this is a very tough game for both clubs and I am finding it tough to separate them as I can make a real case for either coming through and booking their place at Wembley in a couple of weeks time.
Chelsea and Manchester United did rest some players in anticipation for this game on Saturday, but it is the home side that have to manage their squad better than the away side at the moment with 4 games in an 8 day period.
However, Rafa Benitez did rest a number of first team players for this game so I am expecting a very strong Chelsea team with the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar providing bullets for Demba Ba rather than Fernando Torres. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are partnered up front for Manchester United with the likes of Nani coming into to create the chances for the away side.
While I may not be able to separate the sides in terms of a winner, one element of games between Chelsea and Manchester United is the amount of goals they have shared between them, including two very high-scoring games in the League and Capital One Cup earlier this season here at Stamford Bridge.
This looks another game where the winner of the tie, if it is completed before extra time, is going to have to score at least 2 goals and so I am going to back there being at least 3 goals in this game. It may be an odds on shot, but there are a lot of signs pointing to that happening and will be my pick for the game.
Bayern Munich v Juventus Pick: This is the tie of the Round as far as I am concerned with the winner likely to feel very confident of going all the way to Wembley in May.
I do think that this tie will still be in the balance when the return game is played in Turin next week although I do think that Bayern Munich will be the team with the slight edge.
This should be a fascinating first game in Munich as I think it will likely be a little more open than most first leg matches at this stage of the European tournaments. Bayern Munich will want to have some advantage to take to Turin, while I think Juventus would be satisfied with a small deficit as long as they have at least one away goal to show for their efforts.
Personally I think both teams will score in this game, but it will be Bayern Munich who have the lead when the second leg begins next Wednesday.
Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona Pick: Barcelona overturned a 2-0 deficit against Milan in the Second Round to make their way into the Quarter Final here, but their away form has to be a concern for anyone that fancies them at odds on tonight.
Barcelona have won just 2 of their last 6 away games in the Champions League and have been beaten in 3 of those games, but the return of Tito Vilanova should inspire them to get something from the Parc de Princes, a result that will set them up to complete the win at the Nou Camp in eight days time.
I do think Paris Saint-Germain are capable of at least giving themselves some hope for the game in Barcelona next week, although I am not convinced they can do enough to actually have a lead going into that game.
With the poor away form that Barcelona have displayed in this competition and Paris Saint-Germain's 23 home game unbeaten run in Europe, the draw looks a decent shout.
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund Pick: Both managers are suggesting that their respective sides will go on the attack in this game and while that sometimes leads to a much more cautious game than the press conference suggests, this is one of those times when I do believe them.
Malaga's best chance to surprise Borussia Dortmund is to take a lead to Germany next week, but I also think the German side will be satisfied at the end of the evening as they are more than capable of grabbing at least one away goal.
I can imagine an early goal really opening up the floodgates in this one and I think Malaga would be wise to take the Paris Saint-Germain approach and try and get on the front foot to earn a lead before the second leg. However, Borussia Dortmund will certainly cause problems of their own as they have for the likes of Manchester City, Ajax, Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Goals is my prediction for this game and I like the chances of at least 3 being scored in the contest.
Real Madrid v Galatasaray Pick: This does look like a bit of a mismatch on paper and I do think Real Madrid are capable of showing the difference between the teams in this first leg in front of their own supporters.
Real Madrid controversially got through their Second Round clash with Manchester United and have got the 'best' draw in the last eight and there will be a feeling amongst the players and fans that perhaps their name is on the trophy for the first time since 2002.
I don't like under-estimating teams that have reached this stage of the premier competition of European football, but Galatasaray have certainly benefited from a decent draw before this stage and Real Madrid are a much stronger proposition than Schalke in the last Round.
The likes of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder do give Galatasaray some Champions League winning experience, but Real Madrid have plenty to deal with them in their own squad and I have the sense that the Spaniards will have a fairly comfortable lead to take to Istanbul next week.
Chelsea v Rubin Kazan Pick: Chelsea look very short in the market considering the amount of games they have to get through in a short period of time and I think Rubin Kazan are being very under-estimated in this match.
However, I do think Chelsea will find a way to take an advantage over to Russia next week and that may be the difference in the tie between the two sides. While Rubin Kazan have an impressive win over Atletico Madrid under their belts in the knock out stage this season, they are not exactly overloaded with goals in their side and I think the Russian side will look to keep things as tight as possible in the contest.
I have been torn between two picks for this game- I don't imagine we will see many goals so the under 2.5 goals at 1.75 looks a reasonable option in the game. However, I am concerned with Chelsea's poor defensive record in Europe this season, especially at Stamford Bridge so instead will back the home side to have a one goal lead going to Russia next Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur v Basel Pick: Tottenham Hotspur have given themselves problems by not adding to their striking options over the course of two transfer windows and that means Jermain Defoe's injury has them limited for the next couple of weeks at least.
The over reliance on Gareth Bale is a concern, particularly with a top four place in the Premier League and the Europa League to fight for over the last two months and any fall from the form the Welshman has been on is a real problem for Spurs.
I think Basel is a tough test for them in the Quarter Final, but one that I expect Spurs to negotiate over the two legs and that means building a decent lead from the first leg at White Hart Lane. Spurs have struggled over the line against both Lyon and Inter Milan in the last two Rounds, but they have won 4 in a row at home in the Europa League.
Basel have only lost 2 of their 5 away games in the Europa League, but they have failed to score in 3 of those games, although they have shown some defensive toughness by keeping clean sheets in 3 of those games.
However, I have a feeling Spurs will have a little too much (Bale will show enough of his quality) to give the side a decent lead to take to Switzerland next week.
Benfica v Newcastle United Pick: Benfica are my pick to win this tournament as I think they have the right blend of experience and quality to get through to the Final and so it is no surprise that I fancy them to beat Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.
The away side are still under pressure in the Premier League and their squad has been stretched through injuries so I think Newcastle will feel very good if they still have a chance to win the game at St James' Park next week.
However, I don't think taking a defensive approach to the game is the way forward and I don't believe inviting pressure from a Benfica side with the attacking talent they have is the best tactical idea. There are some weaknesses in the defence of the home side, so Newcastle have to be thinking about grabbing an away goal if they are to get through to the Semi Final.
My concern for Newcastle is that Benfica are very comfortable scoring goals at home and I wouldn't be surprised if the home side win with at least 3 goals scored in the match.
MY PICKS: Chelsea-Manchester United Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Both teams to score and Bayern Munich to win @ 3.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Paris Saint-Germain-Barcelona Draw @ 3.75 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Malaga-Borussia Dortmund Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Real Madrid - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Chelsea to win by one goal @ 3.60 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.60 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Benfica Win and Over 2.5 goals in the match @ 2.30 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
March Final: 16-20, + 7.43 Units (55 Units Staked, + 13.51% Yield)
February Final: 14-23, - 2.81 Units (48 Units Staked, - 5.85% Yield)
January Final: 10-22, - 10.89 Units (45 Units Staked, - 24.2% Yield)
December Final: 17-24-1, - 0.83 Units (53 Units Staked, - 0.02 % Yield)
November Final: 8-21, - 8.25 Units (37 Units Staked, - 22.3% Yield)
October Final: 9-9, + 5.44 Units (27 Units Staked, 20.1% Yield)
September Final: 17-11, + 21.19 Units (46 Units Staked, 46.1% Yield)
August Final: 12-13, + 1.29 Units (40 Units Staked, 3.22% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 12.57 Units (351 Units Staked, + 3.58% Yield)
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