Well it was a perfect return to action after my hiatus in recent weeks as I landed all 3 of my "Bo's Best Bets" In case you missed it earlier, here are my successful selections.
Bo's Best Bets Scotland and Nigeria to draw 11/5 winner - 2.2 Scotland v Netherlands U21'S - BTTS 5/6 winner 1.6 Stevie May to score at anytime (u21's) - 2/1 - winner Now it has to be said, I did not expect either my 2nd or 3rd selections to come in as The Netherlands were absolutely spanking our young boys 6 to nothing after 90 minutes but deep into injury time, the divine ponytail Stevie May popped up to grab a late goal to bring up my BTTS at 5/6 and May to score anytime was 2/1. My Catalan lady was reading the blog pre match and queried "who is Stevie May?" it was a question I never thought I would hear but after 93 minutes, she was well aware of the big man. Unfortunately, I was unable to bet on May on bet365 (very disappointed) and I was denied a treble of Scotland draw, BTTS and a draw in the Denmark and Sweden friendly which would have brought up a 20/1 to treble but was denied in the 93rd minute by a Daniel Agger penalty. You win some and you lose some and tonight's late goals demonstrated why a bet is never a winner or a loser until the final whistle (unless you cover or cash out). Indeed I was somewhat shafted by bet365 who mysteriously would not let me cash out on my 2.1 Scotland bet which I had made shortly before kick off. With a full 25 minutes to go the cash out option disappeared shortly after May's goal which brought up the possibility that I could cash out on the 2.1 and still have a chance to win more if Nigeria equalised. That they did deep into stoppage time but had the cash out option been available on my 2.1, I would have taken it. Quite clearly they were aware of this and refused the cash out option. Very poor and I will be writing to them to ask why. I am sure I will get some hot air riposte at how they retain the right to offer this facility when they please. It was actually a night of quite a few near misses as my own personal speculative little bets came up short. As mentioned my treble was denied very late in Denmark and I also had a speculative 14/1 on Scotland winning at half time and drawing at full time. Again it was a goal late in the half that denied Scotland a half time lead but it was a night of what if's for Bo (what else is new) but the blog posts were spot on and these were labelled my "best bets" and so they proved. There's some more friendly action over the weekend with little to get the juices flowing but I will of course be posting some "best bets" to enjoy over the weekend.and hopefully we can enjoy some of the friendly action with a few notes in the bank to go with it. BOna nit Just a couple of games tonight to consider and they both involve Scotland!
Firstly, the main team take on World Cup qualifiers Nigeria in a friendly at Craven Cottage? (maybe Loftus Road...London for sure!!) in what should prove to be a closely fought contest with the buoyant Scots unbeaten in 5 and looking to extend that record against what to my eyes, is a limited Nigeria side who I do not expect to qualify from their group in Brasil. This Scottish team under Gordon Strachan have improved greatly in the last 12 months and are nobodies mugs despite what the English and their press might have you believe. This Scottish team is now ranked 23rd in the World! Yes, perhaps the FIFA rankings are crazy but there can be no doubt that we have improved steadily under the ginger prince Strachan and we are more than capable of continuing the run tonight. Scotland are 9/5 to win or you can play it safter and take them at 8/15 not to lose and I think I will be sitting on the fence for this one and backing the draw. Meanwhile the Under 21's take on Holland in Scotland and the young guns are 9/2 to take the Dutch scalp but i like the look of BTTS at 5/6 and with St Johnstone's divine ponytail Stevie May leading the line, I am backing the kids to at least find the net against the Dutch. It's not often you can bet on Scotland to win twice in the same day and for those of you feeling patriotic, such an outcome is priced at 16/1. Bo's Best Bets Scotland and Nigeria to draw 11/5 Scotland v Netherlands U21'S - BTTS Stevie May to score at anytime (u21's) - 2/1 Bo's Bonkers Bet Scotland 1 v 1 Nigeria 6/1 Scott Brown to score first 14/1 1) John Collins Penalty v Brazil, 1998, Opening Game Without question, the single most exciting World Cup moment for any Scotsman under the age of 30 and quite possibly even 40 year olds would struggle to name a finer moment. Not since Archie Gemmill slalomed past 16 mesmerized Dutch wizards to stroke the Scots 3.1 up against the greatest team that ever lived in Argentina in 1978 had Scotland enjoyed such a joyous moment, as that penalty a full 30 years later. The ultra cool Collins slotted home shortly before half time against the reigning champions to bring the Scots level at 1.1 in a match we would ultimately lose 2.1 thanks to the hapless Tom Boyd who was more than a little unfortunate to see the ball come off his face and in to an empty net. Two years earlier, we had suffered so painfully in England as the traitor Gary McCalister (I spelled his name incorrectly because 1) he missed THAT PENALTY and 2) I am far too lazy to check) failed to beat the Seaman protecting the English net at Euro '96. Collins however was made of sterner stock. His face was quite the picture about 10 seconds before he found the back of the net and he looked every inch the man who carried the weight of a nation, still sodden in tears from the pain of 2 years earlier. His complexion was stone cold grey but the stunner from Collins followed shortly, as he rippled the back of Taffarel's net to send the Scots into something approaching bewilderment. Hyperbole asside, this was a real moment of joy for Scots fans and considering they have not since returned to a major finals, it is understandable that it remains a small moment of pride for us weary Scots who yearn for another day in the spotlight. Click to set custom HTML These are just a few of my early selections and thoughts which could well be revised to some extent over the next 14 days. I will be posting more previews, analysis and stand out bets over the course of the next 2 weeks and will finalize my best selections and tips in the days before the tournament gets under way.
I will highlight my stand out bets today in bold. Let's call them "Bo's Bold Bets" OPENING WEEK ACCA SELECTIONS Chile to beat Australia - 1/2 Brazil to beat Croatia - 2/7 Mexico v Cameroon draw - 2/1 Spain to beat Holland - 1/1 Colombia to beat Greece 4/6 Uruguay to beat Costa Rica 4/11 England v Italy - draw 2/1 Ivory coast v Japan draw 11/5 Switzerland v Ecuador draw 2/1 France to beat Honduras 1/3 Argentina to beat Bosnia 2/5 Germany v Portugal draw 12/5 Iran v Nigeria draw 21/10 Ghana to beat USA 8/5 Belgium to beat Algeria 2/5 Russia v South Korea - Russia 11/10 BTTS ACCA Mexico v Cameroon11/10 Ivory Coast v Japan 11/10 Germany v Portugal 5/6 Teams to Qualify Double Chile 5/6 Bosnia 5/6 TOP TEAM GOALSCORERS DZEKO - Bosnia 6/4 FRED - Brasil 3/1 KLOSE = Germany 4/1 SUAREZ - Uruguay 5/4 TO REACH QUARTER FINAL or better BELGIUM 11/10 TO REACH SEMI FINAL or better BRAZIL 5/6 STAGE OF ELIMINATION BOSNIA LAST 16 2/1 LOWEST SCORING TEAM AUSTRALIA 4/1 TOP GOALSCORER MARKET FAVOURITE PICKS AGUERO 16/1 FRED 20/1 MULLER 25/1 KLOSE 40/1 WINNER/TOP GOALSCORER (WILD COMBOS BRAZIL AND FRED 40/1 BRAZIL AND NEYMAR 16/1 ARGENTINA AND AGUERO 33/1 BRAZIL AND MULLER 110/1 BRAZIL AND AGUERO 66/1 BRAZIL AND RONALDO 50/1 ARGENTINA AND MESSI 16/1 GERMANY AND AGUERO 100/1 GERMANY AND NEYMAR 75/1 407 hours to go (who's counting?) until Brazil and Croatia kick-off the summers World Cup so it's about time I had a good look at what bets we can make pre-tournament to ensure the most value and I have spent the best part of 4 hours looking at some stand out prices that are available just now.
It's never easy predicting the winner of the World Cup and all the usual big names are there, plus England and while Brazil are rightly priced as favourites, there are at least another 4 teams with serious ambitions to win the trophy. Argentina and Germany are surely the two biggest threats to Brazil while champions Spain are still packed full of quality and it would be idiocy to write them off despite the troubles of Barcelona and tiki-taka in the last 18 months. I also fully expect a big run from the Italians and they are my "dark horses" to make a good run in Brazil. Italy as "dark horses" you say? Well, it might be stretching it a tad to call the Azzurri "dark horses" but they are certainly a deep chocolatey brown kind of mare in terms of this 1 month long race. They can be backed at 25/1 which represents outstanding value on a team who have a midfield stacked with talent. Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Motta, Veratti and Montilivo to name but 5. Bearing in mind that this is a tournament likely to be played in stifling heat, possession of the ball will be vital and this Italian team have more than enough about them to be a tough nut for any team to crack. Getting out of their group will be their first major challenge but if they can do that as winners, then a run to the semis or beyond is entirely plausible. As for England, well they have really got some fantastic talent emerging into their squad with Sterling, Sturridge and Lallana the 3 that could catch the eye this summer. The English have been written off in this tournament and while I would be staggered if they managed to win it, I can see them joining Italy in the last 16 where a possible tie with Colombia awaits. A lot depends on the form of the perennially maligned Wayne Rooney and the impressions of the aforementioned new boys while Steven Gerrard needs to get over his Premier League heartbreak and Jack Wilshere needs to get over the constant breaks he seems to suffer on all of his body parts. I expect some decent performances from Roy's boys and look forward to seeing them play. Genuinely, even as a Scotsman I really do and if we see a team with Lallana and Sterling supporting Sturridge and Rooney it is quite possible England could surprise some with their level of quality. Quarter final defeat on penalties would do nicely. Argentina are the team I am most looking forward to watching and I expect them to blow away their group of Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria and it is here I am looking at a team with potential to be top goalscorers and with that comes the possibility of Sergio Aguero as top goalscorer. I have a feeling he could outshine Messi in Brasil and he is 20/1 to be tournament top goalscorer and the value certainly lies here with Messi best priced at 17/2. Spain are Spain and they will look to bore their opponents into submission with over 1000 carefully placed 2 yard passes over the course of a 90 minutes that tends to feel like watching Cricket or some other barely watchable sporting spectacle. In all seriousness, the Spanish can still turn it on when they feel like it but I have a feeling they will get no further than the Semi's on this occasion. Germany could be their downfall. Other teams that the bookies expect to be "there or there abouts" as some BBC pundit will invariably describe "The Germans" as, are Belgium, Chile, Uruguay, France, Portugal and Holland. I don't expect any of these to win the tournament but I look forward to seeing the Chileans especially and can see them eliminating the Dutch in what should be a great group with Spain and Australia while Belgium have enough quality to go deep in the tournament and are rightly classed as the official "dark horses" . Not really sure who paints these horses but I don't think a "dark horse" as ever won a World Cup, certainly not in the modern era. Ronaldo will lead Portugal in the group of death (I apologise for the multitude of tournament cliches I am using in this preview) with Germany, Ghana and the USA and if the Portuguese can emerge from this series of games, then they have in Ronaldo a man capable of literally(figuratively) anything (as Jamie Redknapp might say).and they cannot be discounted from a big run. He is the Maradona of this Portugal team who remarkably still have Helder Postiga in their attack, a man who seems to have been crap on the International stage for decades. Perhaps that is doing him a disservice but it is staggering that they have not produced a better foil for Ronaldo in all these years. Holland and France will probably end up fighting and going out relatively early while Uruguay could struggle to come out of their group but a lot depends on the fitness of a certain Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan's are aging and I don't expect to see them progress beyond the group or at best, the last 16. Chile likewise are going to be hard pushed to qualify past Holland and while I think they may well do just that, Brasil are likely to await in the next round and that could be that for a team everyone will love. It's going to be an absolute festival, even if the matches are boring and while i do not expect a goal fest or anything to match the glory of World Cup's past, I do think it will be much better than South Africa (thank god those horns won't be there) and despite the protests, the overspend, the monumental levels of corruption and bile that pollute the football and political world, the overbearing heat and the very presence of Joseph Blatter, despite all this, I do think it is going to be marvellous sporting/social occasion which everyone (that even includes girlfriends) can enjoy and I can't bloody wait! My early tips will follow shortly... So...Bo is back for the World Cup and really, did you ever doubt it?
Contrary to some Facebook rumours, the bookies certainly DID NOT break Bo and my absence has simply been down to my extreme tiredness from starting a new job but things are back on track and The World Cup brings a wealth of betting opportunities mixed with the ultimate feast of football...what a summer we have in store. I was spot on in my predictions of an all Madrid final and I also backed Ateltico to get the draw they needed in the Camp Nou to seal a quite remarkable league triumph that was in the balance until the final minute in what really was an extraordinary climax to the Spanish season. I was standing in a small street in Barcelona watching the last 15 minutes of the game through the window of a bar and with 20 euros on Atelti to get win or draw and was just about the only one smiling as the final whistle sounded to seal Atleti's first title in 18 years. I cannot brag too much about success that I had in my absence from the site but suffice to say, you wouldn't believe it if i told you I had my best ever weekend...I suppose you will have to put your faith in BO! I I have a whole host of pre-tournament bets coming shortly and of course I will do my best to post my bets for every day of the tournament but with work and games to watch, it's not going to be easy but luckily I am pretty successful when it comes to betting on International football and past tournaments have brought me some of my sweeter successes. I will be changing the site a little to bring a little World Cup atmosphere and will be posting plenty to whet the appetite ahead of the big kick off on June 17. Bo's back and you should really follow my bets for the tournament. I will not just break the bookies this summer but i plan on smashing them so much that they might lock my account because of my remarkable success! Here'es hoping! (Actually that would be annoying) Bo I don't need to write a review of the fight as fortunately, I pretty much nailed my prediction when writing my preview earlier this week. Of course, Betfred would not take bets on precise method of victory and I missed out on any winnings. Here was my verdict earlier this week
"While the obvious prediction is Mayweather by UD, I do feel that this will be a good fight, highly competitive and it is quite possible that Maidana has the strength to hurt the champion and certainly trouble him in the first 4-6 rounds of this fight, but what is less likely, is his ability to catch him clean and truly have him hurt, or even, tasting canvas. There is just no precedent for it but records are there to be broken and my reliable gut instinct is telling me that this Mayweather fight is going to be worth tuning into. Maidana needs to fight relentlessly and without fear and if he can do that, then this fight could be closer than some skeptics would have you believe. Bob Arum spoke of how the public needed to boycott this event but such hot air and nonsense is best ignored. Bob would do well to take a look at his own ideas on how to sell fights to the fans. Does he really believe people want to see Manny Pacquiao fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a 5th time? Please. Top Rank has the feel of Hollywood now as all they are capable of it seems, are fading franchise sequels. But I digress, boxing politics is best left for another day but.I expect good action on Saturday and a degree of drama and there is always the possibility that this could finally be "The Moment" when Mayweather finally tastes defeat for the first time." Mayweather v Maidana - Best Bets Mayweather by split decision victory 5/1 Bona nit BET 1)
STAKE 35 EUROS Arsenal -1 to beat West Brom 8/11 Roma to beat Catania 4/9 Sevilla to beat Villareal 5/6 RETURNS 158 EUROS BET 2) STAKE 30 EUROS Real Madrid -1 to beat Valencia 4/9 Chelsea -1 to beat Norwich 8/15 Arsenal v West Brom - over 2.5 goals - 1/2 Returns 100 Euros BTTS AND WIN (small stakes) Real Madrid at home to Valencia Sevilla at home to Villareal Torino away to Chievo Hearts at home to Kilmarnock 50/1 Aproximately Bo's Bonkers Bet Arsenal 4 v 1 West Brom - 20/1 This Sunday's card is not quite as interesting as it normally is with no Bundesliga or Eredivisie action so my attention must turn to small cards in Seria A, La Liga and the EPL where we have some important games taking place.
In England, we have two home bankers as Arsenal entertain WBA and Chelsea host a Norwich side who need to win or they will be relegated. Arsenal are pretty much assured of 4th place and if they win the FA Cup it can be considered a successful season for The Gunners and I fully expect them to dispose of The Baggies tomorrow and I will be tempted to back Arsenal at -1 at 8/11 Likewise Chelsea should have little trouble in disposing of Norwich and condemning the Canaries to life in the Championship next season and once again I expect the home side to win by at least 2 clear goals. Norwich have lost their last 6 on the road, 5 of them by 2 goals or more and it's hard to see a different outcome tomorrow. Chelsea at -1 are 8/15 In Spain, in the race for La Liga, Real Madrid will be praying that Ateltico MadrId can drop some points away at Levante before their 9.00pm kick-off with Valencia at the Bernabeu. Atletico only need to win their next 2 matches (away at Levante today, and next week at home to Malaga) if they are to claim their first league title in 20 years. The leaders are a best priced 2/9 and it's hard to see them floundering now as they look to claim the most remarkable of doubles with their all Madrid Champions League Final against Real still to come. It will no doubt be a low scoring 1 or 2.0 away win for the champions elect. Real should keep up their challenge for at least one more week against a Valencia side who suffered Europa League heartbreak on Thursday night and I expect the away side to come into this game tonight, physically and mentally fatigued and once again I will be looking at the handicap with Real -1 to win at 4/9 There are 5 less than exciting ties in Italy kicking off at 1500CET to consider, with the big game coming later in the evening as Milan take on Inter in the derby. This looks like a tough one to call and I may leave it out entirely. I will be looking for some BTTS selections with the game in Seville a possibility as well as the game in Parma where the hosts take on Sampdoria. Torino should also be considered to win at Chievo. In Scoland, Hearts entertain Kilmarnock and the form is with the home side but BTTS is also a big possibility at 4/6 It is not quite the usual Sunday and I will be keeping my stakes relatively small today but I do have faith in my home bankers today and they will be the focus for my biggest bet of the day. Full selections to follow. Oh and for the boxing tonight, here are my tips Khan to KO Collazo Mayweather to beat Maidana on Points Well it was a remarkable, action packed day and rather than ramble on about my remarkable 10 fold acca that was only 1 goal short, or brag about my Dutch bets, let's look at my results for today overall.
TOTAL STAKED FOR DAY = 170 TOTAL RETURNED FOR DAY = 305 BET 1) Stake 20 Euros Feyenoord to beat AZ Alkmaar 21/20 Lost - final score 1.1 (last minute goal for AZ) Groningen to beat Heracles 4/6 - Winner - final score 3.1 CAMBUUR V ADO Den Haag- DEN HAAG TO WIN OR DRAW 21/20 - WINNER final score 1.2 Returns 135 Euros - CASHED OUT AT 95 EUROS After 82 minutes we looked set to scoop the big prize with Feyenoord leading 1.0 and Groningen and Den Haag both had 2 goal cushions so I was able to cash out for 95 euros. I could have covered by backing AZ to score the late equaliser that they ultimately managed but in either case, it was an obvious and good decision to cash out as an AZ equalizer would bring up my next bet! BET 2) Both Teams to Score Stake 70 Euros Utrecht v Vitesse BTTS 2/5 - Final score 2.1 Az Alkmaar v Feyenoord BTTS 4/11 final score 1.1 Everton v Man City BTTS 8/15 Final score 2.3 WINNER!!! Returns 210 Euros I was waiting for this AZ equaliser for a while as BTTS at Everton and Vittesse were safely up but was unable to cover due to the short odds. A VERY good time for AZ to score, thanks boys. BET 3) BTTS AND WIN Stake 10 Euros Feyenoord to beat AZ Alkmaar and BTTS - 11/5 Groningen to beat Heracles and BTTS - 6/4 Twente to beat PEC Zwolle and BTTS - 7/5 Heerenveen to beat RKC and BTTS - 15/8 Returns 500 euros LOST bet 4) Bo's Amazing Acca (EARLY KICK-OFFS ONLY) Stake - £5 Millwall to beat Bournemouth 23/20 won 1.0 Bolton to beat Birmingham 6/5 drew 2.2 Reading to beat Burnley 1/1 drew 2.2 Lost Bo's Bonkers Bet Everton 2 V 2 Man City 12/1 - Final Score 2.3 BET 5) Stake 40 Euros FREIBURG V SCHALKE BTTS 8/15 lost STUTTGART V WOLFSBURG BTTS 8/15 won FRANKFURT V LEVERKUSEN BTTS 8/13 lost HAMBURG V BAYERN BTTS 8/15 RETURNS 220 EUROS won BET 2) STAKE 20 EUROS Newcastle v Cardiff BTTS 4/7 lost Man Utd v Sunderland BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS 11/10 lost Swansea v Southampton BTTS 4/6 lost Treble Returns 110 euros LOST BTTS AND WIN STAKE 5 EUROS MAN UTD home to Sunderland15/8 lost MAN CITY at Everton 2/1 won LEVERKUSEN at Frankfurt 11/5 lost FEYENOORD at ALKMAAR 11/5 lost ACCA PAYS AT 100/1 LOST TOTAL STAKED FOR DAY = 170 TOTAL RETURNED FOR DAY = 305 Some bets were better than others but days like these are always welcome. Indeed I was surprised to win anything after the pain of my amazing acca in the early kick-off but as usual, Saturday has proved to be my best day of the week. Tomorrow's action is not nearly as exciting or busy but there should be 1 or 2 good selections, to be posted later tonight. It's a huge night of boxing so get the drinks in and enjoy the action. I recommend www.wiziwig.tv for a very good stream. Lots of Dutch games and the huge match at Everton to focus on.Here are my selection.
BET 1) Stake 20 Euros Feyenoord to beat AZ Alkmaar 21/20 Groningen to beat Heracles 4/6 CAMBUUR V ADO Den Haag- DEN HAAG TO WIN OR DRAW 21/20 Returns 135 Euros BET 2) Both Teams to Score Stake 70 Euros Utrecht v Vitesse BTTS 2/5 Az Alkmaar v Feyenoord BTTS 4/11 Everton v Man City BTTS 8/15 Returns 210 Euros BET 3) BTTS AND WIN Stake 10 Euros Feyenoord to beat AZ Alkmaar and BTTS - 11/5 Groningen to beat Heracles and BTTS - 6/4 Twente to beat PEC Zwolle and BTTS - 7/5 Heerenveen to beat RKC and BTTS - 15/8 Returns 500 euros Bo's Bonkers Bet Everton 2 V 2 Man City 12/1 Here is a snippet of my earlier post today
"However, it has also been pointed out that on the last day of last seaon's final round of Championship games, 10 out of 12 had BTTS and only 2 teams failed to score. Traditionally it has been a day when goals fly in with teams relaxed and players minds already diverted to the beach and all the other fun post season activities they get up to. So, I am going for the ultimate Acca of BTTS. I have picked 10 games out and it's worth a £1 for sure! Bo's Ultimate BTTS End of Season Miracle Acca It's easier to list the two games that I WILL NOT back BTTS. BTTS NO - BLACKPOOL AND LEICESTER. BTTS YES AT ALL OTHER GAMES (10 Games in Championship for BTTS) Pays at 98/1 and here are the final scores. FT Barnsley 2 - 3 Queens Park Rangers FT Blackburn Rovers 4 - 3 Wigan Athletic FT Blackpool 0 - 3 Charlton Athletic FT Bolton Wanderers 2 - 2 Birmingham City FT Ipswich Town 2 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday FT Leeds United 1 - 1 Derby County FT Leicester City 1 - 0 Doncaster Rovers FT Millwall 1 - 0 AFC Bournemouth FT Nottingham Forest 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion FT Reading 2 - 2 Burnley FT Watford 1 - 4 Huddersfield Town FT Yeovil Town 1 - 4 Middlesbrough Incredibly i was correct in 11 of the 12 games. I successfully picked 19 out of 20 teams to score with only BOURNEMOUTH LETTING ME DOWN! Remarkably unlucky for Bo here, as not only did i pick 9 out of 10 correct games for BTTS but i also selected 2 were there WOULD NOT be goals. I only had a quid on this and the fact Watford scored late to make me just 1 short of the magical bet made me feel somewhat sick. wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh unluckiest line of the week or any week. I haven't studied as much as I would like, so stakes will be a little lower today but more ambitious with a whole host of BTTS selections I like the look of. Let's make it a fun Saturday!!
BET 1) Stake 40 Euros FREIBURG V SCHALKE BTTS 8/15 STUTTGART V WOLFSBURG BTTS 8/15 FRANKFURT V LEVERKUSEN BTTS 8/13 HAMBURG V BAYERN BTTS 8/15 RETURNS 220 EUROS BET 2) STAKE 20 EUROS Newcastle v Cardiff BTTS 4/7 Man Utd v Sunderland BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS 11/10 Swansea v Southampton BTTS 4/6 Treble Returns 110 euros BTTS AND WIN STAKE 5 EUROS MAN UTD home to Sunderland15/8 MAN CITY at Everton 2/1 LEVERKUSEN at Frankfurt 11/5 FEYENOORD at ALKMAAR 11/5 ACCA PAYS AT 100/1 I will also post some bets for later on from Holland and other selected ties across Europe. Goals goals goals.
With the Championship action kicking off early, our attention for today is focused on the action in the EPL, Bundesliga and Eredivisie. In the EPL, the late kick-off match is going to be an absolute cracker with Man City heading to Everton in what looks to be the most important league game of the season so far. If City win, the title should be theirs, any other result will open the door for Liverpool and even Chelsea so whatever happens today, we are going to be a lot closer to knowing the desination of the title. This is a really tough match to call given the need of both teams to win, and City's awful record at Everton which indudes 5 defeats in their last 6 visits to Goodison. Even their record at home is pretty poor with only 2 wins in 6 so I find it impossible to back City. BTTS at 4/7 is likely and this should be one of the most exciting matches of the season. My gut feeling is that City can prevail but I would not at all be surprised if they drop points today. I also expect goals in the games at Newcastle who host almost relegated Cardiff while Southampton travel to Swansea in what could be an entertaining contest between 2 sides who have nothing left to play for. It could go the other way but I expect BTTS at 4/6 Man Utd should beat Sunderland but given the Black Cats revival, I don't think I can back Utd with the confidence of last week while Stoke and Fulham is another tough one to call. I am running out of time to post my final selections so I will cut this preview short, but it's fair to say that goals in Germany and Holland will be my focus in my selections, coming at 3pm CET. There is an overwhelming amount of football today so i will first do a preview of the Chmpionship where all 24 teams play their final matches at 13.15CET today. Damn these early kick-offs!
It's the final day so there are still play-off and relegation issues to be decided, and with not much time to study all the EPL, Bundesliga and Dutch Erredivisie action today, I will keep this short and sweet. With it being the final day, there are a whole host of meaningless games and a few with big importance for the likes of Birmingham and Reading. Indeed, of the 12 games being played, 8 could be classed as being "dead rubbers" and with that said, and the early kick times, I will do only an amazing acca for these games and will keep stakes low. However, it has also been pointed out that on the last day of last seaon's final round of Championship games, 10 out of 12 had BTTS and only 2 teams failed to score. Traditionally it has been a day when goals fly in with teams relaxed and players minds already diverted to the beach and all the other fun post season activities they get up to. So, I am going for the ultimate Acca of BTTS. I have picked 10 games out and it's worth a £1 for sure! Bo's Ultimate BTTS End of Season Miracle Acca It's easier to list the two games that I WILL NOT back BTTS. BTTS NO - BLACKPOOL AND LEICESTER. BTTS YES AT ALL OTHER GAMES (10 Games in Championship for BTTS) Pays at 95/1 Bo's Amazing Acca (EARLY KICK-OFFS ONLY) Stake - £5 Millwall to beat Bournemouth 23/20 Bolton to beat Birmingham 6/5 Reading to beat Burnley 1/1 Treble Pays at 9/1 Just one bet for today, and I am back Juventus and Sevilla to qualify tonight.
BET 1) Stake 50 Euros Juventus to qualify 8/11 Sevilla to qualify 1/6 Double returns 103 Euros Bo's Bonkers Bet Valencia 2 v 2 Sevilla 12/1 Semi-final action tonight in the Europa league as Juventus entertain Benfica trailing 2-1 from the first leg while Sevilla hold a 2.0 lead as they travel to Valencia.
It’s a huge match for the Serie A leaders with the final being played in their Turin ground and they will be expected to find a way to qualify in what promises to be a closely fought match. Benfica’s first-leg win was not a huge shock because they are so strong at home but having conceded an away goal, you would expect the Serie A champions-elect to turn it around and reach the showpiece final. Benfica cannot be written off but are certainly not as strong on road and with a full stadium behind them, I cannot see past Juventus and i can see them winning to nil at at best priced 13/10 Juventus are 8/11 to qualify and I fancy this to be my super single for the night. In the second semi final, Valencia look to pull off another remarkable comeback in the Europa League this season, trailing 2.0 from the first leg in Seville. In the last round with Valencia trailing Basel 3-0 from the first leg, they somehow managed to overturn the deficit, winning 3.0 over 90 minutes and 5.0 in extra time to complete a remarkable recovery. Valencia will need to chase the game at some point and will be vulnerable to the counter attack and I can see BTTS at 4/6 paying off. Sevilla are well capable and in some tremendous form of late and I am very confident they will finish the job tonight. Valencia are 5-4 at to win on the night but I fancy Seville to add to their lead and they are 23/10 to win on the night. I Recommended Bets Juventus to qualify (8-11,) Juventus to win with a cleansheet (13/10) Valencia v Sevilla btts (8-13,) Sevilla to qualify (1/6) Las Vegas is ready for it's biggest fight of the year thus far as Marcos "El Chino" Maidana becomes the latest man to enter the Mayweather sweepstakes as he attempts to take Floyd's most prized possesion; his cherished "0".
Of course Mayweather would have you believe that all he cares about is money, but make no mistake about it, the unbeaten record is all Floyd needs to motivate himself with and on Saturday, it comes under a genuinethreat in the form of the dangerous, hard hitting Argentinian Maidana. "El chino", chosen for the flight over Amir Khan by the "Money Man", comes into the bout having dismantled and punished Floyd's "little brother" Adrian Broner in one of last years most exciting, and enjoyable fights, mostly because we saw the previously unbeaten Broner's arrogant smile wiped firmly from his face. Within 20 seconds of their bout, it was clear Maidana cared not a jot about the unbeaten record or the flash that Broner brought to the ring.as he hurt him early in the first round, and had him doing the chicken dance in the very next stanza following a heavy knockdown. It was a fantastic win for Maidana who has certainly grown into the welter weight division in the past 18 months, and with famed strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza joining his camp for this fight, there can be no question that he will be in the best possible shape and Maidana represents one of Mayweather's more difficult challenges in recent years. For Maidana to win however requires an extension of the imagination to some degree as Mayweather has barely been hurt in his long career and has hardly taken a punch in his 2 most recent fights, shut out wins over Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez. Maidana meanwhile is talking about knockouts and I find that concept hard to envisage in this fight, even if I would love it more than anything I've ever seen in a boxing ring. The Argentine slugger does need to take the fight to Floyd, set a fast pace and back him up on the ropes but all these things are easier said than done and it is not the first time we have heard about aggression being the remedy to the Mayweather skill set. 46 have tried and 46 have failed as he is so keen to remind us. There is however no question that Maidana is a fighter in his prime and has the ability to pull off a major upset on Saturday if he can apply serious pressure and land one of his wicked left hooks, but once again, it is so hard to even imagine Floyd hurt or losing a fight that backing the upset would take the bravest of all gamblers. Floyd, while being completely devoid of class, friends, or even attractive women in his life, as so shamelessly exhibited on the Showtimes series All Access, is without any shadow of doubt, the greatest defensive fighter of this or any era and whether Maidana has the skills and boxing ability to go with his fortitude and punching power is somewhat unclear. Solving the Broner problem is one thing but finding the formula to unravel the Mayweather equation is an entirely different stratosphere of scientific boxing analysis. They don't call it the sweet science for nothing. Boxing is based on the art of hitting and not getting hit and that is why Mayweather, at 37, and unbeaten, remains the best, richest and most powerful man in the sport today. Untouchable you might say. While the obvious prediction is Mayweather by UD, I do feel that this will be a good fight, highly competitive and it is quite possible that Maidana has the strength to hurt the champion and certainly trouble him in the first 4-6 rounds of this fight, but what is less likely, is his ability to catch him clean and truly have him hurt, or even, tasting canvas. There is just no precedent for it but records are there to be broken and my reliable gut instinct is telling me that this Mayweather fight is going to be worth tuning into. Maidana needs to fight relentlessly and without fear and if he can do that, then this fight could be closer than some skeptics would have you believe. Bob Arum spoke of how the public needed to boycott this event but such hot air and nonsense is best ignored. Bob would do well to take a look at his own ideas on how to sell fights to the fans. Does he really believe people want to see Manny Pacquiao fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a 5th time? Please. Top Rank has the feel of Hollywood now as all they are capable of it seems, are fading franchise sequels. But I digress, boxing politics is best left for another day but.I expect good action on Saturday and a degree of drama and there is always the possibility that this could finally be "The Moment" when Mayweather finally tastes defeat for the first time. Also on the card on Saturday is Amir Khan in his welterweight debut against the underrated Luis Collazo and I will attempt to post a short preview of that, and the Broner fight upcoming as well. Mayweather v Maidana - Best Bets Mayweather by split decision victory 5/1 Maidana by Knockout - 12/1 (just imagine having a tenner on this and seeing it live. Best moment ever in boxing?) |
Categories |