It's a big Sunday for Scotland and I'm looking forward to celebrating some goals from our boys in blue as we put minnows Gibraltar to the sword. It's a tough day betting wise, but hopefully we can continue the fine form of the past 10 days which has seen me leap into big profit for March. Here are today's previews and suggested bets; 1800 - Georgia v Germany - Prediction 0.3- Best Bet - No bet
Given the shaky form of the world champions, this fixture looks a little trickier than it would have done at the start of the campain. A largely second string Germany were held by Australia in midweek, and having dropped points at home to Ireland as well as losing to Poland, this is a German team who seriously need to get their act together if they are going to win the group as is expected. Georgia though are not always easy to beat at home having held France in the last campaign and lost by only 1 to Spain. Indeed Ireland were trailing for much of their qualifier in Tblisi and while Poland recorded an easy 4.0 win in their most recent home tie, generally speaking they are tough to break down and with Germany still struggling for form, I'm not confident enough to back them on the -1 handicap at a slim 4/11. Georgia are pretty ordinary though and it would be a surprise if the Germans didn't win comfortably here although I am wary given their recent form. I would love to see them drop points of course, but I would be shocked if the Germans failed to claim the win here. 1800 - Scotland v Gibraltar - Prediction 5.0- Best Bet - Rhodes to score 2 or more @6/5, Anya to score anytime @5/6 Scotland are 1/66 odds on to claim the certain victory here but the real question is by how many will they win by today? It's hard to be sure given that Scotland have never been the best at horsing minnows and with Gibraltar newcomes to the International scene, it's hard to assess just how poor an outfit they are. Having conceded 7 in their home fixture with Poland and a further 7 in Ireland, the signs didn't look good for Gibraltar but they improved significantly in restricting Germany to only 4 and if Scotland can match that scoreline, we will be sufficiently satisfied, although if it's antything less than 4, questions will be asked about what is a hugely improved Scotland team who have lost just twice in 12 fixtures. While I do expect them to win by at least 4, I'm not sure if I can go with the -4 at only 4/5 odds even if I do fancy us to win easily. The first 20 minutes could be difficult but I expect Scotland to score 1 or 2 before half-time with the second half being more somewhat more comfortable against tiring opponents. I'm optimistic though that Scotland will do the business in front of goal but given the skinny odds on the handicap, I'm looking at the goalscorer market and if Jordan Rhodes gets the nod up front, he should find himself scoring at least once and you can get 6/5 on him scoring 2 or more. He's not certain to start but if he does, I would be certain of him hitting the net at skinny 3/10 odds so the 6/5 on 2 or more could be the bet. I'm going with Ikechi Anya for my best bet here. He is 5/6 to score at anytime and given his form for Scotland, I expect him to be at the forefront of Scotland's best work today. 2045 - Rep of Ireland v Poland - Prediction 2.2- Best Bet BTTS @6/5 I'm hoping and perhaps expecting a share of the spoils tomorrow night in Dublin in what is a hugely significant fixture in the group. In recent years, Ireland struggle to keep clean sheets at home in the qualifiers with only Gibraltar, and the Faroe Islands failing to score in Dublin in their last 2 campaigns. They have conceded at least 1 goal in the other 9 fixtures against teams including heavyweights such as Armenia, Estonia, Macedonia, Andorra and Kazakhstan! The Irish themselves managed to score in 10 of those 11 matches so for that reason, and given that Poland are a superior team to that of the 5 aforementioned sides I really fancy BTTS at generous 11/10 odds. A draw would be perfect for Scotland and given that this is going to be our year, i expect the stars to allign in our favour again tomorrow with an entertaining share of the spoils to cap a fine day for the Tartan Army who should see some goals at Hampden earlier in the afternoon. 1800 - North Ireland v Finland - Prediction 1.0- Best Bets - Northern Ireland to win, draw no bet @5/6, Northern Ireland to win @9/5, under 2.5 goals at 8/15. What a start to the campaign it has been for Northern Ireland and after 4 games they are in serious contention to qualify for the finals, albeit from a truly shocking group. How jealous I was on seeing their draw 15 months ago. Finland are pretty ordinary but they are reasonably secure at the back and I expect a low scoring encounter here with the possibility that the Irish could nick it. Under 2.5 goals is priced at 8/15 and I'm sure this is the safest bet for this one but I am tempted by the home win @9/5. 2045 - Romania v Faroe Islands -Prediction 2,0 - Best Bet =-no bet Having upset the Greeks, the Faroes are not quite the pushover they once were and while Romania ought to win, i'm ignoring this one. No bet. 2045 - Hungary v Greece - Prediction 2.0 - Best Bet - Hungary to win @13/8 Greece have been rotten so far and have sacked Claudio Ranieri following their home humiliation to the Faroe Islands. Hungary are no world beaters but are a very tempting 13/8 to beat a Greek side that have a much changed squad for this one with many of their more experienced p;ayers left out, including Georgios Samaras they and seem to have next to no chance of qualifying having picked up only 1 point so far. Hungary have finished 3rd in their last 2 campaigns and once againt sit in the same position with a decent shot at qualifying and with a home crowd behind them today, I have a feeling they can get the win and at a very good price too. They may well appear in some of my best bets today. 1800 - Albania v Armenia- Prediction 1.0- Best Bet - Albania to win @10/11 This should be a close one with Albania narrow favourites to pick up the win but I'm not particularly interested in betting on this one unless it is on one of my pocket change bets. 2045 - Portugal v Serbia- Prediction 1.1- Best Bet draw @ 3/1 Portugal are often poor at home and I cannot back them at 4/7 odds to overcome a young but improving Serbian side. Of course much depends on Ronaldo and how the Serbs can handle the Real Madrid goal machine but I expect a low scoring encounter with the visitors grabbing a crucial point in what is a Comments are closed.
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