Tag: "season"

Serie A Betting: Remarkable Roma to be involved in high-scoring game at Bari

As Roma aim to complete the most unlikely of title-challenging comebacks, they travel to Bari this weekend in a match where their attacking trident of Totti/Toni/Vucinic is almost certain to produce goals. Dave Farrar talks us through all the action this weekend. “With Totti now fit, and Jeremy Menez suspended, Roma will line up with a trident of Totti, Toni and Vucinic, which is good enough for me, and Andrea Ranocchia’s continuing absence from the Bari backline only adds to the idea that there will be goals here.” Bari v Roma Roma’s run towards the Serie A title has been nothing short of astonishing. When they lost to Udinese on the 28th October they were 14th in the table, but a run of 21 games unbeaten, culminating in last Saturday’s 2-1 win against Inter, means that they go into this weekend’s round of matches just a point and a place behind Jose Mourinho’s team. For that achievement alone, Claudio Ranieri deserves immense credit, particularly given the absence of crucial players, most notably his captain Francesco Totti. The key factor now, though, is how Roma deal with being genuine challengers for the title. Up until this point, they have been improbable winners of Serie A, but now, with a better run in than Inter, they can reasonably be called favourites. Will they crack under the pressure, or will they respond to it, as they head to the San Nicola in Bari

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Timeform 1-2-3: April 3rd

It’s been a long 24 hours without racing but Saturday brings a feast both Flat and Jumps and the Timeform Free Form Service have three selections that can pay for the Easter eggs. “Wise Dennis returned from an absence with a fine third over course and distance last month, finishing strongly behind a subsequent winner in Gaily Noble..” Starting off at Haydock Park where Majaales (2.20) can get us off to a flyer. The Tom George-trained seven-year-old has kept some good company this season and wasn’t beaten far by Beshabar in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Ascot last time having raced wider than most throughout. This looks much easier and he goes well with give in the ground. Up to Carlisle and the novice chase over two and a half miles. Five runners go to post, and though the four with chasing experience have all won at least once over fences, it may pay to take a chance on Heez a Steel (4.00) on his chase debut receiving weight

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NBA Betting: San Antonio and Cleveland the good things this weekend

Nick Shiambouros talks us through the events of the last few days and the upcoming matches in the ever-exciting world of the NBA. “I think the Raptors will rise to the challenge and take care of the Warriors. Golden State has had a shocking season and is only playing for pride – I make the Raptors my best bet of the week.” The Utah Jazz thrashed the Golden State Warriors 128-104 with yet another dominant display on Wednesday evening. The Jazz came out firing and had the game in safe keeping at the half

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The Over/Under 2.5 Goals Column: Rooney’s absence should see the goals dry up at Old Trafford

Ed Nicholson looks at the big match of the weekend as Chelsea visit Old Trafford and Wolves’ trip to the Emirates in search of over/under 2.5 goals value. “With United casting one eye on their second leg quarter final match against Bayern Munich next week, and without the influential Wayne Rooney I can see United being quite tight and compact here. Chelsea too will want to get a result – and a draw is not a bad one for them. So a low scoring draw is foreseen.” Man Utd v Chelsea This game now has a completely different feel to it following Chelsea’s impressive 7-1 success against Aston Villa last Saturday and, perhaps even more pertinently, Wayne Rooney’s injury in midweek. And for those who have been saying that Man United have only performed so well this season thanks to Rooney’s tremendous form, this Sunday’s game against Chelsea will either go some way to proving them right or wrong. Obviously one match will be far from conclusive on that score, but it does just happen to be against Chelsea at a time of the season when losing any game could prove decisive in deciding league titles or relegation battles

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Premier League Betting: Easter Weekend’s 3pm Kick-offs

With seven (no so magnificent) fixtures to preview this weekend, “Mystical” Mike Norman has plenty of options as he searches for a fifth successive winning best bet. Best Bet: Back Blackburn at 2.2 to beat Portsmouth. Best Bet: Back Blackburn @ 2.2 to beat Portsmouth Also: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.44 in Arsenal v Wolves; Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 4.0 in Bolton v Villa; Back Stoke @ 1.83 to beat Hull; Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.08 in Sunderland v Tottenham; Back Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.2 in Birmingham v Liverpool; Back 0-0 Correct Score @ 10.0 in Fulham v Wigan Arsenal 1.28 v Wolves 16.0 ; The Draw 6.4 As much as Arsenal should still win this game, I simply have to lay them at 1.29 given what’s happened to their squad in recent days. To lose William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas to injury after the Barcelona game is a huge blow to Arsene Wenger’s hopes of winning the title . Wolves have been in decent form of late and I don’t think they will be rolled-over at the Emirates today

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IPL Betting: The league table does not lie

We’re at the halfway point in IPL3, so as the competition for a semi-final place hots up we can expect plenty of jostling in the standings, right? Wrong. Ed Hawkins explains why the current front four will probably hold on
“In the previous two IPL seasons, only once has a team in [...]

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MLB American League Preview: It’s Yankees v Sox, again

The 2010 baseball season gets underway on Sunday April 4. Nick Shiambouros looks at the teams of the American League “Nothing short of a World Series will do for the Sox this year. Boston signed John Lackey as a free agent during the winter. He is a pitcher of the highest calibre and is a welcome addition to the rotation. This team has tremendous depth and a wealth of talent

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MLB National League Preview: Phillies going for three in a row

The 2010 baseball season starts on Sunday April 4 .Below is a preview of the National League with each team’s current World Series odds. “Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers are in position for another crack at making the post season. This is a team that can score plenty of runs and has quality pitching. Manager Joe Torre has done a wonderful job with this team and another good season is on the cards. They could be the value bet at these odds.” Philadelphia Phillies ( 8.0 ) This team is bidding to make the World Series for the third straight year after coming up short against the Yankees in six games in 2009. The Phillies are one of the elite teams in baseball and have an abundance of talent. They added pitcher Roy Halladay to the rotation this winter but traded Cliff Lee to Seattle. There is no doubt in my mind that they will be in contention once again this year.

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La Liga Preview: Los Blancos Racing towards El Clasico

Tobias Gourlay chooses two from the top and one from the bottom for the 30th round of the Spanish league season. Recommended Bets: Back Real Madrid -1.5 at 2.0 v Racing Santander; back Draw/Barcelona at 4.8 v Athletic Bilbao; back Almeria at 2.52 to beat Real Mallorca Although one of Spain’s Big Two has been much busier than the other this week and one stays at home while the other goes away, there’s no reason to suppose both won’t pick up three points and maintain their monstrous 21-point lead over third-placed Valencia going into next weekend’s El Clasico showdown in Madrid. A month ago, Real Madrid would not have envisaged many weeks off towards the end of a European season that culminates in a Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabeu, but their loss to Lyon sees them well-rested ahead of Sunday’s trip to Racing Santander . They probably didn’t even need to be rested, for Racing are embarrassed owners of La Liga’s worst home record this season (W2-D5-L7) and rarely trouble their most illustrious opponents, losing this fixture in four of the last five seasons. Real, meanwhile, are in excellent form and Manuel Pellegrini recently became only the third manager in La Liga’s history to win 11 consecutive matches, but still fears for his job at the end of the season. Los Blancos have a few injuries to squad members at the moment – Guti, for example, has just picked up his seventh knock of the season – but Kaka is the only first-teamer whose availability this weekend is in doubt. Their winning streak away from home is five and in each of those games they have beaten a -1.5-goal handicap .

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Timeform Weekend Preview

With Cheltenham 2010 now just a memory and the Grand National still a week away, punters could probably be forgiven for taking a break this weekend and getting out to enjoy some Bank Holiday sun (if only there was any), but there is still plenty of action to look forward to over the three days, culminating with a nine-meeting bonanza on Monday. “Saturday sees the all-weather provide one last hurrah before it slips into the shadow of the turf season, and a highly-competitive Kempton card features some interesting contests.” Saturday sees the all-weather provide one last hurrah before it slips into the shadow of the turf season, and a highly-competitive Kempton card features some interesting contests. The meeting is highlighted by the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes, in which the progressive Shamwari Lodge will get the chance to continue her progress. Winning a couple of competitive handicaps last year, she went on to finish two lengths behind the smart Fantasia at Doncaster and rounded off the year when not discredited in a Group 2 at Longchamp. Her task won’t be straightforward, however, as she faces stiff competition from Chantilly Tiffany , who runs for the first time under the care of John Gosden, and Please Sing , who ran well enough last year without getting her head in front.

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