Free sports betting tips for 23rd and 24th Feb
20th February, 2008
This week’s selection of free sports betting tips for the 23rd and 24th Feb.
Grant's first trophy
Football
Avram Grant can secure his first trophy as Chelsea manager in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. The Israeli coach has surprised many with the excellent job he has done at Stamford Bridge since taking over from the "Special One".
The only criticism of him has been that Chelsea continue to play pragmatic rather than expansive football.
The Blues should eventually see off their London rivals Tottenham but they may well need extra time to do it. So, back Chelsea to lift the Cup and go for a draw at 90 minutes.
Chelsea's Frank Lampard reached 100 goals for the club when netting twice last week in the Cup against Huddersfield and the England midfielder can score again.
Newcastle Utd entertain Man Utd in the 5.15pm kick off this Saturday in the Premier League and, granted the current form of the teams, its impossible to forecast anything other that a resounding victory for the visitors.
However, as someone once said, "football is a funny old game" and with Kevin Keegan's team under little pressure to get a result, selling the time of the first Man Utd goal could be an interesting way for contrarian backers to get involved in this match.
Arsenal were very disappointing in the FA Cup tie at Old Trafford last weekend but their manager, Arsene Wenger, was surprisingly sanguine about the 4-0 defeat by Man Utd. Expect the title chasing Gunners to bounce back to form against struggling Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday.
Fulham know they have to start winning their home games if the are to maintain their position in the top flight and that incentive can help Roy Hodgson's side beat West Ham.
Improving Sunderland are fancied to nick a point at Portsmouth but with neither side prolific scorers at present this looks a good game to lay over 2.5 goals on the exchanges.
Reading have been playing better than some of their recent results suggest and the Royals could give Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa a reality check by sending the visitors away empty handed on Sunday.
It would be no surprise if Blackburn and Bolton fight out a draw in the Lancashire derby the same day. Man City v Everton on Monday night looks another likely draw.
Everton's talented play-maker Fernades is decent value to score.
Merc has the gears
Greyhounds
Crayford's poster event the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket Final is run on Saturday at 1.11pm and the trap 6 runner Shelbourne Merc is well worth a bet in the famous eight bend contest.
The make up of the race suggests that there could easily be plenty of trouble between the runners drawn on the inside of Shelbourne Merc, who will be the third favourite at around 4-1, and she could enjoy a clear run while her rivals are getting in each other's way.
Crayford is a tight track where it is very hard to recover after meeting traffic problems and the Merc could take some pegging pack if the cards fall in her favour.
Pile into Woods
Golf
Tiger Woods has started 2008 in such imperious form that he must be backed for this week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championships at Gallery Golf's South Course at Dove Mountain despite this form of the game being the hardest to predict.
Woods has been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last two renewals of this event. However, he did win the event in 2003 and 2004.
You can get 3-1 about Woods winning the WGC Matchplay which is at least double the odds he would be if this were a stroke play tournament.
We simply have to pile into the world's best ever player while he is in the form of his life and available at twice the price he usually is.
Open champion Padraig Harrington rewarded our each-way bet and confirmed he was running into form when finishing third in the Northern Trust Open last week and Irishman is the each-way saver.
Sports Bets
Football * Saturday - Newcastle v Man Utd away win and sell the time of Man Utd's first goal. Birmingham v Arsenal away win. Fulham v West Ham home win. Portsmouth v Sunderland draw and lay over 2.5 goals. * Sunday - Carling Cup Chelsea v Tottenham draw at 90 minutes, Chelsea to lift Cup and Frank Lampard to score first, last and anytime goal. Blackburn v Bolton draw. Reading v Aston Villa home win. * Monday - Man City v Everton draw and back Manuel Fernandes to score first, last and anytime goal.
Golf WGC Matchplay staking plan:
Tiger Woods 7 points win Padraig Harrington 1.5 points each-way
Greyhounds Ladbrokes Gold Jacket Final 1.11pm Crayford Saturday Trap 6 Shelbourne Merc
This week use Bet 365’s great £100 free bet offer!
