Two pundits return this week to cast their eye over the weekend coupon and QPR’s home match with Spurs.
First of all congratulations to regular pundit Brian Power and his wife Clare on the birth of their second child Michael. Brian gets a fortnight’s paternity leave and shall then be shouted at until he returns. Andy is holding the fort well though – all three of his bets came in last week at 5/2, 7/2 and 9/4. A great start to the New Year.
NAP of the week: Stoke vs Chelsea - Lay Chelsea @ Evens
Stoke are unbeaten at home since February. They’ve only conceded 7 goals at the Britannia this season. Benitez' stock is decreasing with every passing game. Why therefore are Chelsea evens to win this one?
QPR related bet: QPR to come from behind to win or draw @ 5/1
The Chelsea result may be the season’s high watermark, but Harry will want to take points off his old club. Spurs have been ahead in 18 of their 21 games this season, so we will have to come from behind to get something.
Aston Villa vs Southampton - Southampton to win @ 31/16
Aston Villa are utterly awful. Seriously, they make us look good. Southampton have only lost two in their last ten in the league. 2/1 on the away win looks good value to me.
Man Utd vs Liverpool - BTTS, Man U to win @ 9/4
This may be the biggest game of the season for both teams, but the stats don’t lie. Man Utd have won 17 of their last 19 at home. Liverpool have lost eight of their last nine at Old Trafford. Both teams will score, United will win.
Winners so far:
NAP - Norwich vs QPR - Both teams to score @ 4/6, 24/8/12
LONGSHOT - Tottenham vs West Brom - Lay Tottenham @ 2/1, 24/8/12
NOTEBOOK - Stoke vs Arsenal, Liverpool vs Man City , draw double, 7/1, 24/07/12
QPR related Bet - Zamora to score anytime v Man City at 11/2, 30/08/12
Longshot - Tottenham vs Norwich - lay Spurs @ 1.4, 30/08/12
Notebook - Roma to beat Inter @ 3/1 30/08/12
Nap – Man Utd to win to nil v Wigan , 11/10, 13/09/12
Longshot – double as part of a Premiership Yankee at 10/1, 13/09/12
Longshot – Premier League double at 9/1, 21/09/12
NAP- Chelsea vs Stoke - Chelsea to win to nil @ 11/8, 21/09/12
Longshot – Premier League double at 4/1, 29/09/12
Europe to win the Ryder Cup at 2/1, 29/09/12
QPR related bet: Goal in the first 15 minutes v West Brom @ 9/4, 05/10/12
Notebook: Barcelona vs Real Madrid - Ronaldo to score anytime @ 13/10, 05/10/12
Longshot: Southampton v Fulham, Swansea v Reading draw double: @ 10/1, 05/10/12
NAP - West Brom vs Man City - Both teams to score @ 4/5, 18/10/12
Longshot - Goals Galore 8/1 Quad, 18/10/12
NAP - Sheffied United to beat Portsmouth @ 5/6, 25/10/12
Longshot - Sunday afternoon ‘Goals Galore’ @ 8/1, 25/10/12
Banker: Van Persie to score first against Arsenal @ 9/2, 2/11/12
NAP: Crystal Palace to win at Peterborough @ 7/5
Inevitable Scorers: Suarez to score first vs Wigan (4/1), 16/11/12
NAP: Arsenal vs Spurs - both teams to score @ 4/7, 16/11/12
NAP - Man Utd vs QPR - Man U to win & BTTS @ 7/4, 24/11/12
Other QPR Related Bet - Sunderland vs QPR - Draw @ 13/5, 24/11/12
NAP of the week - Lay Chelsea (vs West Ham) @ 16/15, 30/11/12
NAP of the week - Norwich to beat Wigan @ 16/13, 14/12/12
NAP – QPR and West Brom to draw, 5/2, 04/01/13
Longshot – Brighton to beat Newcastle 7/4, 04/01/13
Notebook – Cheltenham v Everton, both teams to score and Everton to win 9/4, 04/01/13
Professional odds compiler Owen Goulding says…
“Rangers enter a London derby for the second time in two weeks, hoping for a repeat of the famous result achieved at Stamford Bridge. Harry meanwhile, pits his new charges up against the team he shaped and moulded into the top four challengers they are today.
“It was a great win for QPR at Chelsea, but as Swansea proved this week, Chelsea are nowhere near as good a side as the press will have you believe. Tottenham are a different proposition altogether. They attack from all angles, have trickery and pace in abundance, and any team who keeps a clean sheet against them comes off the pitch knowing they've earned it. The counter attacking style of Spurs is set up perfect for away games. This goes some way to explaining why they have scored in every away Premier League game they have played this season. Love him or hate him, Gareth Bale is one of the most exceptional wingers the Premiership has ever seen. Lennon is starting to learn how to cross a ball on the other side of the pitch to give them a more potent attack.
“QPR have looked more threatening at home too since Harry has been in charge and this coupled with the fact Spurs have only kept two clean sheets away from home all season, means that this game looks to have goals all over it. Unbeaten in six league games and scoring goals for fun, I fear for QPR here - but the match prices don't interest me. The stats however point to it being a high scoring game and therefore my bet for the match is Over 3.5 Goals at a price of 2/1 (Ladbrokes / William Hill)”
Winners so far:
Norwich v QPR, 11/10 Under 2.5 goals 24/08/12
West Brom v QPR, more than 2.5 goals, 4/5, 05/10/12
James Morrison to score anytime v QPR, 5/1, 05/10/12
QPR and Everton to draw 13/5, 18/10/12
Tweet @andy_hillman, @loftforwords