Odds & Sods
Around a third of the fixtures tend to be even money or better so it is here
where we should take our picks. Odds-on are for the muggins who fall into
the trap of being the bookies rather than trying to beat them.
Smart punters demand that the Bookies put up at least our whole stake as an
incentive for our investment. In the long-term it is the singles punters
that remain in profit more often than those who go for the accumulators.
But there is not much fun in singles betting, so for those who like to take
a little risk for a modest investment, trebles can do the biz as long as you
are careful with your picks.
In our Fab Four there is normally around a tenner offered for a quid staked
on the threesomes. So even if one match let's us down we can still expect at
least a doubling of the entire 5-bet stake with the remaining threesome.
Now let's see if we can get this year's punting off to a winning start.
This Weeks Fab Four:
NATIONWIDE DIVISION 1-Gillingham v LEICESTER 6/5
If any team is going to disrupt 2nd-place Leicester's Championship
aspirations it won't be the Gills who are toiling at 15th place despite
their recent impressive run of 3 wins and 3 draws from their last six games.
The Foxes far superior league position had been hard-earned as they
scampered up the table, and have suffered only 2 away defeats this season.
Unlikely Gillingham will be making it an unwanted hat-trick for Leicester.
NATIONWIDE DIVISION 2-Barnsley v LUTON 5/4
In 22 visits to Oakwell the Hatters have came out with a win a mere 3 times.
In fact their last win there, a 5-0 victory, was way back in 1993.
Still Barnsley current form with only one win since November, and who are
struggling at 20th, suggests that they are very much at a disadvantage this
time around.
On the other hand Luton at 8th, would have been challenging for promotion
had it not been for their appalling start to the season chalking up just one
miserly victory in their first nine games. Have came on like a train since
and lost only three from their next 16 matches.
The Townies will be well-fired up with this rare opportunity to lay that
20-year-old Oakwell Jinx to rest.
NATIONWIDE DIVISION 2-Wycombe v OLDHAM 11/8
Wycombe are slouching away at 13th in the same league courtesy of only
managing a miserly 3 wins from their last 11 games. Two of these were prior
to last weeks draw with Mansfield so perhaps a little improvement is on the
cards.
However with Oldham's only having two defeats from their last 20 matches
and this excellent run sees them in second place as serious Championship
contenders, they have much more to play than their dithering mid-division
hosts.
NATIONWIDE DIVISION 3-Bristol Rovers v SCUNTHORPE 6/5
Scunthorpe were early season stinkers with only one win in their first 8
matches. But have since gone on a fine run of 18 games that has produced
only 4 defeats. Fine form which has now pushed them into 5th and with a
realistic chance of joining the promotion battle. More recently have had two
away wins on the trot at Southend and York, which was followed by the home
win against Leyton Orient last week.
In sharp contrast Rovers miserly form has firmly camped them into 22nd
place. Could only produce a single win from their last 14 games during their
ineffectual attempts to fight their way out of the relegation zone. It is
likely they will be 'scunnered¹ when the visitors add to their tally of 9
defeats during the same period.
Suggested bet:
Perm all 4 trebles and the fourfold, 5 bets @ £1 per unit stake=£5.00
Trebles return:
Leicester/Luton/Oldham - £11.76
Leicester/Luton/Scunthorpe - £10.89
Leicester/Oldham/Scunthorpe - £11.50
Luton/Oldham/Scunthorpe Returns- £11.76
All four trebles return £45.86 + the fourfold £25.86 = £71.76
Single and doubles take your pick from above or from the best of the rest
Top Ten below.
Nationwide Division One
STOKE v Derby 13/10
NOTTM FOREST v Coventry 6/5
Grimsby v MILLWALL 8/5
Nationwide Division Two
Tranmere v BRISTOL CITY 13/8
PETERBOROUGH v Port Vale EVS
Nationwide Division Three
Wrexham v TORQUAY 2/1
SOUTHEND v Rochdale 5/4
EXETER v Carlisle 11/10
SFL Division 2
STENHOUSEMUIR v Hamilton EVS
SFL Division 3
GRETNA v Peterhead 6/4
All prices quoted from Wm Hills.