By hook or by crook, this version of the challenge is up to seven consecutive successful wagers now, and while the pot of £29.71 is small for now, this will soon begin to mount up as the momentum rolls on.
For the eagle-eyed among you, yes this should be seven successful bets, but we rather mucked up regarding Andy Murray to win Sports Personality of the Years ward. The event takes place this Sunday, rather than last – doh! We’ll put that done to pre-Christmas excitement.
Here’s a quick recap of last week’s selections regardless:
- Bet 4: Port Vale +1.25 Asian Handicap vs Northampton – a truly bizarre match this, the two sides were locked at 1-1 until the 78th minute when Northampton scored. Cue slight panic on our part, until the Valiants equalised in the 90th minute to comfortably see our handicap home. But then Northants scored again in the 92nd minute….fortunately they couldn’t grab another and despite losing the match, our +1.25 handicap came through for us.
- Bet 5: Dillian White to Beat Dereck Chisora – a fantastic bout, a contender for Fight of the Year, ended with White being crowned winner on the judges’ cards.
- Bet 6: Torino +2.25 Asian Handicap vs Juventus – despite taking an early lead, Torino eventually succumbed to a 1-3 defeat. Never mind, as our handicap saw our wager home.
- Bet 7: Andy Murray to Win Sports Personality of the Year – the less said about this selection the better!
If we’re smart we can see in 2017 with a rather handy bankroll at our disposal, but first things first let’s get through this week unscathed:
Bet 8: Gary Anderson Most 180s vs Mark Frost – £29.71 at 1/8
Thursday December 15, 21:00
The opening night of the PDC World Darts Championship and reigning world champion Gary Anderson is by far and away the better player than his first round opponent on Thursday. The Flying Scotsman’s doubles occasionally go awry, but his power scoring is never in question.
Mark ‘Frosty the Throwman’ Frost may boast the best nickname in sport, but he will simply be happy with his day out at the Alexandra Palace.
Bet 9: Bury vs Oxford United – Over 1.5 Goals – £33.42 at 1/4
Saturday December 17, 15:00
If we combine Bury’s last ten matches with Oxford’s last ten, we get a combined figure of 85% that states that this match will witness two or more goals (9/10 for Bury, 8/10 for Oxford).
With eleven straight defeats, things are beginning to get desperate for Bury, and they will know that the best way to beat Oxford is to attack them. That should lead to a lovely, open game; and goals will surely follow.
Bet 6: Feyenoord vs Vitesse – Over 1.5 Goals – £41.78 at 1/8
Saturday December 17, 18:45
Feyenoord, perched atop the Eredivisie table, have been in unquenchable form in front of goal this term, netting 44 in 16 appearances. Their home matches average a whopping four goals per 90 minutes.
Vitesse may put up a good fight here, but they have only kept clean sheets in 3/16 this term (while scoring in 14/16), with the Over 1.5 Goal mark delivering in 13/16.
Bet 11: Alan Norris to beat John Michael – £47.00 at 1/8
Sunday December 18, 20:30
A return to the darts on Sunday night to see world number 22 Alan Norris surely defeat world number 122, John Michael.
It is at this time of year that Michael tends to resurface – he very rarely qualifies for any of the TV ranking events, and that’s largely because he spends most of his time doing his day job: making shoes for horses (a genuine fact).
Michael has never gone past the first round of the World Championships; Norris reached the quarter-finals in his first visit to Alexandra Palace 12 months ago.