We’re one week into this latest attempt at the challenge, and already we’ve won back more than half our original stake.
To suggest it was plain sailing would be folly – Jubilo Iwata’s demise at the hands of Hiroshima adding a few more greys to this writer’s hairline, but as we can see below we just about got over the line.
Here’s a reminder of last week’s picks:
- Bet 1: Mark Allen vs Thor Chuan Leong: Allen to Win – Somehow, the Irishman construed to throw away a comfortable lead in this one, but fortunately had the resilience to win a last frame decider.
- Bet 2: Jubilo Iwata vs Hiroshima: Iwata +1.25 Asian Handicap – Ah, Jubilo. The hosts went down 2-3 here, but thanks to our +1.25 selection we still landed albeit on reduced win terms. So we took forward £12.29 rather than the £12.90 estimated, but that’s not the end of the world.
- Bet 3: PSG vs Amiens: PSG to Win – There were no such worries in France as PSG recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory.
- Bet 4: DC United vs Toronto: Toronto +1.25 Asian Handicap – The Canadians flirted with ‘doing a Jubilo’, as it will forever be known, but eventually earned a 1-1 draw.
So that leaves us with a mighty £15.56 to play with….so where’s the money going this week?
Bet 5: Yeovil Town vs Accrington Stanley: Accrington +1.25 Asian Handicap – £15.56 at 1/9
Saturday August 12, 15:00
How do you bounce back from a 2-8 defeat? That’s the task facing Yeovil this week who were battered by Luton last time out – the scoreline not flattering the Hatters.
Many pundits had marked the Glovers down as relegation candidates in League 2, and while it is very, very early days the signs are not good.
Accrington, by contrast, were impressive in their opening day victory against Colchester, appearing full value for their 3-1 win. Their form, dating back to Valentine’s Day, reads W11 D6 L2.
Bet 6: Goztepe vs Fenerbahce: Fenerbahce +1.25 Asian Handicap – £17.29 at 1/10
Saturday August 12, 19:45
A rare foray to the Turkish Super Lig now to see Goztepe Gaziantepspor entertain Fenerbahce.
The hosts have lost five on the spin (conceding the small matter of 18 goals) and won just one of their last nine, so they are hardly blazing a trail at present.
Unusually, Fenerbahce have won more points on the road than they have at home this season, with impressive away form of W5 D1 L0 seeing them surge up the table. The omens are good for another three points here.
Bet 7: Houston Dynamo vs San Jose: Houston +1.25 Asian Handicap – £19.02 at 1/10
Sunday August 13, 02:00
If Fenerbahce do the business then make sure you place this bet as soon as possible to save yourself an unfortunate alarm call!
The MLS takes place while most UK based punters are in the land of nod, and in some ways that’s a shame as there are some excellent betting opportunities to be had.
Such as this one, with Houston, whose home form reads W8 D3 L0 this term with nearly three goals scored per game, taking on San Jose Earthquakes, whose away record is a distinctly average W2 D1 L8.
Bet 8: Sporting Lisbon vs Steaua Bucharest: Sporting/Draw Double Chance – £20.92 at 1/10
Tuesday August 15, 19:45
Our final selection of the week doesn’t take place until next Tuesday, when the Champions League final qualifiers get underway.
We’re going with Sporting because they performed pretty well in last season’s competition, losing by a single goal home and away against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Their home record in the Portuguese league in 2016/17 read W12 D3 L2 as well.
Steaua, meanwhile, lost 0-6 on aggregate to Manchester City in the qualifiers last year – no shame in that, but have failed to reach the Champions League proper every year since 2013.