Next Archbishop of Canterbury

The Big Two Good times aplenty for the religiously ambitious in 2013. Not only is the Chief Rabbi set to retire, but last month it was revealed that the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will also hang up his beard at the end of 2012. It would certainly save both the United Synagogue and the Church of England a fair whack of money to combine the two jobs, but given the unlikelihood of that happening, the next Archbish will probably be one of the following two Christian gentlemen. The favourite on the Betfair market is the Bishop of Norwich, Graham James (3.1). After the current incumbent’s controversial reign, James would be a sign that the Church fancy a... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, General, Oggsblog)

Premier League Preview (w/e 21 April 2012)

4 to Watch There are just four games left for some of the clubs in the Premier League this season and by the end of the weekend, Wolves could have three games left in the Premier League full stop. Whilst time is running out for the Molineux men, here are our picks this week. Whilst Arsenal can still lay claim to having won nine of their last 11 League games, their performance against Wigan was as bad as they have been all season. Without Arteta they will lack creativity and even a Chelsea side that is likely to be changed from the XI that saw off Barcelona shouldn’t be underestimated. Drogba has a tremendous record against the Gunners and in the event... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)

Snooker World Championship 2012

MMMMM….Snooker. Many refer to the World Championship as the “marathon of the mind,” and with 17 days of intense action on the green baize, all sorts of things can happen. We think there is therefore some tremendous betting value to be found. First up is a tip for a bet at the earliest opportunity of the tournament as Luca Brecel becomes the youngest ever participant aged 17 and 45 days when he faces Stephen Maguire in the first round. The Belgian impressed everyone by seeing off World Number 31 Mark King in his final qualifier whilst Maguire arrives in decent form having reached the final of the China Open Final. We think the value could be with a small bet... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Oggsblog)

4 to Watch – Football League betting

With just three games to go, only League One Charlton have already been promoted in the football league – plenty to play for then, and also to bet on – so here are our 4 to Watch from the remaining weeks of the Championship. Four of the last six years have seen the side finish third in the Championship get promoted via the play-offs. West Ham United look most likely to find themselves in that berth this year, and we like the 11/10 generally available on their promotion. Expect perennial phone-in bothering West Ham fans to be talking Premier League football once more, in just a few months time. Over in League One, Sheffield United look set to come second... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)

Flashback – May 6th 2009

Champions League Semi-Final Second Leg, Chelsea vs Barcelona. Chelsea may have benefitted from the “rub of the green” on Sunday with that extraordinary second goal against Spurs, but they haven’t always been so lucky with the men in black. Ahead of their Champions League semi-final showdown against Barca, we cast our minds back to the 2009 clash between the sides, when Drogba went mad, Barca went through and Tom Ovrebo went into hiding. Following a controlled stalemate in the Camp Nou, Hiddink’s Chelsea knew only a win would do at the Bridge. With United steamrollering past Arsenal the night before, England expected another all-English final, indeed another Chelsea-United scrap as in ’08. All looked as if it was going to... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, April 16th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

4 to Watch – 2012 FA Cup Semi Finals

Unbeaten in their last five matches, Everton are very much the form side in the run-up to Saturday’s noontime Merseyside derby. But as Alan Shearer would no doubt tell us, “the formbook goes out the window in a semi-final / a derby.” So with the formbook well and truly defenestrated, we will look outside the match odds for our bets. If you do insist on a straight tickle however, back Liverpool to win in Extra Time, available at a very tempting 8.2 with Betfair. Given the amount at stake, it should be a cagey, old affair, and we therefore like the 2.18 shot on Betfair that the scores will be level at half-time. The other semi-final sees two clubs with... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

Olympic Specials

On your marks… Get set… Go! 113 is the magic number. That’s right folks, there are just 113 days to go before the start of London 2012, the most amazing sporting event ever to take place in your back yard. 113 is also the phone number of the Iranian intelligence agency, should you ever be stuck in down-town Tehran and find yourself with some useful ‘information’. But what about betting intelligence? Is there any value to be found at this stage? Bluesq are offering prices on all the major athletics events at the moment, as well as a market on just how many golds that scamp Usain Bolt will win. Ladbrokes offer markets on the mens’ and womens’ tennis competitions,... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Oggsblog)

Masters 2012 – 2 to Watch

Annual tally of the word Azalia on primetime television set to leap.  Ah Augusta. Vivid colours, gorgeous sunshine, no women. What more could a man want from a Bank Holiday weekend? Well how about a two-way tussle between the greatest golfer ever, and the pretender to his throne? And how about if that legend is beginning a climb-back after a fall from grace so steep, it would make Franz Klammer stall in fear? And how about if the two of them don’t get on? At all. Throw in some homegrown challengers (including the World Number 1), and there can be little doubt that this year’s Masters is the most anticipated golf major of all time, at least on these shores.... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Golf, Oggsblog)

Three tips for the IPL

The Indian Premier League is back for the fifth time and for the purposes of this article let us assume that the tournament is not as bent as a spoon in the presence of Uri Geller. Whilst the authorities will be looking out for suspicious no balls, here’s what you should be looking out for on the betting front. In the outright tournament betting it’s initially hard not to look at the favourites, Chennai Super Kings. Winners in 2010 and 2011 they are a best price of 7/2 with Ladbrokes. However, we like a bit of value and think that in backing Kolkata Knight Riders at 15/2 with bet365 you may just get it. They were the surprise package of... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Cricket, Oggsblog)

Prem Preview – weekend 30th/31st March 2012

4 for the Weekend. How was your summer? We enjoyed it, and with the warm weather packing away its bag for the year, it is time to focus on the football again. It may be the last-chance saloon for Wolves this weekend. Winless under Terry Connor, defeat to Bolton would deal a hefty psychological blow from which they surely would not recover. We quite fancy them however. Spurs pummelled Coyle’s men in midweek, and Bolton’s away form, without even a goal in their last four, provides further fuel to our fire (don’t panic buy kids.) Wigan against Stoke is unlikely to be a goal fest. Nobody has scored fewer than the 17 Wigan have at home, and only Fulham have... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, March 30th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)