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)

Flashback – Classic Match

AC Milan vs Barcelona, European Cup Final 1994.  Ahead of this week’s Champions League Quarter Final showdown between the two most iconic clubs in world football, Milan and Barca, we thought it would be great to look back at what many have described as the greatest club performance of all-time; Milan’s 4-0 shellacking of Cryuff’s Dream Team in the final of the 1994 European Cup. Milan had serious absences going into the match – van Basten injured, Costacurta and Baresi suspended, whilst rules limiting foreign stars cost the likes of Brian Laudrup and Jean-Pierre Papin their place in the side. Yet their makeshift back four, marshalled by Paulo Maldini, easily dealt with the Barca strikeforce of Romario and Stoichkov, whereas... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

Sri Lanka vs England 2012

Cue ‘Turn up the Heat’ jokes.   Apparently, it is quite warm in the sub-continent around this time of year. Hardly a revelation that will jolt you from your seat, yet the British press seem keen to get their team’s excuses in early. Fearing a repeat of the disaster that was the Pakistan tour, England’s players have been taking lessons in dealing with heat (drinking lots of water is apparently recommended), as all that standing around can’t be easy. On to the action, and the burning question (no pun intended) is whether England’s four man attack will be able to cope. To do so, Swann is the key man in the series. If he cannot hold up an end, the quicks... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, March 26th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Cricket, Oggsblog)

4 to Watch – Premiership Preview 23 March 2012

A week on from the nearly tragic events at White Hart Lane, Spurs will look to get a result at Chelsea in a bid to avoid a heart breaking end to their Premier League season.   A month ago, it was unthinkable that Spurs would end up outside the top four, but if they lose at Stamford Bridge, which they have in five of the last six seasons, they’ll find themselves just two points clear of the chasing West London side. That is however, the situation we’re expecting come 2.45pm on Saturday. At 10/11 with Ladbrokes or Blue Square we’re happy to invest. Chelsea have four home wins on the bounce, whilst the only victory Spurs have mustered in their... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)

It’s the Vernal Equinox

The West Wing is one of my favourite TV shows and there’s an episode featuring a staff card game (tenuous link to gambling, I know), where CJ claims that at the exact moment of the vernal equinox you can stand an egg on it’s end. Guess what peeps – the vernal equinox is today! We all have our superstitions when it comes to playing, be that our lucky underpants, rabbits foot or whatever – its these things that give us comfort and can bring us happiness, even if other people don’t believe that they work. I have a science background, but I still have a few talismans lurking around that I refuse to give up. Don’t know about you, but... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, General, Oggsblog)

FA Cup Quarter Finals 2012 – 4 to Watch

David Moyes clocked up 10 years in charge of Everton this week, and a celebratory trip to Wembley awaits if they can get the better of Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland tomorrow. Everton‘s recent home form has been nothing short of spectacular, with victories over Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs part of five consecutive home wins and four consecutive home clean sheets. Back the Toffees to win 1-0 at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. After three consecutive league defeats, Spurs will be looking to bounce back against Owen Coyle’s relegation battlers. Bolton haven’t scored in four of their last five away league game, whilst Spurs may be tense given recent form, ERGO the Spurs 1-0 victory looks a fair price at 8/1 at Bet365. Overall, we... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, March 16th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2012 – 2 To Watch

Two Horse Race – literally.  For years punters have become accustomed to the Gold Cup being a straight showdown between Denman and Kauto Star. The Star remains in our orbit, but his main rival tomorrow afternoon is likely to be Long Run, last year’s Champion, with Sam Waley-Cohen once more in the saddle. Long Run: Trained by Nicky Henderson, Long Run stunned punters in winning last year’s Betfred Gold Cup, by seven lengths from Denman. In so doing, he became the first six-year-old winner since Mill House in 1963. Yet his form of late has been poor, losing to Kauto Star at the Haydock Betfair Chase and at Kempton in the William Hill King George. Nevertheless, we suspect he is... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Horse Racing, Oggsblog)

6 Nations 2012 – The Final Weekend…

Egg-chasing peanut-kicking frenzy reaches a climax.  After a tournament incomparably better than the previous few, the RBS Six Nations ends this weekend, with two key fixtures that will decide the destination of this year’s title. Wales host France in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon with a Grand Slam in their sights, whilst England must steam-roller the Irish at Twickenham later that day, and hope for a rare favour from the French, to hand Stuart Lancaster a trophy, and possibly even a job (that is assuming Harry Redknapp doesn’t fancy it of course.) The French rarely go through a tournament without one eye-catching performance, and in 2012, we are still waiting. Winning in Cardiff will not be easy, but the French hammered... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Oggsblog, Rugby)

Its GO GO GO

3 Rules for Betting on the F1 season. At this point last year we were promised all sorts of change and unpredictability in Formula One, but what we got was even more predictable than the outcome of an Andy Murray Grand Slam Final. The German Vettel is favourite again this year, but we think it’ll be closer than many expect. Here are a few tips to help your F1 2012 betting. Generally speaking, don’t underestimate the importance of the first race of the season. In five of the last six years, the winner of the first race of the season has gone on to win the Championship. The only opening winner since 2006 who didn’t go on to win was... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Formula 1, Oggsblog)

4 to Watch – Premier League Preview 10th/11th March 2012

If Aston Villa fail to win at home tomorrow, it would represent the worst home league run in their illustrious 138 year history. Fulham meanwhile, should be buoyed by the 5-0 thumping they gave Wolves last weekend, and are an enticing 2/1 shot with Ladbrokes. However, Jol’s men have only won at Wigan and QPR this season – surely Villa aren’t that bad. They might be. Nevertheless, we also like the draw at 23/10 with Ladbrokes. Wolves have won just one of their last fifteen, so the 7/5 on offer for them to beat Blackburn at home this weekend, probably won’t have the punters flocking. Their last 11 home league games have all featured over 2.5 goals however, so we’ll... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, March 9th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)