Betrescue columnist, Bruin Brown from Betfair is going unders at Ibrox, laying Norwich and backing Stoke in this week’s Bruin’s Shoo-Ins
Well, I’ve still not had a response to the job application that I spoke of last week, but at least we had a couple of nice winners to soften the blow. I did, however, get a call back for a job that I had applied for at McDonalds. I’ve decided to turn it down though; the manager was a clown.
Onto this weekend’s action and a catalogue of FA Cup fixtures take centre stage over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Whilst the Premier League’s top two take a not-so-well-earned break nine other top flight sides, five Championship teams, one League One side, one League Two side and a partridge in a pear tree battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Incidentally, at the end of this weekend we could have only Premier League teams remaining in the competition.
Two matches that interest me most are those involving Premier League sides against lower league opposition, where the ‘big boys’ are available at odds of around Evens for the win.
Norwich v Leicester: FA Cup: Saturday: 15.00
Norwich are at home to Leicester on Saturday and despite seemingly being safe from relegation Paul Lambert has stated that he will be prioritising the following Sunday’s clash with Manchester United as injuries begin to mount at Carrow Road.
That is, of course, his prerogative. A prerogative I do not agree with, but I’m sure Mr Lambert won’t care too much for my opinion.
The Foxes come into this game in mixed form having beaten Cardiff and drawn with Middlesbrough this month, but also suffering narrow defeats to Brighton and Watford in the past fortnight. With Norwich apparently resting any players with niggling injuries we’ll take on The Canaries and lay them at odds of 1.94 (20/21) on Betfair.com.
Crawley v Stoke: FA Cup: Sunday: 12.00, ESPN
The other game where a Premier League side is available at around the Evens mark is Crawley versus Stoke. In that game, however, the value looks to be in siding with the top-flight side.
Crawley are obviously a rapidly growing club, and their ascent up the football league pyramid is certain to continue for a little longer yet. But they are still someway short of being able to match a Premier League side.
Stoke’s midweek excursions in the Europa League are obviously factored into the price, but they were at The Britannia on Thursday, and I don’t see that game having too much of a detrimental effect.
Very rarely do we get presented with the opportunity to back a Premier League side to beat a League Two side at odds of 2.1 (11/10). You can bet your bottom dollar that when we do it at Betfair.com it’ll be a Bruin Shoo-in.
Rangers v Kilmarnock: SPL: Saturday: 15.00
Up in Scotland most bookmakers are paying out on Celtic winning the SPL title after Rangers were docked 10 points for going into administration. The Ibrox club are reported to owe nearly £75 million in taxes. To make matters worse the Rangers chairman, Craig Whyte, apparently had his phone hacked by The Sun. They put £10 credit on it.
Ally McCoist’s men take on Kilmarnock at Ibrox this weekend with the sides recording a win apiece in the two meetings to date so far this season. On home soil you’d still expect the Glasgow club to take the points, but it is certain to be a nervy affair with everything else going on around the place.
Both games this season have ended with fewer than 2.5 goals and at odds of 2.1 (11/10) we should be looking to back a third one going the same way with Betfair.com.
Bruin’s Shoo-ins
Lay Norwich to beat Leicester @ 1.94
Back Stoke to beat Crawley @ 2.1
Back Under 2.5 goals in Rangers v Kilmarnock @ 2.1
Treble pays @ 9.2 at Betfair.com
Bet with Betfair. New account holders choose between a £25 risk free bet or £1000 cashback. See Betfair website for terms and conditions
