Baseball and cricket are often linked to one another when people think about different sports, due to the fact that both sports involve batting a ball in an attempt to outscore the opponent.

And with plenty of similarities and differences between the two games, comparing them yields an interesting look into both the sports themselves and the cultures around them.

What Are The Similarities Between Baseball And Cricket?

The Objective

Baseball and cricket, despite their many differences, have the same objective. That objective is to score more runs than the other team in the number of outs or wickets that you are allotted.

While there are different ways of amassing those runs in each game, the fact that the general idea of the sports is the same is one of the things that puts baseball and cricket so close together in the minds of sports fans.

 

Player Roles

In cricket and baseball, there are roles that exist in both sports. Of course, the technical aspects of those roles vary from sport to sport, but they follow the same basic premise to deliver results.

Pitchers and bowlers have the goal of minimising the scoring that the other team is able to do. Baseball pitchers tend to do this by either racking up strikeouts or pitching to contact to set up harmless ground balls or fly balls.

In the case of cricket bowlers, attempting to force contact that sends the ball toward defenders to create wickets and dot balls is the name of the game. Either way, damage control is the purpose of pitchers and bowlers.

On the offensive side of things, batsmen in cricket and hitters in baseball both aim to create as many runs as possible. Both sets of batters are looking to hit the ball over their respective boundaries when possible.

In baseball, this means hitting home runs over the walls in the outfield, while cricket batsmen seek sixes that sail over the boundary through the air.

In both cases, swinging for the proverbial fences is done in moderation, as attempting to do too much with the ball can result in strikeouts in baseball or wickets in cricket.

Defensively, players in the field also have the same general role. That role is to stop the ball and get opposing batsmen out as often as possible.

This tends to be easier in baseball with nine defensive players looking to defend a smaller overall surface area than what exists in cricket.

But both cricket defenders and those in baseball want to catch balls before they hit the ground and throw runners out to give their teams the best possible chance to win.

While there are so many differences between cricket and baseball, the ability to recognise that so many key roles are similar is important to relating the two sports.

 

What Are The Differences Between Baseball And Cricket?

Betting Differences

Betting on both baseball and cricket is fun, but there are some differences to be noted throughout both. When betting on baseball, for example, betting on totals does not necessarily relate to which team bats first.

Given the high variance of baseball, a few at-bats can determine the success or failure of a totals wager. In cricket, though, the order in which teams bat can have everything to do with a total's likelihood of being reached.

When it comes to betting on cricket, the team that bats first has the opportunity to set the pace in any given match.

So it stands to reason that if the first team at bat is a more offensively gifted team, the target score for the second team to bat should be higher than if the roles were reversed.

Keeping an eye on the batting order is important in cricket, whereas it is not so much in baseball for totals betting purposes.

And when it comes to cricket outright betting markets, they are less predictable than those in baseball. Whereas cricket totals can be more predictable if you know what to look for, their outright wagers can vary based on a number of factors.

Baseball, meanwhile, relies so heavily on the strength of starting rotations in the postseason that you can get an idea as to which teams will be competing for a championship just by looking at the starting pitching staffs at the beginning of the year.

 

In-Game Atmosphere

Perhaps the starkest contrast between baseball and cricket is the atmosphere that surrounds each of the sports at a stadium.

Cricket has almost a party atmosphere depending on where you take in a match. In big international matches, or popular 20-over leagues like the IPL, the crowd can be in a constant state of song or other revelry.

That same thing cannot be said about the highest levels of baseball, especially Major League Baseball in the United States.

The sport operates on a series of unwritten rules, where players and teams are encouraged not to celebrate anything too loudly or show too much personality.

This creates an atmosphere where aside from big plays or the occasional spectacular moment, fans don't have quite as many reasons to get excited as they would in cricket.

There is also the matter of capacity at play here. Cricket grounds are much larger than baseball fields from a field dimensions perspective.

This means that more seats can be put around the cricket grounds, even if baseball stadiums build seats higher up to make up the difference.

With more fans at a ground level, the on-field atmosphere for the players is also more exciting than it is during baseball games.

 

Pitching And Hitting Differences

While the goal of pitchers in baseball and bowlers in cricket are the same, to minimise damage, the way they try to go about it can be vastly different.

In baseball, balls are pitched through the air from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's glove. This is done from a still position to start, as pitchers are forced to set themselves on the pitcher's mound before starting their throwing motion.

In cricket, bowlers are allowed to take a run up from distance before getting to the line at which they have to release the ball. Once they let go of the ball, they are able to bounce it just before it reaches the batsman in an attempt to make it more difficult to hit.

And in cricket, the penalty for throwing an errant ball is more severe than it is in baseball, with the batting team receiving one run and that ball not counting toward the number of balls in that over.

In baseball, you can throw four misplaced balls before a runner is allowed one base.

From a batting perspective, the main difference between cricket and baseball is where players are allowed to hit the ball. In cricket, you can hit the ball backwards, forwards, and sideways to rack up the runs.

In baseball, though, the ball has to stay within fair territory, which extends out at 90-degree angles from home plate on both the left and right side. The ball has to go forward, or it is deemed a foul ball and a strike is charged to the batter.

As you can see, there are plenty of similarities and differences between baseball and cricket, with each making both sports a unique experience despite having plenty in common.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Tiger Roll etched his place in history with a fine performance to win the Grand National at Aintree in April. Gordon Elliott’s charge capped the end to his campaign with a brilliant display to claim the ultimate prize in racing.

No horse has won back-to-back Nationals since the legendary Red Rum accomplished the feat in 1975. Therefore, there will be a huge challenge ahead of Elliott to prepare the Irish horse for the contest, with endurance and fitness perhaps being more important than form ahead of the event.

One For Arthur was the defending champion from 2017, but he was ruled out of the running after suffering an injury. However, Lucinda Russell’s charge will be one of a number of contenders determined to knock Tiger Roll off his perch for the race next year.

We’ll now break down the leading horses that will be vying to get into form when the National Hunt resumes in October.

 

TIGER ROLL

The Irish horse began his charge for the National at the end of the 2016/17 term when he appeared at Cheltenham Festival. Tiger Roll was put forward by Elliott in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase with Lisa O’Neill in the saddle.

The seven-year-old had issues in the race as he fell off the pace in the early stages due to a couple of mistakes.

However, Tiger Roll managed to rally to find his rhythm at the crucial stage of the race, pulling away down the stretch to claim the victory by three lengths ahead of his compatriot Missed Approach.

He failed to rise to the occasion at the Irish Grand National, pulling up at the 10^th fence, ending his campaign on a low note.

Tiger Roll started the new season with a one-mile race, and, although he was off the pace of the winner, he still finished second in unfamiliar meet conditions in the John Shortt Legends Challenge Race.

Back over two miles in the M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase, he was slightly off the pace at Wexford as he failed to match the speed of A Genie In Abottle in the closing stages. The Irish horse struggled for rhythm at the Clonmel Oil Chase and pulled up two fences from the end of the race.

Matters did not improve over three miles for the bay gelding, placing down in fifth at the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham well behind the leading pack. However, he was outstanding for the main event after a three-month break.

Tiger Roll delivered a perfect performance at Cheltenham Festival in the Glenfarclas Chase, holding his composure over the three-mile race, finishing comfortably ahead of The Last Samuri, among others.

As a result of his performance at Cheltenham, his odds for the National were slashed down to as low as 10/1. He was still considered an inferior prospect to Total Recall, but would prove his quality with another brilliant performance.

Davy Russell ensured that his charge cleared every fence, whereas others struggled on an inconsistent turf. Tiger Roll kicked on to put the pressure on his rivals and he had just enough pace down the final straight of the meet to beat out Pleasant Company by a head.

Tiger Roll and Elliott now have the ultimate test ahead of them, with the latest odds backing him at 20/1 to win the National for a second year on the bounce.

 

ONE FOR ARTHUR

The 2017 champion missed out on the chance to defend his crown. Russell’s charge suffered an injury before the start of the National Hunt campaign and the decision was made to forego the term to prevent further damage of a tendon in the right leg.

Therefore, One For Arthur will have to build his form once again to make a challenge at the National.

His previous run to the crown was a slow burn, as one of his few appearances at Aintree before the triumph ended up in the bay gelding pulling up early in the race at the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old found some form towards the end of the 2015/16 season but did not look like a horse capable of making a charge for the National in the following campaign.

Russell’s charge was able to kick off his term in perfect fashion at the EDF-ER Handicap Chase at Kelso. One For Arthur was the favourite for the race and duly delivered with Derek Fox in the saddle, ending a six-race drought without a victory.

He entered the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase with momentum, although he was considered one of the outside contenders for the event.

The bay gelding still put forward a decent outing and was in the leading group, but he did not have the pace down the stretch to beat out his rivals, finishing in fifth in a tight race.

In One For Arthur’s final race before the National at Warwick, he put in one of the best displays of his career.

Once again he was not fancied by the bookmakers ahead of the event, but Fox was able to get the best out of his charge, pulling clear of the pack two fences from the end of the meet. The bay gelding closed out the race to secure the victory by six lengths ahead of Goodtoknow.

Russell’s charge had momentum ahead of the ultimate test and with Fox in the saddle, he passed with flying colours over the four miles of the event.

The Irish horse was steady throughout but gradually moved through the field after passing Becher’s Brook for the second time. He made his charge into the lead at the final fence and was able to pull away to win by a comfortable margin.

One For Arthur has the talent, although he will need race action to justify his odds of 25/1 at present.

 

PLEASANT COMPANY

The Irish horse almost beat out Tiger Roll down the stretch for the crown, missing out by a head. He has finished in the top 10 of the last two appearances at the National, therefore he’s a strong contender to compete for the crown once again in 2019.

Pleasant Company began his push for the National with a decent performance at the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase with Ruby Walsh in the saddle, placing fourth in the contest.

Willie Mullins’ charge was the favourite for his next outing at the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. It was a straight battle between the Irish horse and his compatriot Thunder And Roses, but the bay gelding had enough pace to clinch the victory by half a length.

He was one of the leading contenders for the National, although it was not a clean performance from Mullins’ charge as he struggled to find rhythm on the course. Pleasant Company placed off the pace in ninth, well out of contention for the win.

After a lengthy period out of action, he returned just after Christmas at Leopardstown and it proved to be a difficult afternoon for the Irish horse as he placed in 14^th out of 28 competitors.

Life did not improve in the defence of his Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase title at Gowran Park as he pulled up three fences before the end of the meet, ending a mediocre outing.

As a result of his poor form, Pleasant Company was considered a rank outsider for the National. However, the 10-year-old proved his form with a resilient performance battling through the conditions and gaining strength as the race concluded.

He made a surge to catch Tiger Roll on the final straight, but he just lacked the pace to beat him at the line. There’s talent there with odds of 25/1 to win the 2019 National and it could be worth a punt given his last outing at Aintree.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

With a high-tempo pressing game now the ideal across a world that continues to ‘get smaller’, there can never be any guarantees in football betting.

Regardless, the standards set by the greats of every league’s yesteryears will always stick in the mind of the new generation, and this can potentially make life as a football punter much easier.

For some, utilising existing knowledge of a league’s reputation for championing a specific style of play is a go-to method when placing bets.

Combining this knowledge with the form table, the more experienced football betting aficionado will back a team to honour their league’s ‘traditional’ style via betting in niche markets, such as ‘over/under X goals’ and ‘both teams to score’.

 

England: Premier League

Today, the keyword in the Premier League is ‘fitness’. Though Sir Alex Ferguson is unmatched by any other in terms of silverware, the arrival of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in October 1996 was a key watershed moment.

The Frenchman was the first among his Premier League peers to openly instil rigid, meticulous dietary programs. With unmatched fitness, Arsenal won the PL title for the first time in 1998, and other clubs attempted to follow suit as the new millennium approached.

With all five PL entrants in the 2017/18 Champions League surviving the group stage, there is no doubt that England’s top flight is the total package these days.

At peak fitness, players are able to honour the modern convention of quickfire counter-attacking and high pressing throughout the ninety minutes.

2018/19 title favourites Manchester City operated in such a way to gain a record 100 points in the Premier League, while Liverpool did likewise in the Champions League, scoring 5+ in matches with disquieting regularity.

That noted, players in the Premier League are only human, and great exertions can only come at the cost of defensive integrity. This is particularly true of teams that have finished outside the ‘top six’ in the past two years.

Countless times, unassuming teams have taken the lead at places like Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, and found themselves in two minds whether to attack and kill the game or sit back and prepare for the inevitable counter-attacks that will fly their way.

Top Tip For Betting On The Premier League

The in-play market is a potential goldmine. Take a look at home teams that were massively favoured by bookmakers before kickoff.

If any of them are trailing by a single goal to a team in the bottom half of the table with ten minutes to go, they will have exceptionally long odds against them winning. The underdog team leading will be increasingly fraught and tired – then is the time to strike!

 

Spain: La Liga

Compared to the Premier League, the Spanish top flight has a reputation for a slower pace on the pitch, with a greater emphasis on passing and playing from the back.

‘Technique’ is the byword, and the Spanish philosophy is that having exceptional ball control will starve the opposition of possession and frustrate them. In turn, this can only lead to more chances, with the team in possession turning their opponents’ passion against them.

While ‘Tiki-Taka’ football is not the force it was ten years ago, when Spain won Euro 2008 through that approach, it still has relevance today. Generally, this means that there are fewer crosses played in a La Liga game than anywhere else in the ‘top’ leagues of Europe.

In the modern La Liga, players like Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale use their uncanny abilities to drift inwards from an advanced wide position and become makeshift strikers within seconds.

Both men are set to remain vital components of their respective clubs, both of which, as ever, occupy the top two places in next season's LaLiga betting markets.

As evidenced by Real Madrid’s trio of Champions League trophies between 2016 and 2018, this can be exceptionally difficult to play against.

Last season, three Spanish teams (the others being Sevilla and Barcelona) reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and together they averaged exactly two goals across their six home knockout ties.

In practice, this means that the ‘over/under’ goals market can be a great investment whenever a Spanish team plays at home in a European game.

Top Tip For Betting On La Liga

It's often best to look outside the box, here. High corner count, low card count. LaLiga games never want for passion, but a patient approach – compared to the ‘get the ball at all costs’ mentality of the English game – can only see fewer cards on average.

 

Germany: Bundesliga

While German teams (including the national side) now also have many players with the perfect blend of flair, technique and toughness, there is also much more room for team spirit.

Undoubtedly, a strong psyche in the dressing room, where many would assert the game is won and lost before the first whistle, is crucial if teams are to live up to the expectation for ‘German efficiency’.

In the Bundesliga, wasting a pass is a crime against nature, and if one teammate makes a mistake, another is expected to step in.

Every player knows their role, and no other team embodies this to greater effect than current champions and this season's favourites Bayern Munich.

Robert Lewandowski, for instance, has been the primary goal outlet. He scores, and that is all he does. Thomas Muller, the ‘number ten’, creates the through-ball for Lewandowski – and nothing else.

Off the pitch, responsible ticket pricing ensures that the passion of future generations is as strong as ever.

Certainly, compared to the Premier League, there is a relatively greater focus on fans as a priority over corporate attendees, and fan power can be a great weapon in the Bundesliga.

It is, perhaps, a worry that only Bayern Munich survived the group stage of last season’s Champions League. Nonetheless, the production of talent in Germany is steady, and the next breakout star is never far away.

Top Tip For Betting On The Bundesliga

With efficiency comes an adherence to certain game plans. For instance, some German teams will focus on wearing down the opposition and striking late, thereby making efficient use of their stamina.

For that reason, Bundesliga bettors may want to look at markets relating to goal time, especially the odds for a certain team scoring after the 75-minute mark.

 

Italy: Serie A

Italian football is often stereotyped as cautious and low-scoring. With the influx of foreign talent, not to mention the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, it is now a stereotype that seems like more of a joke than a justification for betting in a certain way.

Nonetheless, players grown in Italy will always respect their national heroes of yesteryear and thus will always turn to dogged defending and efficient tackling and hold-up play if the situation demands.

Though financially powerful teams like Juventus and Napoli will score for fun, Serie A still has a place for defensive football, and the lesser teams of the league will honour this when faced with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala or Dries Mertens.

With the evolution in training regimes across Europe, physical strength is more of an asset than ever, and Italian football is no exception. With the physical strength of Serie A midfields increasing year by year, there may be a shift towards employing players in the final third for specific roles.

For instance, a striker with a physical presence and good hold-up play may become more of a requirement over the next couple of seasons.

From a betting perspective, this should make the markets relating to first (or last) goalscorer, and the over/under market of particular interest in 2018/19.

Top Tip For Betting On Serie A

Consider backing a match between two top teams to produce under 1.5 goals, especially if both teams have a lot to lose.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The race may be seven weeks away but the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe ante-post market sprang into life last week after Sea Of Class left her rivals in her wake at the York Ebor meeting.

Sea Of Class joined last year’s winner, Enable, at the head of the betting for the Arc after an emphatic win in Group One Yorkshire Oaks at York last Thursday, a race that Enable coincidently won on her way to French glory.

The three-year-old filly was sired by Sea The Stars, who won the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Arc in the Tsui family’s famous yellow and purple colours in 2009 and her trainer William Haggas firmly believes that the family will have more French aspirations now.

Speaking after her Yorkshire Oaks romp, Haggas said “You always hope they are going to do something like that, but she really was impressive. She’s got a great turn of foot and she’s a strong traveller. She’s not in the Arc yet but I stress that it is ‘yet’. There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge but I imagine Mrs Tsui will be keen to pay the supplementary fee.”

After Cracksman missed the Juddmonte International at York last week, John Gosden revealed that he is unlikely to be seen again in public until the Arc itself on October 7th.

Last year's Champion Stakes winner has had a fairly frustrating season by Gosden’s high standards, despite winning the Prix Ganay and the Coronation Cup along the way.

Time is rapidly running out for a prep race before Longchamp, but Gosden is not unduly concerned at this stage:

"The ground was a bit quick for Cracksman to run in the Juddmonte, and we may take him straight to the Arc as he goes well fresh and is not the kind of horse that needs a prep," he said.

"The idea would be for him to take in two races in October and after the Arc point him to have another crack at the Champion Stakes. Hopefully before then we can get him on some nice ground on the Limekilns, although there does not seem to be much of that at the moment."

It’s also a worrying time for fans of Enable as she also skipped York and is now waiting for Kempton’s September Stakes to make her reappearance. The filly has not raced since landing the Arc ten months ago at Chantilly and her return has been delayed by the swelling in one of her knees back in May.

After winning the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly, Study Of Man was made a 20/1 shot for the Arc and remains at that price after flopping when odds-on in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville last time out.

After the Harry Dunlop trained Knight To Behold crashed the party, Study Of Man’s connections were far from being disheartened.

Neither trainer Pascal Bary nor jockey Stephane Pasquier were too downbeat after the Deep Impact colt stayed on to be a never-nearer third.

"He was a bit rusty and had a good blow there afterwards," said racing manager, Alan Cooper. "Stephane said he wasn't quite at ease on the track and stumbled a couple of times, but he said he wasn't disappointed.

"A mile and a quarter might be a bit short for him now and we'll look towards the Arc, while he will be entered in the Prix Niel beforehand. It's far from the end of the world."

An interesting article can be found here on to why Study of Man is a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender.

The Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist is another interesting home contender for the French.

Waldgeist was last seen when running down Frankie Dettori and Coronet to claim the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the beginning of July. That win came on the back of a wide-margin success in the Group Two Grand Prix de Chantilly a month earlier.

Waldgeist put himself in contention for both the Cartier Horse of the Year and Older Horse awards when landing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and undoubtedly will scoop both accolades should he win this year’s Arc.

The Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old has won three of his four starts this year and will be bidding to give Fabre his eighth Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe, his last coming in 2006 with Rail Link.

Andre Fabre will also saddle the popular Godolphin owned Talismanic at Longchamp.

Talismanic made a pleasing return to action when brushing aside his opposition in the Group Three Prix Gontaut-Biron over a mile and a quarter last time out, putting himself right in the picture for another crack at the French blue-riband event.

Talismanic was only 11th behind Found in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a three-year-old but has developed into a completely different physical specimen.

"The field was alright but the main thing is that he enjoyed himself and for the older horses that is important," said trainer Andre Fabre after his Deauville victory.

"We’re going to try for the Arc now. He is not in the Irish Champion but we’ll decide later in discussion with the owner."

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair of Crystal Ocean and Poet’s Word were both supported in the betting for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after they fought out an exhilarating finish in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

With Stoute confirming that Poet’s Word will miss the Irish Champion Stakes after his unlucky run in the Juddmonte International at York, there is every chance now that both horses will run at Longchamp.

888sport’s current Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe betting: Sea Of Class (9/2), Enable (11/2), Crystal Ocean (7/1), Cracksman (8/1), Lah Ti Dar (8/1), Poet’s Word (10/1), 20/1 bar.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The US Open is the last Grand Slam tennis betting of the calendar year, but for many players, it will feel like their first serious chance to make significant moves on one of the biggest stages in tennis.

In recent years, the other three Slams have felt like closed shops. Novak Djokovic has excelled at the Australian Open, Roger Federer is still the man to beat at Wimbledon and Rafael Nadal has transformed the French Open into a formality.

The US Open is where the two champions with one Slam title to their name enjoyed the pinnacle of their career, with Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic stunning the favourites in 2009 and 2014 respectively.

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have shared the three Slams so far in 2018, but the US Open could be the time for a new name to join that esteemed company.

Time For The 'Nearly' Men To Become Champions?

Djokovic, Federer and Nadal head the betting market for the US Open in that order, with these three greats familiar to the pressure that comes with being favourites.

This trio may dominate the shortest prices, but behind them is the usual collection of experienced professionals who have enjoyed moderate success on the ATP tour but who have failed to make the jump from contender to champion.

Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori have both lost Grand Slam tournament finals, and will look back and rue those defeats as missed opportunities. Since Raonic stunned Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Wimbledon 2016 only to roll over in straight sets to Andy Murray, the big-serving Canadian has struggled for fitness.

Nishikori formed the other half of that unlikely final in 2014, with Cilic too consistent on the day. Nishikori is another who has struggled with fitness, while Murray is as long as 10/1 because of his recent injury issues.

While it would be unwise to discount players of the calibre of Murray, Raonic and Nishikori, it would also be audacious to predict a title run without being able to depend on their fitness.

In that case, it may be more prudent to look at those nearly men who are in better shape at this time. Kevin Anderson definitely fulfils that criterion, with the South African coming off a swashbuckling run to the Wimbledon final to add to his final at last year's US Open.

Neither final performance has seen Anderson bring his best, but he can draw on the experience of the 6-3 6-3 6-4 defeat to Nadal last year to enhance his chances this time around. There are odds of 33/1 available for the defeated finalist to go one better, with the same price available for Grigor Dimitrov to finally live up to his early-career potential.

Being touted as the heir to Federer cannot be easy for a young player, but Dimitrov has combined his artistic shot-making with increased mental fortitude in recent months.

Victory at the ATP World Tour Finals last year served to show his ability to manage big matches as well as propelling him to a career-best ranking of 3^rd. A semi-finalist at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, peak Dimitrov is as good as anyone else on the tour.

The only question is if peak Dimitrov can appear for two weeks at Flushing Meadows, but 33/1 makes the Bulgarian an interesting proposition.

 

The Next Gen Stars Ready To Break Through

It is not unreasonable to suggest that anyone outside of the magic trio of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic can be perceived to be an underdog and a shock winner.

Alexander Zverev is 9/1 to make the US Open his first Grand Slam title, with the poster boy for the Next Gen players touted as a world number one in waiting. The hype machine has been working overtime around Zverev for the past couple of years, and not without justification.

Zverev became the fifth active player to have at least three Masters 1000 titles to his name when he strolled to success in Madrid earlier this year. The other four players are Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray: this bodes well for Zverev.

Yet the German has struggled to impose himself upon a Grand Slam. His quarter-final run at the French Open may have demonstrated his resolve, with Zverev coming back from 2-1 down in sets to claim victory in three consecutive rounds, but it also showed that he has a tendency to yield sets to significantly inferior opposition.

This left Zverev too fatigued to put up stern resistance against the first player of serious quality that he faced, with Dominic Thiem easing to victory in straight sets.

Three days until the #USOpen begins.

Check out our killer 9/1 tip and more here ? https://t.co/X7kI7xsRVz#TakeEmOn pic.twitter.com/E0kJsQoyoK

— 888sport (@888sport) August 24, 2018

Of course, Zverev may well end up winning the first Slam in which the stars align; it won't matter that he hasn't been beyond a Grand Slam quarter-final if his ability can compensate for inexperience, and he has shown consistently at the Masters 1000 level that it can.

The two closest players to Zverev in the Next Gen rankings could be rivals to the German for years to come, but they are much further behind Zverev in terms of development.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has come on leaps and bounds this year, but the Greek teenager looks like he may do his best work away from hard courts. His first-round defeat at the Australian Open is testament to this, giving the other Next Gen contender Denis Shapovalov a routine 6-1 6-3 7-6 victory.

The Canadian will be confident about his chances at the US Open having powered to the round of sixteen last year after making it through qualification.

Shapovalov has all of the technical ability required to make it to the top, but bringing it together consistently alongside mental resilience may still be beyond the 19-year-old at this early stage of his career.

Odds of 40/1 reflect both his potential and doubts over his current ability, but you may be unlikely to get such long odds on Shapovalov for too many more Grand Slams in the years ahead.

 

The American Stars Hoping To Shine

The US Open hasn't hosted a home champion since Andy Roddick in 2003, and there are certainly no American players of the calibre of past winners Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi who shared 6 US Open titles in the 1990s.

Of course, there are few players of the calibre of Sampras and Agassi from any country. What the United States do have is a set of emerging talents as well as a veteran who has stepped up his game in recent months.

John Isner has reached a new career-high ranking of 8^th this year, with the ace machine still able to boom down unreturnable serves but adding new depth to his all-round game.

This took him to the brink of a Wimbledon final, with a 7-6 6-7 6-7 6-4 26-24 a pretty dignified way to lose a Grand Slam semi-final. Isner hasn't exactly excelled at the US Open, reaching the quarter-final in his best showing in 2011.

Since then, Isner has suffered the quirky ignominy of losing to Philipp Kohlschreiber in three consecutive third rounds, and on his last two outings, he has fallen as heavy favourite against Mischa Zverev and Kyle Edmund.

A price of 33/1 shows a belief that Isner has the game to make any opponent uncomfortable, as well as a concern that Isner hasn't exactly adapted to home comforts in the past.

Jack Sock made the ATP World Tour Finals last year, supporting the theory that he could be the next great American hope. Sock has since set about disproving that theory by winning just 6 out of his first 22 matches in 2018, so that doesn't bode well even at a substantial price of 125/1.

Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz and Jared Donaldson head a collection of young Americans that are showing great promise, with American fans hoping that one of those will become the next Sampras rather than the next Sock.

Donaldson can be grabbed at odds of 600/1 for those looking to place their faith in youth, but it's Isner who gives the United States their strongest chance of a US Open title.

If he can avoid Kohlschreiber, 33/1 will represent interesting value on a player on the cusp of a Grand Slam final last time out, while the same price for last year's finalist, Kevin Anderson, also appeals.

However, it's difficult to look beyond Zverev at 9/1 for a player to end the domination of the old guard.

 

You'll love 888sports.com tennis odds

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The World Cup has come and gone. For many, it was the best yet, even though it was not short of controversial moments that will remain open for debate down the years.

France were deserved winners on this occasion, with Didier Deschamps becoming part of a rare breed to have won football’s greatest prize as a player and as a manager.

It is here that the first of several talking points, which could influence betting on international football for years to come, comes to light

Vive La France

For France, the twenty years between the nation’s two World Cup wins to date have been tumultuous, to say the least.

In a sad indictment of how wrong the French project went after an additional triumph at Euro 2000, many people will most readily remember the ‘Zidane incident’ as the standout moment of French football in the past two decades.

That has now changed, but a World Cup win may have the opposite effect amongst the more superstitious punter.

It was a run broken in emphatic fashion by the French this year, but until 2014, ‘Les Bleus’ had a curious tendency to alternate ‘bad’ World Cups with good ones.

In 2002, as defending champions, France failed to score a single goal and finished bottom of the group.

Four years later, they reached the final made infamous by Zinedine Zidane, before finishing bottom of their group again in 2010. 2014 was another strong World Cup for France.

While the class of 2018 proved able to break the cycle, the cautionary tale remains. Four out of the last five World Cups have seen the champions fall at the first hurdle.

A German side fancied to storm through a group containing South Korea, Mexico and Sweden was the latest victim of this alarming trend.

Thus, the more cynical neutral may consider putting a lay bet against France progressing from the group stage in the 2022 World Cup. The Qatari climate is like no other and could be potentially disadvantageous to European teams.

 

Betting VAR-kets

Whether in the pub or the studio, no recollection of this year’s World Cup will ever be without some mention of VAR – a.k.a Video Assistant Referee.

Though the technology itself is still relatively young, it is just a question when – not if – VAR will become the norm at club level across the world. For now, it is restricted largely to international football, but VAR-related bets are inevitable and will come sooner than many realise.

Every bookmaker needs a unique selling point, and if ‘Neymar to dive against Costa Rica, but get caught by VAR’ becomes a hot draw, so be it.

Neymar's World Cup dive gives us the top-notch memes we've been waiting for https://t.co/aPSyxa0tYI pic.twitter.com/U56gXPtzfs

— Mashable (@mashable) July 2, 2018

Of course, not everyone is convinced by what VAR brings to the modern game. Ultimately, the final decision lies with the referee, and there are some incidents which remain impossible to judge, even with the multiple replay angles granted by VAR.

In terms of VAR’s influence on international football betting, bookmakers may also need to give their customers a way out of an in-play bet on the occasions it is needed.

Indeed, there have already been isolated offers for money back if VAR rules out a decision that affects payout.

Yet, in the interest of corporate stability, a greater sense of diplomacy is going to be needed in the coming years, as VAR seeps into club level football, such as in the Bundesliga, MLS and the FA Cup.

 

Mbappe vs Neymar: The New Messi vs Ronaldo

Though the exertions of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the Champions League make them contenders for the Ballon d’Or, the World Cup alone has seen bets on Kylian Mbappe winning it in December becoming rife.

With these two finding their fates entwined at a relatively early age, a 'Brazil-France' each way bet will be popular in the 2022 World Cup, but the effect of this perceived rivalry ripples further than many realise.

Although Mbappe and Neymar were already well-known as superstars, the fact that they are now both teammates shrouded what could be a great rivalry, albeit a friendly one.

Once again, all the talk was about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and with the two thirty-somethings being tied on five Ballon d’Or trophies apiece, the 2018 World Cup was supposed to be the one that decided the better man once and for all.

Of course, the reality was very different. They never got that dream matchup, with both men exiting the tournament at the last sixteen, on the same day Mbappe enjoyed a brace against Argentina.

Mbappe continued to wreak havoc, up until the moment he lifted the trophy his exertions richly deserved. While Neymar emerged from the tournament more villain than hero after his infamous dive against Belgium, the fact remains that he is man enough to ignore the jibes, and will once more tear teams apart in next season’s Ligue 1.

In terms of betting, Mbappe’s World Cup performances have merely served to yet further cement PSG’s status as odds-on favourites to win the league in 2018/19.

Additionally, there is currently a culture for backing Paris Saint Germain to complete a quintuple of trophies, starting with the Trophée des Champions.

The club achieved quadruples in 2014/15 and 2015/16, and while no French team has ever won a quintuple, it will either be the PSG squad of today that does it, or nobody at all.

 

England At Risk Of Relegation?

This autumn will see the first matches of the inaugural UEFA League of Nations take place.

As a refreshing change from pointless, disruptive friendly matches – or a useless ‘training exercise’ against the likes of Andorra or San Marino – this is the tough love that most underachieving European nations have needed for years.

Gareth Southgate’s men, now the fourth-best team in the entire world, are in Group 4 of League A. Winning the group will see the Three Lions proceed to the League of Nations semi-finals in June 2019, which itself is a means to qualification for Euro 2020.

Finishing second will see England staying put in League A, while a bottom-place finish will result in relegation to League B. In that nether realm of this new competition, the only prize is promotion.

On the evidence of the last World Cup, England look to be in danger of relegation. By a cruel quirk of fate, England’s first game is at home to a Spain team that remains a threat, despite bowing out of the World Cup one round before England.

Use #bbcfootball 

Gareth Southgate is set to name his first post-World Cup squad later this week, but has anyone done enough to catch his eye? 

How many of England's 23 from Russia will remain? 

Will there be any shock or surprise inclusions? 
? https://t.co/Kpywq8j8WE pic.twitter.com/T5A4LRMCW5

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 27, 2018

No England side has beaten Spain (without penalties) in a competitive game since Euro 1980, and worse yet, that game will be followed up by a trip to Zagreb, against their World Cup tormentors Croatia – ably captained by Luka Modric.

For those planning on using the World Cup as a means to placing a bet on a team with odds against their relegation to League B, Germany are also potential candidates.

German teams seldom stay down for long after underachievement, with an appearance at the 2002 World Cup final after group stage elimination at Euro 2000 being a notable example of Teutonic tenacity.

Regardless, the German squad still has a relatively low average age, and only time can tell how much the deposed world champions will be affected by group stage elimination at this year’s World Cup.

Being drawn into Group 1, alongside new champions France and a Netherlands side that cannot fail to improve on the nightmare that has been the last three years, Germany’s place in League A is also far from a given.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Mohamed Salah took the Premier League by storm last season with his goalscoring form, fending off the challenge from Harry Kane to claim the Golden Boot.

Salah and Kane head the market to battle it out this year but the fact that Salah was hugely unfancied before the start of the last campaign should not be ignored.

There could be a new Salah in the making just waiting for the season to begin or perhaps it will be one of the nearly men from last season who finds an extra gear.

Previous Golden Boot winners are players of tremendous goalscoring calibre so, whoever wins the accolade this year, will be joining esteemed company.

 

Searching For The Next Salah

Not even Liverpool could have anticipated that Salah would enjoy such a fruitful season in front of goal but it did serve to make them look like transfer geniuses.

Perhaps the next Salah is already among us, one of the plethora of new signings that was totally overlooked because we were all focused on the World Cup.

Or perhaps it is Alireza Jahanbakhsh, otherwise known as Paul Merson's worst nightmare. The Iranian attacker has rocked up at Brighton for a club record fee, fresh from finishing as top scorer in the Eredivisie last season.

21 goals in 33 league matches for AZ Alkmaar last year makes Jahanbakhsh a coup for Brighton. It is a well-known footballing fact that every prolific Eredivisie forward who makes the jump to the Premier League is an unmitigated success.

Afonso Alves scored a hat-trick in an 8-1 win for Middlesbrough over Manchester City; Luis Suarez won the Golden Boot in 2013/14 and Vincent Janssen scored twice in the Premier League for Spurs.

However, Jahanbakhsh may find his work cut out in a Brighton side with odds of 5/1 to finish in the top ten. Newly-promoted Wolves are more fancied to trouble the Premier League top half.

Diogo Jota scored 17 goals in their promotion season and is 100/1 to adapt to the Premier League quickly, while Raul Jimenez is 150/1.

Jimenez is a slightly controversial signing for Wolves in that he isn't Portuguese but he is on loan from Benfica so he will be able to converse with his new team-mates with ease.

Jimenez doesn't exactly have a glowing scoring record in recent years, in that he hasn't managed more than 7 in his three league seasons at Benfica, but he was prolific in his native Mexico and could thrive in a Wolves side that is expected to go strongly this season.

If forwards for newly-promoted Wolves aren't your thing, how about forwards for newly-promoted Fulham; Andre Schurrle has never been a hugely consistent goalscorer but he has dynamic attacking ability and is available at odds of 250/1 to become the next player to show Chelsea that they let him go too soon.

 

The Usual Suspects

Of course, there is the very real possibility that the new Salah will be the same as the old Salah. There is precedent for a player to retain the Golden Boot.

In fact, there are multiple precedents; Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry bagged a hat-trick of consecutive Golden Boots, while Robin van Persie and Harry Kane have notched two in a row in more recent seasons.

Kane definitely has a taste for boots of gold, having claimed the accolade at the World Cup. Alas, there are no Panamas in the Premier League; there's not even a Sunderland any more for strikers to feast upon.

That is why Kane was so selfish and stubborn when he insisted that he brushed in an Eriksen cross with the tiniest sliver of his shoulder, a move that ultimately proved futile in the chase for Salah.

via GIPHY

Kane is the best centre-forward in the Premier League and a double Golden Boot winner, so it is unsurprising that he is the favourite in the market with odds of 9/4.

Salah is behind Kane for the first time in a while at a price of 5/1, with the Egyptian facing the same question marks over longevity as when Kane first burst on to the scene.

Kane has since proven that his lust for goals is insatiable, so it would take a brave commentator to call Salah's season a flash in the pan.

Salah was unstoppable at times, resembling a man ready for the transition to greatness rather than a streaky striker walloping the ball as hard as he could and hoping for the best.

It's not all about Salah and Kane though. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang follows closely behind Salah in the betting at 7/1. The Arsenal attacker is not only the quickest 29 year-old in world football (presumably), but he also has strong goalscoring pedigree validated by finishing as the Bundesliga's top scorer in 2016/17.

Who knows how Unai Emery's Wengerless wonders will adapt this season, so it may be wise to hold off on getting behind Aubameyang. Similarly, Sergio Aguero at Manchester City continues to be blighted by concerns over just how much Pep Guardiola likes him.

Every other Premier League manager would love to have the 2014/15 Golden Boot winner on board, but Aguero may struggle to get the game time to mount a serious challenge.

City rival Romelu Lukaku is available at the same price of 9/1, but the Belgian only bagged half the goals of Salah last season, despite looking very impressive at times.

 

The Outsiders

That all suggests that it is going to be Kane and Salah once again tussling for the Golden Boot, with the closest contenders all beset by uncertainty. Of course, uncertainty is easier to stomach when the odds are that bit juicier.

For example, a price of 25/1 for Alexandre Lacazette may be enough to disregard the concerns about Arsenal laid out in the previous paragraph.

Lacazette is too good to live in Aubameyang's shadow, with the Frenchman having finished as top scorer in his domestic league and notching a respectable 14 goals in his debut Premier League season.

Lacazette

“I like to be with Aubameyang. He's a good guy. I'm not asking the coach or telling him, 'I want to play with Auba' or something like that. He knows we can play well together and then afterwards, he makes his decision." pic.twitter.com/q2GTpvPOV8

— Emery's new era ?? (@tomgunner14) August 26, 2018

That's only two fewer than Lukaku and one more than Gabriel Jesus so, if Lacazette adapts to life under Emery quickly, then he has the clinical finishing to make serious waves.

While Kane and Salah are expected to repeat their feats, others are not given such trust. The fourth and fifth top scorer in the Premier League last season are available at odds of 33/1 and 40/1 respectively.

Vardy hit the magic figure of 20 goals last season and was pipped for the Golden Boot by one Kane goal in 2015/16. Raheem Sterling's stunning season yielded 18 goals, making him the fifth highest scorer. Cynics will suggest that Sterling is too erratic to surpass that total and that he won't get so lucky again but those arguments don't hold weight.

Sterling thrives under Guardiola and is the perfect player for his system. The arrival of Riyad Mahrez at City may reduce the chances of both Vardy and Sterling getting off to a good start, with the Algerian so often the provider for Vardy and a player who would occupy similar spaces to Sterling in the Manchester City side.

But Vardy and Sterling have both defied expectations before, and those prices make it tempting to believe that they could do so again.

Alexis Sanchez is also at 40/1, a price that would have seemed ridiculous a couple of years ago but reflects how the Chilean attacker took to life at Old Trafford like a duck to lava. Sanchez has bagged 24 goals in a Premier League season before and has the ability to not only play in the same side as Lukaku but outscore him if he finds his form.

Nine players have won the Golden Boot alongside the Premier League title, while the list of winners largely reads like a list of global superstars.

However, Dion Dublin shared the Golden Boot in 1997/98 by bagging 18 goals for a Coventry City that finished 11th, giving hope to strikers of mid-table sides. Master poachers Jermain Defoe, Charlie Austin and Javier Hernandez are all available at 100/1, and they all certainly know where the goal is.

The only problem is that the likes of Kane and Salah are also very familiar with the location of said goal. While it is boring to suggest that the favourites will win, it is hard to look beyond that duo.

Lacazette at 25/1 and Sanchez at 40/1 are clinical finishers with prices that will shorten dramatically if either player hits the ground running, but Kane's unerring consistency may prove decisive.

If he can find a way to score in August, then it may even be wrapped up within the first month.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Ebor Handicap is currently the most valuable flat handicap in Europe and always takes place on the final day of the four-day Ebor Festival at York.

The race is run over a distance of one mile and six furlongs and has been run at York since 1843.

The word “Ebor” is actually an abbreviation of the Roman word, Eboracum, which was the Roman name for York.

A number of horses engaged in The Ebor in recent seasons have then headed out to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival.

Here is a look at the trends and statistics for The Ebor based on the last ten years.  Just remember the race was cancelled in 2008 because of flooding at the track.

AGE (win-place-runs)

3-y-o: 0-2-4

4-y-o: 1-12-74

5-y-o: 5-8-55

6-y-o: 3-5-32

7-y-o+: 1-2-15

Five-year-olds have won five of the last ten runnings. That signals a positive for backers of: Muntahaa, Mustajeer, Lord Yeats, Blakeney Point, Saunter, Platitude, Whiskey Sour, Stratum and Mountain Bell.

Only one horse aged seven or older has won this race in the last thirty years (Litigant 2015). That signals a negative for: Dylan Mouth, Scotland, Nakeeta, Montaly, Sea The Lion and Fun Mac.

 

WEIGHTS

Weekender heads the weights on 9st 12lbs.

The four-year-old was beaten a neck by Marmelo in the Listed Grand Cup over course and distance back in June. No top-weight has won the Sky Bet Ebor since the great Sea Pigeon defied 10st in 1979.

Weekender's trainer John Gosden also runs Muntahaa (9st 9lb), a staying-on fourth in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last month.

The Willie Mullins-trained Stratum (9st 2lb) is the market leader and has topped the horse racing betting odds since recording an easy three-length victory in the JLT Cup at Newbury on July 21st.

Ireland's  leading Jump trainer Willie Mullins, who last took the Ebor with Sesenta in 2009, has another well-fancied contender in the Group One-winning hurdler Whiskey Sour (9st 3lb).

Other Irish-trained raiders include the seven-year-old Sea The Lion (9st 4lb/Jarlath Fahey), successful in all three starts so far this season, and the Ger Lyons-trained Mustajeer (9st 8lb), who was a close fourth in a Group Two race at Naas in May.

Last year's winner Nakeeta (9st 7lb) is bidding to become just the second two-time winner of the race, a feat last achieved in 1922 and 1923. Nakeeta showed signs of return to form when fifth behind Stratum at Newbury last time out.

Blakeney Point (9st 5lb) is the shortest-priced British-trained runner in the betting. He shaped with promise when a staying-on fourth in the Glorious Stakes over 12 furlongs at Goodwood at the start of August.

The November Handicap victor Saunter (9st 5lb) has to shoulder a 7lb penalty following wins at Compiegne and Newmarket.

The Tom Dascombe-trained  Teodoro (9st 5lb) has a 4lb penalty after his front-running success in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park earlier in the month.

Hughie Morrison saddles one of the oldest runners in the field with Fun Mac (9st 2lb). The seven-year-old finished second behind Magic Circle in the Chester Cup in May and was last seen finishing a close third at Maisons-Lafitte in July.

Marco Botti is represented by both Dylan Mouth (9st 10), winner of the John Smith's Silver Cup over course and distance, and the Old Newton Cup Handicap second Crowned Eagle (9st 7lb).

Andrew Balding is another trainer doubly represented. In the first instance by last year's Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup winner Montaly (9st 5lb) and secondly by Scotland (9st 8lb).

 

RATINGS

The last ten winners have been rated between 88 and 106 with seven of them between 90 and 103.

 

DRAW

Eight winners have been drawn between 14 and 22, the two exceptions being stall 10 and 12.

The following horses have a supposedly “favourable” draw:  Weekender, Muntahaa, Mustajeer, Crowned Eagle, Nakeeta, Lord Yeats, Sea The Lion, Whiskey Sour and Fun Mac – a total of nine horses.

 

PRICE

Winners of the last ten runnings have been priced between 7/2 and 33/1 with six of them going off at 20/1 or under.

 

HORSES TO CONSIDER

It may be highly unoriginal pick but Stratum (nap) sneaking into the 20-strong field at number 19 must have been music to the ears of Willie Mullins, and he will certainly go off favourite on the back of his display at Newbury.

After finishing third in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he ran on well after encountering traffic problems, he went to Newbury and gave a decent field of stayers a three-length beating.

His mark of 102 probably underestimates his abilities and he really does look like a handicap “snip”.

Although all the statistics and trends look to be conspiring against Nakeeta, the seven-year-old still really stands out as a live contender based upon his back class and is a much better horse than the majority of this field.

Callum Rodriguez is taking a further 3lb’s off his back on Saturday after and Rodriguez is in top form at the moment, riding several winners of late.

Since Nakeeta’s Melbourne Cup exertions last November, Iain Jardine has slowly but surely been building up during this campaign and a big Saturday handicap scalp could quite easily be in the offing.

888sport suggests: Stratum (nap) Nakeeta (e/w).

European football is back! With top domestic leagues in Germany, Spain, Italy and France already underway or starting up this weekend, I’ve compiled the first of many European accumulators this season. Have a browse down the page for my 11/1 four-fold on the latest round of matches...

 

VFL WOLFSBURG vs SCHALKE 04

Wolfsburg survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season but Bruno Labbadia’s men will be expecting to finish much higher up the German table in 2018/19.

The Wolves drew 15 of their 34 Bundesliga fixtures during the previous campaign and turning a few of those draws into wins will be the difference in their pursuit of survival.

Schalke have scored in their previous 28 Bundesliga matches – an incredible feat to say the least. However, we could see a new-look Schalke take to the field for this clash.

The opening fixture is always difficult to predict and it may be wise to expect an underwhelming affair at Volkswagen Arena.

The selection has landed in four of the last five meetings between the two sides and another low-scoring encounter could be on the cards. Take the 7/10 for less than three goals in this fixture.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ 7/10

PREDICTED SCORE: Wolfsburg 1-1 Schalke (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)

 

JUVENTUS vs LAZIO

The stage is set for Cristiano Ronaldo to fire Juventus to victory. The home crowd will expect big things from the Portugal legend this season and he can lead Massimiliano Allegri’s men to an eighth successive Serie A crown.

This one could get ugly for the visitors if Juventus get off to a fast start on Saturday night. It was all change for Lazio this summer – a number of key personalities decided to move on ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.

Simone Inzaghi’s side gave a decent account of themselves against Napoli on the opening weekend but ultimately fell short and another defeat beckons here. You won’t find too many punters backing Lazio to win in Turin…

Ronaldo could make an immediate impact on his home debut and 19/20 for the Portuguese to score in a Juventus victory should be snapped up. Watch this space, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could light up Serie A this weekend.

TIP: Ronaldo to score and Juventus to win @ 19/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Juventus 2-0 Lazio (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)

 

LILLE vs GUINGAMP

Lille are primed for a positive 2018/19 season after their struggles during the previous year.

The Europa League and Frederic Antonetti’s departure had an adverse effect on Lille last campaign and all signs point towards a better performance this time around. A goalless draw at Monaco last time out is an indication of that improvement.

Meanwhile, Guingamp are yet to pick up a point this season after defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and St Etienne.

Siding with the visitors would be brave – they have came out on top just once in their last five trips to Lille and EVS represents solid value for a home triumph this weekend.

Taking everything into account, it may prove prudent to side with Lille. The hosts lost just three Ligue 1 games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2017/18 and three of those came against Monaco, Marseille and PSG.

TIP: Lille to win @ EVENS

PREDICTED SCORE: Lille 2-1 Guingamp (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

SEVILLA vs VILLARREAL

This will be Sevilla’s seventh competitive match of the 2018/19 campaign and we are still in August. Despite their hectic schedule, I’m expecting Sevilla to emerge victorious on home soil in this clash – 3/4 is an excellent price.

The hosts were ruthless against Rayo Vallecano in their last La Liga encounter and another win looks likely. Villarreal have won just two of their previous eight away league games and that is a major factor in my pick.

Javier Calleja’s side took a 16^th minute lead against Real Sociedad but that wasn’t enough – Sociedad scored either side of half-time to secure the perfect result on the opening weekend. This one could get away from Villarreal if Sevilla are on top form…

Two teams with bags of potential but two contrasting starts to the new season. Going with the form book is the best bet here; Sevilla should have enough quality to put Villarreal to the sword.

TIP: Sevilla to win @ 3/4

PREDICTED SCORE: Sevilla 2-0 Villarreal (Priced at 8/1 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Premier League teams are preparing for their third matches of the season.

We are beginning to get a sense, albeit a vague one, of how teams will perform and which managers could be under pressure. Here are a few thoughts on this Saturday’s 3pm Premier League kick-offs…

 

ARSENAL vs WEST HAM UNITED

It’s been a rough start for these two London clubs. Arsenal had a nightmare with the fixture computer, which gave them Manchester City and Chelsea to start the season.

Meanwhile, West Ham were thrashed by Liverpool to start the campaign and crumbled at home to Bournemouth last time out.

Jack Wilshere sends clear message to Unai Emery ahead of Arsenal vs West Ham https://t.co/wDwuP7fSMI pic.twitter.com/C5dVrfivSd

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) August 22, 2018

There have been good signs for Unai Emery so far. It’s been less positive for Manuel Pellegrini, who has his work cut out to sort out a painfully unbalanced midfield.

The Hammers’ summer recruitment could be undermined by their failure to reinforce the midfield sufficiently.  Unless Jack Wilshere produces a special display on his return to north London, the Gunners should win this easily.

TIP: Over 3.5 goals @ 59/50

PREDICTED SCORE: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)

 

AFC BOURNEMOUTH vs EVERTON

This should a good one to watch. Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth are going to play their brand of expansive football and Marco Silva’s Everton will be much the same.

The Cherries are off to a flyer with two wins from two and were very impressive in their comeback win against West Ham last time out.

The Toffees have started in a similar manner, picking up four points from their first two matches including a 2-2 draw at Wolves despite going down to 10 early on.

Goals are the way to go here. These two teams are going to be involved in a few thrillers this season. Let’s hope this is one of them.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/11

PREDICTED SCORE: Bournemouth 2-2 Everton (Priced at 11/1 with 888sport)

 

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN vs CARDIFF CITY

These two were fancied to go down before the season started and neither have shown anything to suggest otherwise so far. Huddersfield’s fixtures have been difficult at least, but Cardiff have just looked desperately short of quality.

Neil Warnock’s side were unable to create much even after Newcastle went down to 10 last weekend.

When @CardiffCityFC meet Huddersfield this weekend, Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock will have managed in this fixture in England's top three leagues ? pic.twitter.com/jH1OFzVctm

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 22, 2018

Defensively they might be solid enough, but it’s hard to see them scoring enough goals. David Wagner’s side really have to win matches like this if they are to stay up.

Home advantage just tips the scales in Huddersfield’s favour. It’s unlikely to be first on Match of the Day, though.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ 1/2

PREDICTED SCORE: Huddersfield 1-0 Cardiff (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)

 

SOUTHAMPTON vs LEICESTER CITY

Mark Hughes’ Southampton were poor at Everton last weekend. The Saints were vulnerable at the back and have been short of ideas in the final third in their two matches so far.

Leicester present a significant test for Hughes, who could soon beunder pressure despite scraping Southampton to safety last season.

The Foxes looked good at Old Trafford in the season opener and built on that with a home victory against Wolves, but head to the south coast without Jamie Vardy, who is suspended. As we saw against Manchester United, the Foxes are short of cutting edge when Vardy is missing.

The visitors look like the value option for this one. Southampton at 7/5 is still on the short side given their performances against Burnley and Everton.

TIP: Leicester to win or draw @ 3/5

PREDICTED SCORE: Southampton 0-2 Leicester (Priced at 13/1 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*