July 2012
26th July, 12pm
There’s just one day until the Olympic opening ceremony, the biggest show on earth taking place in London for the next two weeks. We’ve been analysing some of the available offers ahead of the start of the games, so if you are interested in reading about the bookmaker Olympic specials, check out our dedicated Olympics section by clicking the link above.
Although the Olympics officially opens tomorrow, there has already been some action, with the first games of the women’s football tournament taking place yesterday. It was a great start for the hosts, with Team GB winning a match with a solid 1-0 against a competitive New Zealand side. Tonight its the turn of the men’s Team GB, who take on Senegal in their opener. We’re going to have a look at this match and the opening fixtures for our first bet of the Olympics.
Today there are 8 games taking place, with the pick of them as follows:
Spain v Japan
Brazil v Egypt
Team GB v Senegal
As you may have guess from the 3 games above, I fancy an accumulator! The odds, in association with 888sport are as follows:
Spain (1.36) v Japan
Brazil (1.17) v Egypt
Team GB (1.60) v Senegal
For me, the first two results are nailed on. Spain have a succession of players coming through the ranks that threaten to be every bit as good as the senior squad that has won the last 3 tournaments they have played in.
Brazil have one of the most talented players in the competition in Neymar, and he will be looking to really show the world what he is capable of. If you’re yet to see him in action, lets hope he can come up with something like this:
With him on board, Brazil are still a decent price at 1.17 against Egypt tonight.
Finally, we’re going to boost the price of the accumulator a bit with a punt on the home nation. Team GB take on Senegal in their opener, and we’re hoping that – just like the women’s team – the benefit of home advantage will see them over the line. A price of 1.60 is fair, and gives a good boost to our overall price.
Todays bet:
Thursday 26th July. 2:45pm. Olympic men’s football treble.
Spain, Brazil and Team GB all to win. £10 @ 2.54
You can find these bets on the 888sport main page, under football. Good luck, and let the games begin!
15th July, 1pm
Our bet on Andy Murray last week went the same way as Murray himself, just falling short to the superb Federer. The headstart we gave to Murray was a tiny bit short, a couple of key points went Federer’s way in the second set and he never looked back. A valiant effort by the Scot, it does seem likely that he will get his hands on a major trophy one day.
We’re in a bit of lull for top sporting action for the next couple of weeks, after which the Olympics start in London. That will swiftly be followed by the start of the new football season, so there’s going to be plenty to get our betting teeth into.
We’l be back with an update next week.
8th July, 12pm
In just a couple of hours Andy Murray will be out on Centre Court with the chance to become the first British man in more than 70 years to win the mens singles. A huge day for British tennis, he will certainly have the support of a nation behind him! On the other side of the net waits Roger Federer, possibly the greatest grass court player ever to pick up a racket. However, at 30 years of age, Federer is perhaps not quite at the very peak of his game that we have been so used to seeing over the better part of the last decade. Still, he represents a formidable challenge for the Brit, who as expected starts as the underdog. The current match betting on Betfair gives us the following odds:
Federer 1.51
Murray 2.94
Over the course of Wimbledon 2012 we have seen Nadal eliminated early, then Federer put paid to the hopes of defending champion Novak Djokovic. Murray has certainly had an easier route to the final, although victories over Ferrer and Tsonga have hinted at an elevated level of determination and ability that if repeated in the final will be enough to give Federer plenty to think about. Perhaps the strength of the home support, particularly in this Olympic year, will help Murray over the line?
Lets have a quick look at some facts and figures about the players.
1. Murray has hit more aces than Federer so far at this tournament.
2. Murray is 25, Federer is 30.
3. Murray is 8-7 up in head to heads with Federer.
4. Murray has never won a major.
5. Federer has won Wimbledon 6 times already.
Without question, Federer has the ability and class. At 30 he’s far from finished in the game. However, at 25, Murray is reaching what should be the peak of his career. It might just be his time. My call is that its going to be tight. I’m not convinced Murray will do it, but I do think he will give a good account of himself.
With all this in mind, we’re going to have a go at a small bet for the final. Murray, with a small head start. On Betfair, there are various markets for player handicaps, and the one I like the look of is “Murray + 3.5 games.” My feeling is that if Murray does win, or even run Federer close, there will be at least a couple of tie-breaks along the way. Even with this head start Murray is still odds-against, the current price on Betfair is 2.2 and I think this is worth a few quid.
Todays bet:
Sunday 8th July. 2pm. Wimbledon, Mens final.
Andy Murray (+3.5 games) to beat Roger Federer. £10 @ 2.20
2nd July, 1pm
Euro 2012 is over, and it’s once again congratulations to the Spanish! They proved far too strong for the somewhat unfortunate Italians (it was over by the hour when having already made 3 subs, they lost a man to injury) but no-one could argue with the result. Spain have now won 3 consecutive major tournaments, and are already installed as favourites for the next one, the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
As far as our betting went Euro 2012 was a successful tournament, helped by a win at long odds in the England v Italy quarter final. We returned a healthy £40 profit overall from our 4 bets.
So the football is over for another season. But not for long! It’s barely a matter of weeks before we’re back into the qualifying for Europe and pre season friendlies. We’ll be previewing the new season a bit closer to the time it all kicks off.
Over the next month we’ll be looking at the closing stages of Wimbledon, and then of course the Olympic Games, starting in London in just a few weeks.
Stay tuned!