Salmond 9-2 to get his wish for Scotland

SPORTS BETTING: 

JUST occasionally this column deviates from its normal sports targets.

That’s the case this week, following Monday’s Scottish Independence debate in which pro-separatist Alex Salmond wiped the floor with Alistair Darling for the better-together band.

I have my own views, of course, but I’ll leave the book to those who keep their fingers more firmly on the pulse.

They go 2-11 that the Scottish voters say No, and 9-2 for yes. So it’s not looking good for Salmond.

Staying with politics, Mayor of London Boris Johnson is in line to stand for Parliament again, with the safe Conservative seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip in his sights.

Johnson is extremely popular; the word is that David Cameron should be a worried man when it comes to his leadership of the party.

Johnson has been installed at 5-2 by the bookies to be the next Tory leader - and only 7-1 to be the next Prime Minister. That particular market is headed by Labour’s Ed Miliband at 5-6. Cameron isn’t in this betting market.



THE Premier League season is only two weeks old, yet already there have been huge adjustments in betting markets for the title.

Manchester United are out to 14-1 from fives, while Liverpool have drifted from 12s to 16s.

Chelsea and Manchester City have been impressive so far and are 11-8 and 2-1 respectively, with Arsenal 8-1. It’s already starting to look like a two-horse race.

As for a top-four finish and place in next year’s Champions’ League, it’s 1-25 the two title favourites, with Arsenal 2-5 and United and Liverpool evens.

I rather like the look of Tottenham at 3-1. They have won their opening two fixtures and look a transformed and talented side under new boss Mauricio Pochettino. In their current form, I’d back them to beat both United and Liverpool - and they get the chance to overcome the latter on Sunday.



TONY Pulis has gone from Crystal Palace, so who will be the next manager to leave a Premier League club?

History suggests we won’t have long to find out and the man next in the firing line according to the odds compilers is West Ham’s Sam Allardyce (7-2). Then again it could be QPR’s Harry Redknapp (4-1) or Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert (13-2). It’s 10-1 bar those three.



RECOMMENDATION: Tottenham Hotspur to finish in Premier League top four, 3-1 (Ladbrokes).