Sports betting: Boro can make impact

PHEW! The Premier League season has not even started and already we have read enough stories to fill a library.

The uncertainty over the future of Manchester City, the will-he-go or won’t-he saga over United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and the inevitable transfer speculation relating to a host of other Premiership stars have been filling our newspapers for weeks.

So it’s quite refreshing that it’s down to the action on Saturday when United, City and the rest go head to head in a bid for glory.

Defending champions United are the bookies’ favourites to retain their crown, but make little appeal at 6-4 bearing in mind the injury-enforced absence for a while of Ronaldo and a pre-season viral scare for Wayne Rooney.

It may be that United start slowly and are forced to play catch-up, in which case you will be able to beat that 6-4 on offer. If you fancy the Reds, then my advice is to wait a while because the price could drift.

Chelsea, at 15-8, are rated their main dangers and quite rightly so. They have an experienced man at the helm in Luiz Felipe Scolari and the signing of midfield playmaker Deco has to be a positive one.

Arsenal have released more players than they have recruited, so I shall pass on them at 6-1, while Liverpool (15-2) always threaten to make an impact, but rarely do so these days despite the obvious quality in their squad.

The “big four” will surely dominate once again so it’s hard to disagree with bookies who have fifth favourites Tottenham at 66-1 and Aston Villa next at 250s.

A more interesting - and potentially lucrative - way of punting is in the handicap market, the trick being to identify a team you think will overachieve (according to the odds layers, that is) and place a bet on them with a points start.

And the team which catches my eye are Middlesbrough, whom Betfred hand a 38-points advantage from Manchester United, one from Chelsea and so on.

Obviously, some clubs are in receipt of a start from Boro, but those include likely strugglers such as Sunderland, Bolton, Wigan etc.

Why go for Boro? Well, they have a bright young manager in Gareth Southgate who is learning fast and, in Alfonso Alves, boast a young Brazilian striker with a brilliant record on the continent and one who showed glimpses of huge potential at the back end of last season.

Boro can be backed at 15-1 and if you are tempted by that, then it follows that you should snap up a little of the 40-1 for Alves to be top Premier League scorer.

For those wishing to have a bet without the “big four” Tottenham are the favourites at 9-4, but this is not a market which interests me as much as that regarding which clubs will go down.

Newly-promoted Hull City (4-11), Stoke City (4-9) and West Brom (5-4) are the obvious choices, but I have a feeling one of these may survive.

Who will fall through the trapdoor? Bolton look a dodgy proposition and the offer of 3-1 is entirely fair.


PREMIER League recommendations: Middlesborough in handicap market, plus 38 points, each-way first four, quarter-odds, 15-1 (Betfred); Alfonso Alves to be top scorer, each-way, first four, 40-1 (Paddy Power, Coral, William Hill); Bolton to be relegated, 3-1 (Ladbrokes, Skybet).