Bookies wary of Latics

Sports betting

ATHLETIC’S 100 per cent start to the League One season has forced the bookies to run for cover.

Many fans took the 28-1 Ladbrokes offered about Latics winning the division (recommended in this column) and the Magic Sign have reacted by cutting John Sheridan’s side to 8-1 third favourites.

Athletic are as big as 14-1 elsewhere, but that price will surely vanish if they win at Colchester on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s impressive start to their Premier League campaign has seen their odds for the title cut to even money.

Manchester United, without several key players because of injury but only two points behind the Blues, are available at 21-10 and that looks mighty tempting.

Despite winning their first two matches – albeit in unimpressive fashion – Liverpool can be backed at 8-1, while Arsenal, beaten at Fulham last weekend, have drifted to 10-1.


ENGLAND’S cricketers may have surprised even themselves by the manner of their ODI victory over South Africa at Trent Bridge yesterday.

Kevin Pietersen certainly seems to have the Midas touch as skipper and his team have been made favourites to win the third of five games in the series at The Oval on Friday. England are 5-6, with the Proteas evens.

England are 1-5 to convert their 2-0 lead into a series victory, while South Africa have drifted to 5-1 to come out on top by winning the last three matches.


ST HELENS are virtual certainties to lift the Carnegie Challenge Cup at Wembley on Saturday.
That’s not my opinion, but that of the bookies, who offer a best-priced 1-7 about the Saints defeating Hull (5-1) in rugby league’s showpiece final.


GOLF’S Ryder Cup, to be played at the Valhalla Club in Kentucky, is only three weeks away and it’s Europe who continue to attract support from punters. 

That’s hardly surprising given the strength of their team, headed by Padraig Harrington, winner of the last two Majors.

Add the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson – each of whom have enjoyed superb seasons – and you have the nucleus of a team which looks more than capable of bashing the Yanks on their home soil.

Europe are 10-11 favourites, which is more than fair, while USA can be backed at 11-8 and the draw at 12s.


TALKING of tournaments in America, the US Open tennis is in full swing and, like the Ryder Cup, the trophy is set to go overseas.

It may even be going to Scotland, home of Andy Murray, whose recent rich vein of form fully entitles him to respect and justifies his quote of 14-1.

Rafael Nadal is the 13-8 favourite, with the man he deposed as world number one, Roger Federer, on 11-4, and Novak Djokovic on 7-2.

Murray’s second-round game against Michael Lodra takes place tomorrow.

The Briton is 1-10 to progress to round three, with the Frenchman a 7-1 shot.

RECOMMENDATION: Europe to beat USA in Ryder Cup, 10-11 (general).