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BORO v BIRMINGHAM ODDS PREVIEW
We Know Our Place
I've just been out for a walk in the park (see what I did there?) and I had a good think about the Boro v Birmingham game tomorrow. I figured that if Boro are to win this one, they need to put in a very untypical performance. Let me explain.
This season, we have defeated Arsenal at home - when they were good as well - and annihalated Manchester United. But that wasn't our best achievement of the season and I don't need to remind anyone that we stuffed Chelsea like an Easter turkey just three weeks ago. Typical Boro? Yes, but that is only half of the story.
Defeats at home to Charlton and Sunderland and draws with West Brom and Portsmouth have made this a frustrating season so far and don't be fooled by the fact that those results are now some time ago. Yes, it is typical Boro to raise their game against the big sides and fall away against the teams in the dogfight.
Statistics show that in the last eight seasons since we returned to the top flight, we have the worst record against the teams finishing bottom of the league and the best record against Manchester United and it's been pretty much like that ever since I can remember.
So it is with a certain hesitancy that I am predicting a Boro win tomorrow. I think that you have to on current form but beware the blues from Birmingham. The league table never lies but Birmingham have far more resilience that their lowly league position suggests. Time to edge the bets again I would say.
There is no arbitrage this week as Boro are comfortable odds-on favourites. Let's look at the odds from four of our favourite bookies.
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Victor Chandler |
Total Bet |
Paddy Power |
Coral |
| Boro |
10/11 |
5/6 |
4/5 |
8/11 |
| Birmingham |
3/1 |
10/3 |
7/3 |
10/3 |
| Draw |
9/4 |
9/4 |
9/4 |
11/5 |
So everyone is pretty much agreed on the draw price then but you will have noticed that there is quite a difference in the Middlesbrough price. To sum it up, if you want to back Boro with a tenner, do it with Victor Chandler as you will get a return of £9.09 as opposed to £7.27 from Coral and less than £8 with the other two.
Victor Chandler also have a special offer running for the match where you can treble your winnings. Have a bet on the first goalscorer and if your player scores twice VC will double your winnings. If he scores three times, they'll TREBLE YOUR WINNINGS! Yakubu is 4/1 to score first and Jimmy is 9/2.
You'll also get a free matched bet from VC up to the value of £20. So £20 on the Yak to score first could bring you a return of £180 if he scores twice. He won't get a hat-trick because you're not allowed to do that at Boro. It's bad for team spirit apparently, so two goals and you're off, every time without fail. But I'll settle for £180 and a win on Saturday night.
As for Birmingham, if you fancy them to pull all three points out of the bag, then your best bet is to back it with Total Bet whose odds are slightly better than the others. You'll also get a free ten pound bet in your account if you are a new customer, as you will with Coral and Paddy Power.
Once again, despite not having the best odds on the match, Paddy Power certainly has the most variety in his coupon with numerous handicaps and different types of player scoring odds, for example, Cattermole, Downing and Mendieta are all 3/1 to score at any time. It's definitely worth perusing the Paddy Power coupon as you'll find items on there that you won't find anywhere else.
But if it's first goalscorer odds that you are looking at making a selection on, then you would be well advised to check out Coral who have Mikael Forssell priced at 8/1, a full point better then anywhere else and Yakubu at 4/1, at least half a point better than anywhere else.
Whatever you decide to do, the very best of luck.
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