End of season punts that are worth considering
Easter is just around the corner, and for Valiants fans and the rest of the footballing community, that means one thing. Another season will soon be drawing to a close.
To some of the burning questions of 2018/19, we already have an answer. For example, promotion hopes disappeared mid season, but at least the recent win over Crewe confirmed a finish well clear of the relegation zone.
But with a month or so left in the season, there are still enough unanswered questions around the leagues to keep us interested. This is particularly the case for those who follow the football betting odds and are looking for some eleventh hour wagers. Here are a handful that are worth considering.
Who’s going down?
An intriguing battle for survival is emerging at the foot of the League 2 table. Macclesfield and Notts County seemed destined for the drop, but Yeovil’s run of five straight defeats last month plunged them into the thick of the action, and their draw last week against Swindon did little to stop the rot. That leaves Yeovil and Notts County on 37 points and Macclesfield on 39, with five games left to play. The former two are odds-on for the drop at 1/3, while Macclesfield are even money. Looking for an outside shot? Crawley are not out of the woods. They are currently on 43 points, and have only won seven games all season. Bookmakers have them at 10/1 for relegation.
The Premier League battle
Turning our eye to the Premier League, there is, or course, the obvious question of who will prevail at the very top. Gut feeling says City will do enough to hold off Liverpool, but it has been too close to call all season, and this one looks set to run to the final game. The bookmakers agree, and have City as favourites for the title, but only by the slimmest of margins. One slip from either team is all it will take to send the odds into free fall.
Top goal scorer
The City vs Liverpool battle is a classic, but from a sports betting perspective, the more tantalising question surrounds the golden boot. Harry Kane’s latest injury woes suggest his season is now over and we can rule him out of the equation. So it looks like a straight fight between Sergio Aguero and Mohamad Salah. Aguero is currently one ahead on 19, and is even money favourite with the bookies. However, don’t rule out a late run from Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He is only two goals behind Aguero and has a game in hand, so the 5/1 odds could be tempting.
All eyes on Europe
The first leg of the Champions League quarter finals has caused plenty of debate among fans and bookmakers. Tottenham’s win over Manchester City came as a surprise, but the loss of Kane means Spurs are rank outsiders and it would take little short of a miracle for them to repeat the feat in the second leg. Looking at the big picture, Barcelona have gone favourite to win the title, but those seeking a dark horse need look no further than Ajax. They played with confidence and energy to hold Juventus to a draw in the first round, and while they remain outsiders, this is a team well capable of delivering upsets. Becoming champions might be a bridge too far, but 12/1 to make the final are odds that many will find tempting.
Who’s playing with the big boys next year?
At the top of the Championship table, Norwich are all but guaranteed promotion, while Leeds and Sheffield United seem destined to battle it out till the bitter end for the other automatic promotion spot. The real intrigue here, however will lie in the playoffs for the third promotion spot. Aston Villa are enjoying a spectacular run of form at the moment and this is reflected in the bookmakers’ odds of 5/2. Bristol City is another team that is getting into a winning habit at exactly the right moment, and the longer odds of 6/1 will be attract plenty of takers.
Who’s for the chop?
Here’s a wager that provides value and entertainment all year around – at least, for those who would have relished the spectacle of public executions on a Saturday afternoon in years gone by. The “next Premier League manager to leave his post” bet is constantly available, and simply resets when someone falls or is pushed. Maurizio Sarri is currently the favourite given the well-publicised rumours of disquiet at Stamford Bridge and a potential move to Roma. It will probably come as no surprise that Jan Sieward is also a front runner after the disastrous season that Huddersfield Town have suffered, in which they seem to have been destined for relegation for almost the entire season. Sarri is currently at 5/1 and Sieward at 6/1.