Betting Bad Part 10: Infuriating Internationals

I love international football. The World Cup is my one true love in life, and when the football calendar is broken up due to qualification processes, I have no issue at all. What really grinds my gears is this international break. Friendlies are a waste of time. They are full of top players conveniently picking up knocks and being excused from playing action. Anyway, the point of this mini rant is to highlight that there is no top flight games in England and Scotland, nor is there any Championship action in England. While this does decimate the fixture list, worry not, Betting Bad is here to walk you through the remaining fixtures in a bid to boost your wallet!

Last week stung me. It really, really stung. I had four teams on my selection. Three won with ease. Thank you Wolves, Hearts and St Mirren, for duly delivering against Burton, Partick and Queen of the South. You were all predicted to win with ease and you did. Cheltenham didn’t though. Cheltenham went and lost. To Chesterfield. To fucking Chesterfield. They battered them for the bulk of the match, but conceded a 74th minute goal to Kristian Dennis. Former Dundee United forward Brian Graham pulled a goal back for Cheltenham just five minutes later, but failed to take advantage of the comeback. This should have been a winning coupon. I am quite frankly furious that it didn’t work out.

So the Premier League is out of action, as is the Scottish Premiership and the English Championship, but we will persevere. We have a pick from England’s League One and Two, as well as the Scottish Championship and League One. The Scottish Premier League and English Championship are often a hotbed of picks from myself, but the English Premier League is no big loss. It is largely unpredictable therefore I tend to avoid.

Bury v WIGAN – 4/6

I do dislike betting on away teams, and I also get edgy betting against relegation bound sides at this time of the year, they simply have a lot more to play for at this time of the year. I have my reservations about this bet, but Wigan at 4/6 is simply too good to turn down. Wigan are 3rd and are on good form under Paul Cook. They are a few games behind Shrewsbury and Blackburn, and know that if they win their games in hand that they’ll be top. This is a must win game for them, against the bottom of the league side, and they will be desperate to keep those good results coming. Wigan have the best goal difference in the league, with a +43 difference, and if they play their game right then they should breeze past Bury. For an away game they also have less than an hour to travel. At nearly evens, the value is good!

CARLISLE v Cambridge – 6/5

This game could go badly wrong, and quite frankly at 6/5 the odds are not really good enough to justify this pick. Carlisle are 10th in the league, though are on fine form of late, undefeated in their last five games. Cambridge are 14th, six points behind the Cumbrians. Carlisle will be wanting to finish the season strongly to push for a playoff spot. Last season Keith Curle saw his side storm the first half of the season before watching his side implode towards the end. Despite there being only six points between the side, Carlisle are on much better form, have a better goal difference and are at home. This is the game that will no doubt bust me, but at overs and with a reduced fixture list I am taking the leap on this one.

MORTON v Brechin 1/3

There is not a lot to say about this that I haven’t said in recent weeks. Admittedly, Morton are making their debut on Betting Bad, but Brechin are regulars, never for good reason. Brechin are trash this year. They did spectacularly well to gain promotion last season and have an astute manager in Darren Dods, but they simply can’t compete with the rest of the league on their budget. Morton are fighting for a spot in the playoffs and will be keen to dispose of Brechin by half time. 1/3 is usually odds that I avoid as it is rarely worth the sweat, but this is as close to a guaranteed win as you can get in sport, with Brechin yet to win this season in the league. The Scottish Championship is unpredictable, which is why it is 1/3 and not about 1/8, but as unpredictable as it is, this fixture will not let you down.

AYR v Queens Park – 4/11

I am hesitant to pick this game, as Ayr and Raith have been locked in a title race all year, though neither side seems to want to stay top. Every time a team gets to first place, they end up blowing it. Ayr have been top for a few weeks now and host bottom of the league Queens Park. This should spell an easy three points and a lovely green tick for you betters out there, but I am not convinced. I have to bet logically though, and this should be a win, on paper. Ayr have a +44 goal difference and have won four of their last five, whereas Queens Park are on -26 and have only won once in their last five. Top of the league against bottom at home should spell easy win. I hope…

Bet slip

Bury v WIGAN – 4/6

CARLISLE v Cambridge – 6/5

MORTON v Brechin 1/3

AYR v Queens Park – 4/11

£5 bet placed at 5.67/1 returns £33.33

I won’t lie, this isn’t the most confident I have ever been over a bet. I feel Carlisle will do the dirty on me, and Ayr have a habit of throwing away stupid points despite sitting atop the league. But then again, I have felt supremely confident in previous weeks and got nothing for it, so maybe my apprehensiveness is a good thing. Also remember, in case you are not too familiar with this series, that the purpose here isn’t to blindly follow my tips, as I so rarely win. Instead, use this as a guide of who to avoid. You’ll be in much better stead that way!

Money spent so far: £45

Winnings: £53.08

Profit – Loss: £13.08

Gamble responsibly!