Betting Bad Part 11: Carlisle cock-up and a Derby derby
After a couple of weeks absence due to a vacation, I can confirm that Betting Bad is back, and hopefully better than before! Before my little mid season jaunt to America, I had written ten instalments of this soon-to-be world famous series. Of these ten instalments, only one provided a winner, way back on episode five! The overall purpose of this series, to those who aren’t regular readers, is to highlight who I think will win a basic Saturday 3pm accumulator. I virtually never win, therefore the point is for you to see my tips and then actively avoid these teams. I can only hope that you regular readers haven’t been too unsuccessful over the past couple of weeks.
I left the series a couple of weeks ago with a relatively safe fourfold. Wigan away to Bury, Carlisle away to Cambridge, Morton hosting Brechin and Ayr at home to Queens Park. On my summary last time out, I said “I feel Carlisle will do the dirty on me” and my god they did just that. Despite dominating for large swathes of the game, they conceded just after the half time interval. They equalised a matter of minutes later, but the final 40 minutes so them unable to take the lead. Wigan, Morton and Ayr all won with ease, making Carlisle’s slip up hurt me even more.
So my last weekend was a bust, but I have faith that things are going to go well this weekend. I won £55 on a small stakes sixfold last week (I had no way of writing a Betting Bad series, sorry to not share my insightfulness with you all!), and on a personal level I am on form. So I hope to continue this form on the Betting Bad series.
Burton v DERBY – 3/4
These two teams enter this fixture on very different veins of form. After a few disappointing games on the bounce, Derby have won their last two games as they keep battling away for a trip to the playoffs, locked in a tight battle with Millwall, Middlesborough, Bristol City and Sheffield United. Burton Albion are in a very different place. They are 24th, seven points off 21st placed Bolton. This is a relatively short away trip for Derby, who make the thirteen mile journey south looking to put their rivals down a division. Derby have been hit and miss since the turn of the year, they are certainly missing the cutting edge of former forward Johnny Russell, but I have every faith that the rams can get the three points this weekend.
Bristol Rovers v BLACKBURN – 10/11
This is not a straightforward game at all. Bristol Rovers are a good side and this is a long away day for the Blackburn squad. I can only make these predictions based off form, however, and on that basis Blackburn are the team to pick. They are second in the league, having dropped points midweek to give the title advantage to Wigan. Bristol Rovers form has been highly erratic, there form chart for the last five games reading DLWDL. Tony Mowbray will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways on Saturday, the title is their priority but they do have Shrewsbury breathing down their back. only five points separate Shrewsbury and Blackburn with the former having a game in hand. The season is reaching crunch time and Blackburn have to start winning when the going gets tough.
Hamilton v KILMARNOCK – 19/20
The Kilmarnock bubble has to burst soon, they have been on stunning form this year under Steve Clarke, with the former West Brom boss having been awarded manager of the month accolade for March, having won four out of four last month. One of the best things about Scottish football is the unpredictability of it, anybody can beat anybody of their day. Kilmarnock are on form and Hamilton, in 9th place, have lost their last four. This should all point to an easy Killie win, but if my years of watching Scottish football have taught me anything, it is that this “easy win” will be remarkably hard earned. Such is the way this season, I wouldn’t even be shocked if Hamilton are three up by the break! At close to evens it is hard to not pick Kilmarnock.
MONTROSE v Berwick – 1/3
Scottish League 2 may not be as glitzy and glamorous as the English Premier League, but it’s certainly a little easier to predict! Separating Huddersfield from Watford or Burnley from Leicester is just too unstable to call. Montrose are top of their division, while Berwick are 9th, in a ten team league. The odds of 1/3 are not brilliant, but in this fixture Montrose will win. They’re on terrific form, sit top of the league and have home field advantage with a fan base cheering them on in a title battle. Berwick however, are not in the best of form. Over the past five weeks they have three draws sandwiched between a set of losses. They look to be clear of relegation, but are hoping to rise above Edinburgh City to earn a fraction more prize money for finishing higher up the table. I can foresee Montrose winning by four or five this weekend.
Bet slip
Burton v DERBY – 3/4
Bristol Rovers v BLACKBURN – 10/11
Hamilton v KILMARNOCK – 19/20
MONTROSE v Berwick – 1/3
£5 bet placed at 7.69 returns £43.43
So after a two week absence, Betting Bad is back with a bang! I honestly think that I have picked a winning selection. Kilmarnock could be a slip up, because Scottish football… Blackburn have a tricky trip south, but the banana skin element is there. Derby and Montrose should be relatively safe picks, I hope! As previous stated, I have a betting curse, so be sure to use these picks as a means of not losing your own money. Following my selection will only see you lose your cash.
Money spent so far: £50
Winnings: £53.08
Profit – loss: £3.08
Be sure to gamble responsibly.