What are the odds Bellamy scores more goals at Wembley than Cardiff City do? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
By Derek McGovern in Betting Blog
Published 22:00 24/02/12
Craig Bellamy says he won’t celebrate if he scores against former club Cardiff in the Carling Cup Final. Not even if it’s an own goal.
Bellamy has never won silverware in England, a staggering fact when you consider he’s played for practically every team in England.
The nutter with the putter hasn’t even a Ryder Cup to his credit.
The Welshman is 7-2 with bet365 to score more goals on Sunday afternoon than his boyhood club.
To clear up any misunderstanding, his boyhood club is Cardiff, not a sand iron.
A much sounder investment is the 6-4 offered by Hills that he doesn’t start.
Rather like Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, the Carling Cup isn’t taken as seriously as it once was.
It’s often harder to call a cup final than it is to get a ticket for one, but the 5-6 offered by BetVictor for Liverpool to have more than 56 per cent of the possession is not to be missed.
Meanwhile, Wolves have appointed Terry Connor as manager, with owner Steve Morgan claiming the move creates certainty – presumably the certainty that they’re going down.
They’re 4-7 with Hills to be relegated and rookie boss Connor is 8-11 not to be in charge come the first day of next season.
It’s hard to decide which bet is better – I’d say the one you can get most money on.
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BET OF THE DAY
He who lends a book is an idiot.
He who returns a loaned book is an even bigger idiot.
Get on Liverpool at 5-6 with BetVictor to have more than 56 per cent possession in the Carling Cup Final.
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MACCA'S ACCA
Rome wasn't built in a day, but it might have been if Italians did more with their arms than speak.
Get on Blackpool (7-5), Preston (13-10), MK Dons (7-4) and Tottenham (19-10).
The four-timer with BetVictor pays more than 40-1.
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The one good thing about a silent film being favourite for the Best Picture Oscar is that the victory speech won’t be as toe-curling as usual.
The Artist is 1-12 to triumph on Academy Awards night, but surely if God had wanted us to enjoy movies in silence he wouldn’t have invented women.
It has picked up all the other gongs which, this column apart, are usually the most reliable pointer to Oscar glory.
But if a silent movie wins THE top award it will demote Hollywood screenwriters from their current exalted position in movie-making – from just above to just below key grip.
I’ve a feeling there could be a big surprise in this category – the winner could be a film we’ve actually seen.
War Horse, a 40-1 outsider with Hills, surely has a better chance than those odds imply, but I’ve said the same about a million horses I’ve lost money on.
The problem is that War Horse has picked up no other pre-Oscar prizes, not even Best Turned Out award, so will turn up tomorrow night merely with cautious optimism and a Timeform squiggle.
It was reported this week that the typical Academy voter is in his mid-60s so don’t rule out 100-1 outsider Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close – that’s the only movie they can see.
In America alone, the TV audience for Sunday night's ceremony is expected to be 40 million but half of them are Brad Pitt’s children cheering him on.
The other half will be glad to see Billy Crystal back as host for the ninth time following last year’s disastrous James Franco-Anne Hathaway double act.
Biggest surprise in the betting has been the steady drift in the odds for Meryl Streep to win best Actress for her portrayal of Maggie Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
As short as 1-3 a few weeks ago, Streep is now 6-5 and I can only assume she has advocated a Hollywood poll tax.
Viola Davis is now the 8-13 favourite for The Help, but my money’s on Michelle Williams at 16-1 for My Week With Marilyn.
Hills offer 1-3 for the Best Actress to cry during her acceptance speech – I’d rather back the losers to cry during her acceptance speech.
When I say losers, I naturally include me.
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