Season 2009/10 Betting Preview
We’re looking at some of the teams we think could be worth a bet in the SPL and League One and Two and might be available at decent prices.
SPL
It always boils down to either Celtic or Rangers winning the title but neither are tremendous value with Celtic at 5/6 (Coral) and Rangers Evens (Ladbrokes). As usual either team could win and it may pay to wait until during the season ad see how it’s panning out to get better value on one of the Old Firm.
Betting without the Old Firm offers a bit more value and we think this will a battle between the two Edinburgh clubs. Aberdeen 4/1 (Paddypower) don’t look great value as they are strapped for cash and look unlikely to improve their squad much. Dundee United will be in with a chance of finishing third, but aren’t a great price at 5/2. Hearts are 6/4 (Bet365) and Hibs are 9/2 (Paddypower and both look likely to give the Old Firm a run for their money this season. Hearts finished well last season and look a pretty decent price to finish third.
Top goalscorer betting should be between Kris Boyd 15/8 (Bet365) and Scott McDonald 9/2 (Bet365). Boyd has already attracted interest from clubs in England and if he can hit the goalscoring trail early in the season could move on in January and because of that McDonald could prove a better bet. The other bet in the SPL that could be value is Falkirk to finish bottom at 13/2 (Paddypower).
League Two
The arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson and new owners means there has been a lot of money for Notts County and they are favourites to go up at 4/1 (Skybet). We’re not too sure that represents decent value and although we believe they could get promotion, it could be worth taking a chance on a team at a bigger price.
Shrewsbury and Bradford were among the pre season favourites last season and they are once again among the top quoted teams. Shrewsbury are 12/1 (Coral) but poor away form cost them dearly last season and the bet to win promotion 11/4 (Skybet) could be more sensible approach.
Bradford fell away toward the end of last season and this time round don’t seem to have strengthened any. The 10/1 on offer (Coral) looks really short and doesn’t interest us and we think they could struggle to even make the play offs this season.
The bet we think is value is Rochdale at 20/1 (Skybet). They made the play offs last season and look to have a solid chance once gain this season. They could be a little overpriced and have every chance.
Barnet were in real trouble for a big part of last season, but they had a string of decent results towards the end of the season and they could improve dramatically from lest season. At 40/1 (Skybet) a small each/way bet at 1/4 odds for a top 3 finish could be worth chancing.
Notts County look the obvious choice, but don’t look great value and so we’re going for Rochdale and Barnet both each /way as our picks.
League One
Leeds United are odds on at 10/11 (Ladbrokes) to gain promotion and 7/2 (Coral) to win the title. Promotion does look likely but they are far too short a price to take.
Relegated Southampton have a 10 point deduction to overcome, but at 25/1 (Skybet) have to be considered and an each/way bet here looks as if it could pay off. Of the other relegated teams Norwich have fair chance of going straight back up and the 7/1 (Bet365) about them isn’t too bad a price.
They team we do think are worth a bet are Tranmere who at 33/1 (Ladbrokes) could be value. They were pretty consistent last season and finished only just outside the play offs and we see them as a decent each/way bet at the price on offer.
Dark horses could be Orient, who put dreadful early season form behind them to finish a respectable 14th. Taking them to gain promotion at 20/1 (Coral) is worth a bet.
We’re going for Norwich and Leeds to battle out the title with Southampton and Tranmere worth an each/way bet to grab third spot. Orient to gain promotion at a big price is a good outside bet.
Our best bet here is Tranmere each/way.