oddsOn by Alan Barbour
Due to the adverse weather conditions, most of this weekend’s sporting fixtures have been cancelled, so I have decided to take a look at a couple of novelty markets. Betting on this type of market is strictly for fun as they are often manipulated due to the voting system used.
First up is the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010.
The unpredictability of this kind of event is witnesssed by last year’s winner Ryan Giggs and if any further proof is required just look at Ann Widdecombe in Strictly Come Dancing!
The red-hot favourite this year is Tony McCoy. McCoy is out on his own in the National Hunt sphere and he has the vociferous backing of everyone in the horse racing industry.
His emotional victory in this year’s Grand National on the J P McManus-owned Dont Push It adds weight to his claims to the prize but at odds of even money, I just don’t think he represents value to be first past the post.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has strong claims after his rousing success in the U.S. Open, along with his Ryder Cup-winning putt and his runner-up spot in the Race to Dubai (pushing Martin Kaymer all the way to the finish).
Another golfer, Lee Westwood is also in with a shout after toppling Tiger Woods off his perch as the World Number One but I suspect neither McDowell nor Westwood will top the leaderboard on this occasion.
For my selection I’m looking to Darts King, Phil (‘The Power’) Taylor. Taylor has achieved everything the sport has on offer and has dominated the darts world for two decades, winning the World Darts Championship on 15 occasions.
Superlatives to describe his performances on the oche have long since been exhausted and in this year’s Sports Personality,which is on the ‘light’ side, I feel it could well be Taylor’s opportunity to hit the bullseye.
Awards / BBC Sports Personality
A P McCoy evens
Phil Taylor 4/1
Graeme McDowell 5/1
Lee Westwood 10/1
Jessica Ennis 14/1
Amy Williams 16/1
Tom Daley 20/1
Graeme Swann 25/1
David Haye 50/1
Mark Cavendish 50/1
Each-way bets 1/5 odds first 3
White Christmas
We have all been struggling to get ourselves to work this week due to the snow but is it worth a wager for some more of the white stuff to fall on Christmas Day itself? Many punters collected on this market last year and will be eager play up their winnings.
I am going to have a small bet for fun on Cardiff.
Odds
Lerwick 13/8
Aviemore 2/1
Aberdeen 11/4
Edinburgh Castle 4/1
Glasgow 4/1
Cardiff Millenium Stadium 4/1
Belfast 4/1
Blackpool Tower 5/1
Dublin Castle 5/1
Cork 6/1
All odds supplied by Ladbrokes.
Hopefully a full sporting fixture will return for next weekend, weather permitting.
Find out what Gerry Hassan thinks about the recent furore over referees in Scottish football:
http://newsnetscotland.com/other/1125-the-beautiful-game-no-more