Premier League Betting: Saturday's 3pm Kick-offs

Premier League / Mike Norman / 19 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Roman Pavlyuchenko has scored five league goals in his last three games, and the onus will be on him to score more now that Jermaine Defoe is out injured

Best Bet: Back Tottenham @ [2.32] to beat Stoke

Also: Back Over 3.5 Goals @ [3.4] in Everton v Bolton; Back 0-0 @ [12.0] and 1-0 @ [8.8] Correct Scores in Portsmouth v Hull; Back The Draw @ [3.3] in Sunderland v Birmingham; Back Wigan HT/Wigan FT @ [3.1] in Wigan v Burnley

After some great selections last week, "Mystical" Mike Norman returns to preview this weekend's non-televised Premier League games. Best Bet: Back Tottenham @ [2.32] to beat Stoke.

Everton [1.56] v Bolton [7.4]; The Draw [4.2]

You can't knock Everton's home form of late - wins over Chelsea and Man Utd plus a 5-1 thrashing of Hull - but Bolton themselves have hit a bit of form recently so this game has the makings of an exciting encounter. Three wins out of four have seen Owen Coyle's men banish any relegation fears, and with that renewed confident I can see the Trotters getting at least a point today.

The reverse of this fixture ended 3-2 to Bolton in October and I envisage a similar amount of goals being scored this time. Over 2.5 Goals is available to back at [1.86] but I can easily see both sides getting on the scoresheet so Over 3.5 Goals ([3.4]) is my selection. In the Correct Score market, the 2-2 option can be backed at [22.0] and should give us a good run for our money.

Portsmouth [2.24] v Hull [3.7]; The Draw [3.5]

Very few things surprise me in football but I have to admit to being shocked when I heard Phil Brown had been relieved of his Hull City managerial duties. I know the Tigers are in a bit of a mess, but a managerial change at this stage of the season just doesn't make sense... well not to me anyway. I fancy Pompey to win this one, perhaps proving that sacking your manager with just nine games to go wasn't the smartest move the Hull chairman could have made.

The last twice these sides met ended goalless and I'm expecting very few goals to be scored again. Under 2.5 Goals ([1.93]) is an obvious starting point then, but don't rule out Under 1.5 Goals at [3.7] and the 0-0 ([12.0]) and 1-0 to Portsmouth ([8.8]) scorelines in the Correct Score market. In the Half Time/Full Time market, Draw/Portsmouth at [6.0] appeals most.

Stoke [3.6] v Tottenham [2.32]; The Draw [3.4]

I pointed out last week that Stoke's home form isn't as good as is being perceived (they've now won just two at the Britannia since November), and because of this I fancy Spurs to tighten their grip on fourth place in the Premier League. Harry Redknapp's side have hit some good form at a vital stage of the season, so at [2.32] to back, I'm making a Tottenham victory my best bet of the week.

Man Utd's Wayne Rooney may be getting all the plaudits right now, but it's Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko that is the hottest striker in the Premier League (five goals in three games compared to Rooney's four in three). The Russian has formed a lethal partnership with Jermaine Defoe, and although that partnership is set to be split because of the latter's torn hamstring, it would still be folly to look beyond Pavlyuchenko when considering a First Goalscorer and To Score bet - he can be backed at around [6.6] (First Goal) and [2.8] (To Score).

Sunderland [2.24] v Birmingham [3.8]; The Draw [3.3]

The Black Cats' 4-0 victory over Bolton, and their first half performance against Man City last Sunday was a massive improvement on what they'd achieved in the previous two or three months. A repeat performance against hard-working Birmingham might be enough to secure three points, but because Brum don't lose often I prefer to back The Draw at [3.3].

The last six clashes between these two at the Stadium of Light have resulted in two or less goals being scored so Under 2.5 Goals has to be considered today at [1.72]. Other than that I'm not overly confident about this game, though both the Sunderland/Draw and Birmingham/Draw options in the Half Time/Full Time market look too big at [18.0] and [20.0] respectively.

Wigan [1.85] v Burnley [5.1]; The Draw [3.6]

Wigan were absolutely awful at Bolton last week and if they were playing anyone but Burnley today I'd be opposing them again. But the fact is that Burnley are awful every week these days with their away form bordering on embarrassing - one draw and 14 defeats from 15 games, conceding 46 goals in the process. The Latics are not great, but I marginally fancy them to take all three points this afternoon.

Despite the poor opposition, I'd have still liked a better price than [1.85] for a home victory so I will instead put up Wigan/Wigan @ [3.1] in the Half Time/Full Time market as my selection in this match. These two sides don't have prolific goalscorers amongst their ranks so we may as well go for it when selecting a First Goalscorer. Brothers Gary (Wigan) and Steven (Burnley) Caldwell have chipped in with a few goals this season, so at around [50.0] and [60.0] to back respectively, these two should give us a chance of landing a bumper payout.