Monte's Multiple: When you find yourself in times of trouble...... stick to the plan.

Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 28 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

Malik and Yousuf can fire Pakistan to victory once again against the Australians.

Back O’Sullivan to beat Robertson @ 1.7
Back Pakistan to beat Australia @ 2.1
Back Porto to beat Atl Madrid @ 2.0
Treble pays @ 7.1

Jaymes Monte takes you from Colchester to Centurion and back to Porto in search of this week's cross-sport treble...

Bet 1: Snooker - Premier League

Early indications in this year's Premier League suggest that, Ronnie O'Sullivan aside, this could very much be a free for all. As a medium term strategy I'll be looking at laying the short priced players and backing those that are bigger than [3.0].

Unfortunately for Neil Robertson that rule doesn't extend to matches involving O'Sullivan, and certainly not when the travelling green baize arrives in Ronnie's home town of Colchester as it does this week. The Rocket has a passionate following amongst snooker fans wherever he goes in the world, but in his home town that support is amplified tenfold.

Robertson struggled to muster up any sort of fluency last week against Stephen Hendry and was duly dispatched with the minimum of fuss by the Scotsman. And the only time these two have met under the Premier League, shot clock format O'Sullivan was comfortably on top throughout and emerged as a 5-1 victor.

Selection: Back O'Sullivan to beat Robertson @ [1.7]

Bet 2: Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy

So England have learned how to play one day cricket seemingly overnight and have taken this ICC Champions trophy by storm. That in itself has sent punters reeling in a similar way to seeing a 33-1 shot romp home at Ascot; how are we to make this game work when all logic is defied and reversed in a matter of days?

The best way is to keep plugging away and stick to the logic which shapes your betting. In cricketing terms that means following the form teams, as we all know that continuity breeds success.

Pakistan's Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf were superb against India on Saturday firing their side to 302 from their 50 overs. Then their bowling attack followed up with a thoroughly professional display, never panicking as the Indian attack gathered pace and eventually knocking them over with more than 50 runs to spare.

Although Pakistan are already through they will be fully focused on winning this game against an Australian side who are too heavily reliant on Ricky Ponting, maintaining their winning streak and going into the semi-finals at full speed.

Selection: Back Pakistan to beat Australia @ [2.1]

Bet 3: Football - Champions League

Atletico Madrid have had a horror start to their 2009/10 La Liga campaign picking up just three points from five games and currently reside in the relegation zone. Manager Abel Resino is under severe pressure and perhaps only remains in a job due to a last minute equaliser from Maxi Rodriguez against Valencia on Saturday.

And unfortunately for Madrid's poorer sibling things won't get much easier for them in the Champions League this week. They face a trip to Portugal to take on a Porto side that have a 100% home record in their respective league campaign to date, and can also name Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side as one of their prized scalps in last year's Champions League competition.

The two sides met at the first knock out stage of last year's tournament where Porto progressed on the away goals rule and as a result will hold the psychological advantage here. Add this to their contrasting league campaigns and the extreme pressure that the Atl Madrid players will be feeling and Porto are a value back at around even money.

Selection: Back Porto to beat Atl Madrid @ [2.0]