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Six Nations Betting: Chris Paterson to put the boot into Italy?

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TQ previews the match that will decide the Six Nations prize that no one wants - the wooden spoon. Here's all you need to know as regards the betting.

The Stadio Flaminio in Rome will see the first award of this year's Six Nations and it is one both sides will be keen to avoid. The dreaded Wooden Spoon is the prize for coming bottom of the Six Nations table and it is all to play for in this intriguing clash between Italy and Scotland.

Scotland will clearly be the happier of the two sides as they enter the contest on the back of recording a battling win over England at Murrayfield. However, it shouldn't be underestimated just how much heart Italy will have taken out of their improved showing in France last week. Now with home advantage, the Azzurri will fancy their chances of getting their first win of the campaign.

Both teams have key players missing from the squad and it will be the team that copes best with these changes that will come out on top. Whilst it will not be easy to replace the suspended Mauro Bergamasco I feel that the Italians have the look of a team determined not to go the tournament without a win. Backed by the passionate Italian fans I expect Italy to come out on top and highly recommend backing them in the Match Odds market at current odds of around [1.9].

The concern for all Scotland fans must be the team's inability to score tries. They have only managed one try in the four Six Nations games to date and to be frank rarely looked like scoring many more. They play a tight game and are almost entirely reliant on the fantastic goal kicking of Chris Paterson. This is not a formula for victory at International level...although some cynics would say England were not much different with Jonny Wilkinson.

Italy under Nick Mallett are heavily reliant upon their pack. They are a tough set of forwards and you can only envisage this game becoming one big arm wrestle. Do not expect open expansive rugby leading to a feast of tries. Only one of the last five meetings between these two sides has resulted in more than 34pts being scored and it is hard to see this game bucking the trend. The Total Match Points market has the line at 37.5pts and you cannot get away from backing Under 37.5pts

Since 2004 only once has a game between Italy and Scotland been won by more than eight points and you can expect a similar kind of result this weekend too. The Winning Margin market is very popular and offers the punter a variation on the Match Odds market. If you are looking for a slightly bigger price than the [1.9] about Italy in the Match Odds market then you may be tempted to support them in the Winning Margin market. It is hard to see Italy really running away with it and as such the Italy under 12.5pts runner is a must bet at current available odds of [2.82].

Italy need to win the game by five points or more to condemn Scotland to the Wooden Spoon and you can be sure that will be their aim. Scotland will attempt to drive upfield through their impressive forwards but of all the packs in the Six Nations the Italians really are the most fearsome. In Sergio Parisse Italy have probably the best player on show and if anybody deserves to be on a winning side it is the talented number eight. Parisse is currently dating Miss Europe and although I am predicting a win for the Azzurri on Saturday I feel it will be a long time before Italy will be crowned Kings of Europe.