X-Factor Betting: Don't get burnt backing hot Alexandra to disrupt "best friends'" final

X-Factor / Jack Houghton / 15 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

A slue of public figures have had their pound of X-Factor flesh this week after Laura's elimination. Hands off a great insitution, says Jack Houghton as he predicts a cutsie affair for this year's final.

Miss White. On the stage. With the microphone. Laura murdered both her songs last week and, whilst I was as shocked as everyone else to see her in the bottom two, she probably deserved to go. So, to all those two-bit losers who have signed internet petitions demanding Laura's reinstatement; to Lily Allen; to Alesha Dixon; to Andy Burnham MP; to anyone else who dare question the sanctity of the omniscient X-Factor telephone poll... be quiet now. You've grabbed your few seconds of cheap publicity - leaching off a great institution - and it's time you returned to your nobody lives. Leave the X-Factor well alone in future. You're no better than hype-hunting tabloid kiss-and-tell whores and you should be ashamed of yourselves.

More positive news. There's a rumour going round that Eoghan is dating Diana. Eoghan has denied it - they're "best friends" - but I hope he's just being coy. Imagine it. The last two in the competition (which, in a few weeks, they will be) dating! How wonderful. It'll be like the 1974 Wimbledon Championships when engaged couple, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert, picked up the singles' titles. That wasn't the only talking point of that Championship year of course. As the official Wimbledon website puts it: "in playing terms they attracted particular attention because both were double-fisted on the backhand side." Now Eoghan and Diana are a bit young for any of that nonsense, but can nonetheless bring a bit of romance to the final show.

In other news, show creative director Brian Friedman (the one responsible for all those greased-up, half-naked male dancers we see prancing about - often on roller-skates - every week) has said he'd like a bigger role in the show. Your role's big enough Brian, thank you very much: get back to your baby oil. Leona Lewis has said she'd love to be a judge one day. Simon has been made an honorary member of the Little Chef team. And - presumably while Simon is kitchen-bound mastering jubilee pancake preparation - Eoghan has been nicking his private-jet to shuttle back and fourth to Ireland to see his new little sister Chrissie-Mia. Oh, and it's been confirmed that last year's winner, Leon Jackson, is dating someone from Hope - one of the unsuccessful groups from last year. No, I can't remember them either.

Punting-wise, the last two evictions have been costly in the Houghton household. Failure to latch on to Daniel-mania a couple of weeks back - and the El Niño-esque voting oddities last time - have turned a very positive position into a neutral one. But we're on Diana and Eoghan at big prices and it's looking increasingly certain that they will be the last acts in the competition. At current prices, I recommend going in again on Eoghan, with a 2pts back at [6.0] in the Winner market.

I know Mike Norman is sweet on Alexandra's chances and, whilst conceding she is smoking-hot - especially wearing sailor's outfits - I just can't see her toppling the cutsie Romeo and Juliet. But with JLS, Rachel, Daniel and Ruth still standing (could anyone have predicted the 25 and Overs category would still have its full complement at this stage?) Alexandra should be safe for a while yet.

Last week I got burnt opposing JLS, but am happy to wade in again. I like them, and they deserve to get to the final. But they won't. And although Dannii's geriatric collective should dominate sing-off proceedings in the next few shows, strange things are afoot in Voterville, and nothing can be taken for granted. So I'd recommend a 2pts back of JLS at [5.8] in the Bottom Two Acts market. I hope Rachel joins them, but her price of [1.78] represents no value.

Recommended:

2pts back of Eoghan at [6.0] in Winner market.
2pts back of JLS at [5.8] in Bottom Two Acts market, week six.

Already Recommended:

1pt back of Diana at [9.4] in Winner market.
1pt back of Eoghan at [14.5] in Winner market.
1pt back of Simon at [3.7] in Winning Manager market.
1pt back of Ruth at [2.7] in 25 and Overs market.

Already Settled:

2pts back of Girlband at [1.65] in Bottom Two Acts market, week two. (WON)
1pt back of Rachel at [2.9] in Bottom Two Acts market, week three. (LOST)
1pt back of Rachel at [3.7] in Bottom Two Acts market, week four. (WON)
4pts back of Daniel at [1.44] in Bottom Two Acts market, week four. (LOST)
1pt back of Austin at [9.2] in Winner market. (LOST)
2pts back of Rachel at [1.97] in Bottom Two Acts market, week five. (LOST)
1pt back of JLS at [5.7] in Bottom Two Acts market, week five. (LOST)