X-Factor / Jack Houghton / 12 November 2010 /

With a tentacled mollusc making predictions and rumours abounding of a double eviction this weekend, can Jack Houghton offer any likely routes to value?

For two years they've clashed over the X-Factor. In 2008, Mike Norman prevailed. In 2009, Jack Houghton made it honours even. Norman's claims of foul-play last year sparked a brawl at the betting.betfair Christmas party. To avoid a repeat performance, the editors have decided to formalise things this year. Each armed with a £1,000 and their We-Love-You-Simon badges, Mike Norman and Jack Houghton go head-to-head - tipping their way to a Christmas number one."

*

When writing, how do you represent smug silence? With a blank space? With an expectant dot-dot-dot? Or perhaps with one of those smiley-face emoticons so beloved by texting teenage girls? I did consider asking the editors at betting.betfair to post a picture of my grinning self, raising the L-sign to an imaginary Mike Norman. But they're a traditional bunch, those editors. They won't settle for blank spaces, dots, or smiley-faces; they like their bloggers to blog.

And anyway, Mike sent an email on Monday, congratulating me on a stellar run of tipping. The smugness wasn't as enjoyable after that; I started to feel like a bad sport. So there'll be no gloating, just statements of fact: the correct prediction of both elimination contenders - for the second week running - and the triumph of Paije over the now-gone Treyc; has provided a gratifying fillip to the betting bank. With some healthy looking open bets in the pipeline, things are looking good. It's too early to dance a victory jig though; Mary Byrne is yet to sing.

There's more good news. An octopus from Blackpool has predicted - by eating a piece of mackerel; the octopus equivalent of tea-leaves - that Dannii will be the winning mentor on this year's X Factor. This tentacled prognostication is welcome: it means that one of Aiden, Matt or Paije will win the show and, presuming Paije won't, that means this betting competition is all-but sewn-up. Just take a look at the recommendations below.

Ollie (the Octopus) was born at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, in the same tank as Paul - that German mollusc who out-tipped me during the World Cup, and from whom Ollie presumably learnt his soothsaying speciality. I've always been fond of Weymouth's Sea Life Centre. I've spent most of my (un)professional life leaving Post-it notes on colleagues' desks saying, "Mr C Lyon called. Please call back," before writing the number of Paul and Ollie's birthplace. Endless hours of fun. Although not for their receptionist, I imagine. Incidentally, their number is 01305 761 070.

Talking of octopi, Wagner allegedly walked in on a half-naked Mary earlier this week, who screamed. Wagner, not taking the subtle hint, sat on her bed and refused to leave the room. The poor guy probably can't work out what he did wrong. After all, he sees nothing unusual about sliding into a posing pouch poolside and staring at swimming women.

In other Wagner news, it seems he may be in a love-rectangle with Matt Cardle and Harry Styles (from One Direction): the three of them all fighting for the affections of Rebecca. This presumably explains why Wagner attempted to head-butt the floppy-haired teen during a video shoot the other day. Matt and Harry... listen... I warned John Adeleye and I'll warn you: the guy is a martial arts' expert and used to own a lion. Stay out of his way. If Wagner is after Lady Rebecca, then give him a clear run. Be his wingmen. That way, when he tires of her (and he will tire of her - you can't tie a man like Wagner down to one woman), you can make your move.

Katie is almost certain to be in the bottom two this week, but as we have no indication as to who is likely to join her, her price of [1.96] in the 8th Elimination market is unappealing. Although she is clearly unpopular with the voting public, I get the impression there are two or three other acts the judges would want out first; so I won't be risking any of the bank this time around.

What's more, rumours abound that this week might see a double-eviction (without one soon, they will be left with five for the final show). And as we don't know what format this might take, keeping our money in our pocket is the smartest thing to do.

Betting bank running total = £650.20.

This week's recommendations:
NO BET.

Previous recommendations:
£70 BACK Matt Cardle at [5.1] in Outright Market - OPEN.
£70 BACK Aiden Grimshaw at [11.0] in Outright Market - OPEN.
£30 BACK Cheryl Cole at [7.0] in First Mentor Eliminated Market - OPEN.
£50 BACK Matt Cardle at [5.4] in Outright Market - OPEN.
£50 BACK Aiden Grimshaw at [6.6] in Outright Market - OPEN.
£50 BACK Rebecca Ferguson at [2.10] in Girls' Market - OPEN.
£80 BACK Mary Byrne at [4.10] in Top 3 Market - OPEN.

£20 BACK FYD at [34.0] in Outright Market - LOST.
£10 BACK Katie Waissel at [6.6] in Third Elimination Market - LOST.
£10 BACK Cher Lloyd at [60.0] in Third Elimination Market - LOST.
£20 BACK Belle Amie at [30.0] in Outright Market - LOST.
£50 BACK Belle Amie at [2.98] in 6th Elimination Market - WON.
£20 BACK Treyc at [7.80] in 6th Elimination Market - LOST.
£20 BACK Katie at [10.0] in 6th Elimination Market - LOST.
£30 BACK Katie at [4.0] in 7th Elimination Market - LOST.
£20 BACK Treyc at [3.5] in 7th Elimination Market - WON.
£30 BACK Paije at [2.04] in Paije v Treyc Head-to-Head Market - WON.

£70 LAY Wagner at [1.70] in Bottom Three Market - Week 3 - VOID.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: