As 2010 comes to an end the predictions this year have been more successful than last as I end the year on an accumulated profit of £26.50 having started it £11 in deficit!
Last week definitely helped with eight out of nine correct predictions, the tenth having been beaten by the weather when Newcastle Falcons rugby match with Leeds Carnegie was postponed. The only incorrect prediction was Newcastle's football team losing to Manchester City who start 2011 in joint first place in the Barclays Premier League with their local rivals!
My final predictions for 2010 actually relate to fixtures that will take place on the first weekend of 2011 and follow the same sports as last week - premier league football and rugby, ashes cricket and NFL.
The first half of the football season has been intriguing with potentially five teams still in with a shout at the league title, led by the two from Manchester with the other three challengers coming from London. What is probably no surprise is that it is the same five teams challenging this time round that finished at the top of the league in the 2009/10 season. The battle to avoid relegation is more intriguing as potentially any of the bottom 13 teams could be involved.
This week my predictions involve 2 of the top 5 clubs, a relegation six pointer and the challenge for Europa league spots. Manchester United who top the table going into the new year travel to West Bromwich Albion and I'm predicting an away win, Sunderland host Blackburn with both teams currently in the top half of table and I'm forecasting a home win in this fixture, there is a relegation battle at West Ham who host Wolves and I'm going for a home win here and finally Arsenal who currently sit third in the league travel to Birmingham where I'm predicting a draw.
In Rugby Union's Aviva Premiership there should be a full schedule of matches for the first time in a few weeks. At the top Northampton have been the form team but any of the top half dozen teams could win the league. The relegation issue seems more cut and dried with Leeds having lost all their games so far this season but they are not yet adrift and a couple of wins could change their season. This week I have chosen three fixtures to make predictions for. At the Madjewski stadium London Irish host Bath, both teams well short of form and wins recently and therefore I'm going for a home win, Saracens travel to Sale who have made some significant changes this week with Anglesea taking over coaching responsibility and Cueto as captain, but I don't think it will affect the result as I'm expecting an away win by Saracens featuring Gavin Henson's first start since 2009. Finally, Leicester travel to Exeter who have not lost at home and have been a revelation this season but even with that record I'm predicting a win for the East Midlanders.
The regular season of the NFL reaches it's conclusion this weekend with play-off places still up for grabs. I am predicting wins for the New England Patriots hosting the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles who host the Dallas Cowboys.
Finally, having retained the Ashes the final test of the current series starts in Sydney on Monday with England looking to ensure at least a draw so that they win the series. With the turmoil that the Australia cricket team have been suffering I'm confident that England can do the business and win again thereby securing the series 3 - 1.
In summary the predictions are as follows:
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United to win at West Brom at 4/7
Sunderland to beat Blackburn at 10/11
West Ham to beat Wolves at 13/12
Birmingham to draw with Arsenal at 29/10
Aviva Premiership Rugby
London Irish to defeat Bath at 8/11
Saracens to win at Sale at 4/7
Leicester to triumph at Exeter at 2/5
NFL
Patriots to beat the Dolphins at 8/15
Eagles to beat the Cowboys at 9/11
Ashes Cricket
England to win fifth test at 6/4
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