The World Cup in South Africa has reached the half-way stage which means we are into the knockout phase from today, though for many teams this will not be unusual as they needed results from their last group games to make it into the last 16. We've already seen both of the 2006 finalists humbled and the players off on their summer holidays and eight more teams will be joining them in the next four days.
Today's games see Uruguay take on South Korea and the USA play Ghana and in these games I am going for the teams from the American continent to prevail. Tomorrow sees the first really big game of the tournament as previous winners England and Germany face each other and being a patriot my prediction is for an England win. In the evening game the most impressive team so far Argentina face Mexico and for me there is only one result - a triumph for Maradonna's men.
Football may be the main highlight of the sporting weekend but there is plenty of other top level sport going on as Wimbledon continues (no predictions this weekend as no worthwhile odds), the Dutch TT Moto GP, European Grand Prix, International rugby union whilst back in England there is Superleague rugby and another ODI cricket game as England look to seal the series against Australia in Manchester.
In the Superleague I am predicting a win for Wigan at Harlequins and for Castleford who host Bradford. In the cricket I am staying patriotic and going for an England win at Old Trafford and in rugby union for France to triumph against Argentina in what should be an intriguing game!
On to the motorsport and my prediction is for Lorenzo to win in Assen with Casey Stoner gaining his first podium of the season. Finally, as I write this qualifying is just beginning for the European GP in Valencia and it is looking tough to call but I'm going for an Alonso win at his second "home" Grand Prix and Webber and his Red Bull to make the podium.
In summary the predictions are as follows:
World Cup Football
Uruguay to beat South Korea at Evens
USA to beat Ghana at 7/4
England to beat Germany at 17/10
Argentina to beat Mexico at 8/15
Superleague Rugby League
Wigan to win at Harlequins at 1/4
Castleford to beat Bradford at 4/6
International Rugby Union
France to beat Argentina at 4/9
ODI Cricket
England to beat Australia at Old Trafford at 10/11
Dutch TT Moto GP
Lorenzo to win at 3/10
Stoner to podium at 8/15
European Grand Prix
Alonso to win at 11/4
Webber to podium at 5/4
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Close but no cigar...
Not a great week on the prediction front last week with only four correct predictions even though many of the other predictions went to the wire.
All of the football World Cup predictions were correct as Denmark beat Cameroon, Brazil defeated the Ivory Coast and Paraguay triumphed against Slovakia. The only other correct prediction was Hull KR's win in the Superleague over Harlequins.
In most of my other predictions it was teams or individuals coming from behind and none quite achieved it with Armstrong coming second in the Tour of Switzerland by 12 seconds, Stoner charging from the back of the field at the beginning of the Moto GP and not quite making the podium, Wigan fighting back against St Helens only to lose by 2 points, Argentina failing by four points to overcome Scotland in the rugby and Els who had got himself into the joint lead of the US Open after the first few holes of the final round to fall away on the run-in and finish third.
Overall the week resulted in a loss of £3 taking overall profits down to £35 since the blog started.
All of the football World Cup predictions were correct as Denmark beat Cameroon, Brazil defeated the Ivory Coast and Paraguay triumphed against Slovakia. The only other correct prediction was Hull KR's win in the Superleague over Harlequins.
In most of my other predictions it was teams or individuals coming from behind and none quite achieved it with Armstrong coming second in the Tour of Switzerland by 12 seconds, Stoner charging from the back of the field at the beginning of the Moto GP and not quite making the podium, Wigan fighting back against St Helens only to lose by 2 points, Argentina failing by four points to overcome Scotland in the rugby and Els who had got himself into the joint lead of the US Open after the first few holes of the final round to fall away on the run-in and finish third.
Overall the week resulted in a loss of £3 taking overall profits down to £35 since the blog started.
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Below Par World Cup Performances
Many of the big European teams have put in poor performances in the World Cup so far and it also looks like the hosts will also not proceed beyond the group stages, all of which has made predicting results for the Cup very difficult. Having said that I will have a go with three of the games coming up in the next couple of days starting with a win for Denmark over Cameroon and followed by triumphs for Paraguay against Slovakia and Brazil who take on the Ivory Coast.
This weekend also sees the British round of the Moto GP and the redesigned Silverstone and here I am going for a Pedrosa win and Stoner podium. Rugby League's Superleague continues and my predictions are for Wigan to defeat St. Helens and Hull KR to beat Harlequins. In Rugby Union there was a great win for England in Australia this morning but in the second test between Argentina and Scotland I am going for the hosts to avenge last weekend's loss.
Final predictions are for Lance Armstrong to win the Tour of Switzerland cycling, Ernie Els to win the US Open Golf with Ian Poulter finishing in the Top 10.
In summary my sporting predictions for the weekend are:
World Cup Football
Denmark to beat Cameroon at 13/8
Paraguay to beat Slovakia at 10/9
Brazil to defeat the Ivory Coast at 4/6
British Moto GP
Pedrosa to win at 13/8
Stoner to podium at 8/11
Super League
Wigan to beat St. Helens at 8/13
Hull KR to beat Harlequins at 1/3
Tour of Switzerland Cycling
Armstrong to win at 24/5
Rugby Union
Argentina to beat Scotland at 4/7
US Open Golf
Els to win at 7/1
Poulter to finish in top 10 at 6/5
This weekend also sees the British round of the Moto GP and the redesigned Silverstone and here I am going for a Pedrosa win and Stoner podium. Rugby League's Superleague continues and my predictions are for Wigan to defeat St. Helens and Hull KR to beat Harlequins. In Rugby Union there was a great win for England in Australia this morning but in the second test between Argentina and Scotland I am going for the hosts to avenge last weekend's loss.
Final predictions are for Lance Armstrong to win the Tour of Switzerland cycling, Ernie Els to win the US Open Golf with Ian Poulter finishing in the Top 10.
In summary my sporting predictions for the weekend are:
World Cup Football
Denmark to beat Cameroon at 13/8
Paraguay to beat Slovakia at 10/9
Brazil to defeat the Ivory Coast at 4/6
British Moto GP
Pedrosa to win at 13/8
Stoner to podium at 8/11
Super League
Wigan to beat St. Helens at 8/13
Hull KR to beat Harlequins at 1/3
Tour of Switzerland Cycling
Armstrong to win at 24/5
Rugby Union
Argentina to beat Scotland at 4/7
US Open Golf
Els to win at 7/1
Poulter to finish in top 10 at 6/5
To Finish First, First You Have to Finish
It may seem obvious but at Le Mans last week whilst the Peugeot cars were undoubtedly the fastest the Audis triumphed, taking all three podium positions because of the unreliability of the Peugeot cars. A similar scenario has been seen in F1 this season with Red Bull's fragility allowing McLaren to have established the lead in both the drivers and constructors championships.
Last week I was helped by these frailties for my predictions as Hamilton triumphed in a superb Canadian Grand Prix and the Kristiansen Audi made the podium at Le Mans. Other successes were Scotland's rugby victory in Argentina, their footballer's win over Nigeria and the Super League victories for Wigan and the Leeds Rhinos.
These six successes provided me with a £4.50 profit for the week taking overall profits for the blog to £38. This weeks predictions will follow shortly.
Last week I was helped by these frailties for my predictions as Hamilton triumphed in a superb Canadian Grand Prix and the Kristiansen Audi made the podium at Le Mans. Other successes were Scotland's rugby victory in Argentina, their footballer's win over Nigeria and the Super League victories for Wigan and the Leeds Rhinos.
These six successes provided me with a £4.50 profit for the week taking overall profits for the blog to £38. This weeks predictions will follow shortly.
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Le Mans, Grand Prix; Oh and Some Football!
The Grand Prix circus returns to Canada, perhaps the greatest motorsport event of the year at Le Mans and some football happening in South Africa - not a bad weekend. In addition there is international rugby union in the Southern hemisphere and the Super League continues.
In the football world cup my two predictions are for Argentina to beat Nigeria and England to defeat the USA. In the rugby I am being brave and going for a France win in South Africa and Scotland in Argentina.
The Super League continues and again I am going for away wins by Wigan at Wakefield and Leeds at Harlequins.
In France the Le Mans 24 hour race gets underway this afternoon and it looks like it will be a home win with one of the Peugeots triumphing and I'm going for the Bourdais/Lamy/Pagenaud car. To make the podium will be one of the Audis and the one I am predicting is the Kristiansen/McNish/Capello car.
The final prediction is for the Canadian Grand Prix which is back on the calendar after an absence last year and though they didn't perform too well in second practice I'm thinking a McLaren win by Hamilton and a first podium finish since his return by Schumacher.
In summary the predictions are:
World Cup Football
Argentina to beat Nigeria at 4/9
England to beat USA at 8/15
International Rugby
France to beat South Africa at 3/1
Scotland to beat Argentina at 10/3
Rugby League Superleague
Wigan to win at Wakefield at 4/7
Leeds to win at Harlequins at 4/7
Le Mans 24 Hour
Bourdais et al to win at 10/3
Kristiansen et al to podium at 9/10
Canadian Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 5/2
Schumacher to podium at 9/2
In the football world cup my two predictions are for Argentina to beat Nigeria and England to defeat the USA. In the rugby I am being brave and going for a France win in South Africa and Scotland in Argentina.
The Super League continues and again I am going for away wins by Wigan at Wakefield and Leeds at Harlequins.
In France the Le Mans 24 hour race gets underway this afternoon and it looks like it will be a home win with one of the Peugeots triumphing and I'm going for the Bourdais/Lamy/Pagenaud car. To make the podium will be one of the Audis and the one I am predicting is the Kristiansen/McNish/Capello car.
The final prediction is for the Canadian Grand Prix which is back on the calendar after an absence last year and though they didn't perform too well in second practice I'm thinking a McLaren win by Hamilton and a first podium finish since his return by Schumacher.
In summary the predictions are:
World Cup Football
Argentina to beat Nigeria at 4/9
England to beat USA at 8/15
International Rugby
France to beat South Africa at 3/1
Scotland to beat Argentina at 10/3
Rugby League Superleague
Wigan to win at Wakefield at 4/7
Leeds to win at Harlequins at 4/7
Le Mans 24 Hour
Bourdais et al to win at 10/3
Kristiansen et al to podium at 9/10
Canadian Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 5/2
Schumacher to podium at 9/2
An average week
Only five out of ten correct predictions last week resulting in a loss of a £1 and overall being £33.50 up since the beginning of the blog.
Successes were led by Nadal winning the French Open, Dani Pedrosa's win in the French Moto GP, South Africa's rugby win in Wales and Harlequins' super league triumph over the Crusaders. The final correct prediction was Rewilding's third place finish in the Derby which I had predicted each way.
Successes were led by Nadal winning the French Open, Dani Pedrosa's win in the French Moto GP, South Africa's rugby win in Wales and Harlequins' super league triumph over the Crusaders. The final correct prediction was Rewilding's third place finish in the Derby which I had predicted each way.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Derby & French Open Finals
Other than the Derby it's been hard finding some decent odds today but here goes the predictions for the week nevertheless.
The Derby
Bullet Train to win at 15/2
Rewilding at 11/2 each way
French Open Tennis
Nadal to win men's at 1/4
Stosur to win the women's at 4/17
Rugby Union
South Africa to beat Wales at 10/11
Rugby League
Harlequins to beat the Crusaders 1/2
Bradford to beat Huddersfield at 4/5
Italian Moto GP
Lorenzo to win at 1/3
Pedrosa to podium at 4/5
The Derby
Bullet Train to win at 15/2
Rewilding at 11/2 each way
French Open Tennis
Nadal to win men's at 1/4
Stosur to win the women's at 4/17
Rugby Union
South Africa to beat Wales at 10/11
Rugby League
Harlequins to beat the Crusaders 1/2
Bradford to beat Huddersfield at 4/5
Italian Moto GP
Lorenzo to win at 1/3
Pedrosa to podium at 4/5
Brits dominate in Motorsport
It was a good week to be a British single seat driver last Sunday, perhaps other than for Mike Conway, with Hamilton & Button taking the top two podium places in the F1 Grand Prix in Turkey and Franchitti & Wheldon repeating the feat in the Indy 500.
Hamilton and Franchitti both matched with predictions though I did only predict a podium for Hamilton as thought Vettel would win, which perhaps he would had he not driven into his teammate.
It was a good week on the predictions elsewhere with both Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge winning their play-off finals, Warrington winning their Challenge Cup quarter-final as well as Leicester and Clermont Auvergne winning their respective League finals.
All of this resulted in a decent profit meaning overall profits are up to £34.50.
Hamilton and Franchitti both matched with predictions though I did only predict a podium for Hamilton as thought Vettel would win, which perhaps he would had he not driven into his teammate.
It was a good week on the predictions elsewhere with both Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge winning their play-off finals, Warrington winning their Challenge Cup quarter-final as well as Leicester and Clermont Auvergne winning their respective League finals.
All of this resulted in a decent profit meaning overall profits are up to £34.50.
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