Football betting tips: Saturday best bets
1.5pts Declan Rice 1+ assist in Burnley vs Arsenal at 9/2 (Betfair, Paddy Power)
1pt Tottenham to win and BTTS vs Wolves at 13/8 (General)
1pt Birmingham to beat Sunderland at 43/20 (Unibet)
1pt Aaron Ramsey to score anytime in Norwich vs Cardiff at 13/2 (bet365)
0.5pts Aaron Ramsey to score 2+ in Norwich vs Cardiff at 80/1 (bet365)
Burnley vs Arsenal
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- Home 9/1 | Draw 9/2 | Away 2/7
Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set piece coach, noticed something during the winter break.
Prior to it, DECLAN RICE only took four corners in 20 Premier League games and in the four games since, he has taken 12.
Rice has four ASSISTS, three of which have come since the turn of the year where he has completed as many key passes (8) as he did in his previous 10 matches.
If Rice continues with set piece duty, he could grab another couple of assists at Turf Moor where Arsenal, the best set piece side in the division, take on the worst side in defending them.
The price about 1+ ASSIST is worth a punt, as the firms offering them pay out if Rice wins a penalty or free kick and the subsequent shot is scored.
Odds correct at 1200 GMT (15/02/24)
Tottenham vs Wolves
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- Home 1/2 | Draw 18/5 | Away 19/4
Tottenham are fully fit for the first time since they started the season by winning eight of an unbeaten 10 league games, meaning they are going to be a tough teams to face down the home stretch.
At home, they have won nine of 12, with their three losses all having the caveats that they have either been missing the spine of their team or picked up multiple red cards.
Ange Postecoglou's style means Spurs are a joy to watch in attack, averaging 2.08 xGF per home game, but do allow chances going the other way, shown by the fact that they have conceded in 10 of their matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Seven of those have seen TOTTENHAM WIN AND BOTH TEAMS SCORE, meaning the 13/8 price is a touch on the big side, especially with an attack-minded Wolves team in town.
Gary O'Neil's side have scored in nine of their 12 away days, conceding in 10 of them, while allowing 1.96 xGA per game. Their open style should lead to chances aplenty, with Spurs' superior firepower seeing them prevail.
Odds correct at 1545 (15/02/24)
Birmingham vs Sunderland
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- Home 2/1 | Draw 23/10 | Away 11/8
BIRMINGHAM TO WIN against Sunderland appeals at 2/1 and abaove for the context of the game alone.
A harmonious relationship between Tony Mowbray and the Black Cats faithful was cut prematurely short in the opinion of both parties.
Maybe Sunderland thought the grass was greener but Michael Beale’s spell on Tyneside hasn’t got off to a flying start.
10 games into it and Sunderland have lost (4) as many games as they have won.
No doubt Mowbray will be motivated to get one over his former employers which is why it is worth overlooking his current club’s patchy form.
Birmingham have only won two of their six league games this year but have faced two of the top six.
Odds correct at 1210 GMT (15/02/24)
Norwich vs Cardiff
- Kick-off time: 15:00 GMT, Saturday
- Home 4/5 | Draw 13/5 | Away 10/3
AARON RAMSEY will be pushing for a start at Carrow Road on Saturday. After recovering from a long term injury, the Welsh international has made cameos in both of Cardiff’s last two defeats.
It is a small sample size but with Ramsey in the starting XI Cardiff’s results are better.
He started six games at the start of the season and the Bluebirds averaged 1.2 points despite playing Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds.
The midfielder has only failed to have at least one shot in one of his eight appearances, scoring three times (0.48 goals per 90).
With him expected to start in a more advanced role his price TO SCORE ANYTIME appeals, it also doesn’t hurt that he has taken (and scored) a penalty this season.
Norwich are odds on to win but they have only kept one clean sheet this year shipping 16 goals in 10 games.
It is why backing Ramsey TO SCORE 2+ GOALS is also worth a look.
Odds correct at 1625 GMT (15/02/24)
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