Bumper Weekend for Armchair Punters

The footy season may be well and truly over (it feels like it’s just about to begin againt though!) but there’s plenty of betting action in a bumper sporting weekend coming up.

Today sees the start of the 109th US Open at Bethpage Black where defending champion Tiger Woods is aiming for a 15th major title. There’s a strong British contingent, led by Paul Casey but Tiger is the one they’ve all got to beat. He won the trophy on one leg last year and a fully fit Woods will take some stopping. The bookies just can’t see past him. You can get around 2/1 on the exchanges at Betfair, but the best price at the bookies is the 15/8 on offer at BetInternet and Sportingbet.

The ICC World Twenty20 has captured the imagination of many new fans in the past few weeks and it’s at the semi-final stages over today and tomorrow. South Africa have won all 5 of their matches so far and look worthy tournament favourites at 6/4 (Bet365, Boylesports, Sportingbet, Stan James). They square up with Pakistan today for a place in the final and should be too strong for their somewhat erratic opponents. In the other semi final, Sri Lanka could be on the end of a small upset with the West Indies looking a decent price at 11/8 (Bet365, Blue Sq, Coral, Skybet, William Hill) to make the final.

In football, the Confederations Cup in South Africa continues over the weekend with the pick of the games likely to be Italy v Brazil on Sunday evening. Spain are favourites to win the tourney at 5/4 (Expekt), with Brazil 2nd faves at 2/1 ith Bet365. I’ve managed to avoid betting on this but as it reaches the business end  of the tournamnet I might have a wee dabble.

Who can stop Jensen Button in the Formula 1 World Championship? The Brit holds a 26 point lead and with a fanatical home crowd cheering him on at Silverstone on Sunday he looks likely to secure yet another chequered flag and move further in front of the chasing pack in the Championship race. Even before qualifying begins, Button is as short as 10/11 (Betfred).

The British & Irish Lions test against South Africa kicks-off proper on Saturday afternoon in what looks certain to be a bruising encounter. The South Africans hit hard and if the Lions can match their strength in the pack and find some flair to create some space then they can upset the odds and get the test off to flier. It’s difficult to call how this will go with no true form to rely on but the Lions have been fairly impressive in the warm-ups whilst the Sprngboks haven’t played in weeks, preferring instead to be locked away at trainign camp. Sportingbet’s 5/2 on a Lions victory in the first test looks generous and will be ploughed into by the patriotic home support.

So there planty of opportunity to get stuck into the bookies this weekend and I haven’t even mentioned the last few days of Royal Ascot, The European Under 21 Football Championships and the pending Wimbledon Championship that begins on Monday. My picks for the weekend are Tiger Woods, South Africa to win the the Twenty20 and Jensen Button to take the British Grand Prix.

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