Fulham v Man Utd
Premier League – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports
It’s going to be tough to be pulled away from the TV on Saturday judging by fantastic action that’s filling up my best bets of the day roundup. In the early Premier League action on Saturday, it will be Fulham trying to pull off a hefty 9/2 underdog success against Manchester United. How badly the home side needs something out of this fixture.
Fulham are eight points from safety ahead of this game. They have won two of their last three home games though in the EPL. So can they take hope from that? Well, the Cottagers have lost all eight games played against current top six sides this season, so it’s going to be tough.
Manchester United have won seven of their last eight Premier League games (D1) and have put together a four-match winning streak on their travels. The Red Devils have averaged over two goals per game in that four-match road sequence. They have also scored in all away games this season. In this they are taking on a Fulham side who have earned just one home clean sheet all term. The Red Devils are running as a 4/7 favourite with the leading bookmakers.
Scotland v Ireland
Six Nations – 2.15 pm
BBC One
There should be a thunderous afternoon up at Murrayfield. The start of the second round of Six Nations action brings us this top clash. Reigning champions Ireland were humbled on home soil last weekend by England in emphatic style. So this becomes a must-win game for them now to reignite any chance of a potential title defence. It’s not going to be easy though because they haven’t had the easiest of times at Murrayfield against Scotland in recent times.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Ireland have won five of their last six games against Scotland. However, the Scots have won two of their last three Six Nations home games against the Irish. The Scots opened up a huge lead over Italy last weekend on home soil, but then let the visitors back into the game as the Scots finished the game a man short. That defensive collapse at the end will have been a worry. Everything else, great.
The Scots are underdogs at home here but the top bookmakers recognise that this could be close with a +/- 6 point handicap at even money in favour of the Irish.
West Indies v England
Cricket – 2.00 pm
Sky Sports
Uh oh. With the Ashes Series coming up against Australia, the last thing England needed was to hit some choppy waters. They most certainly have done so, particularly with the bat, out in the West Indies. England have lost the opening two matches of this three-match series. It’s not been good from the tourists at all, but maybe these setbacks are something that are going to help them pull themselves together for the challenge of Australia.
England fans will be hoping to see some kind of fight back from them. Actually, any players in the England team for this one have a great chance to put on a show and play themselves into the Test side for the Ashes. England’s defeats so far against the West Indies in this series have been heavy ones. A 381 run crushing defeat in the first, a 10 wicket defeat in the second. Despite that, the bookmakers have England at 8/11 favourites to land the victory with the Windies at 7/4.
Italy v Wales
Six Nations – 4.45 pm
ITV
Wales make the trip to Rome on Saturday looking to make it two wins from two in this season’s Championship. It was a fantastic win that the Dragons collected in Paris last week. They managed to somehow claw their way back from a 16-0 half time deficit against Les Bleus to run out 24-19 winners. That was the biggest ever comeback win that Wales have produced in their history.
This should be a much easier game on paper and the top bookmarks have a -18 handicap on Wales at even money. Wales have won each of their last four Six Nations matches against Italy by at least a margin of 24 points. Italy suffered a loss in Scotland last weekend, despite running in three late tries to make the scoreline more respectable. The Italians have lost all of their previous Six Nations matches against the Welsh. They are massive 15/2 underdogs in the outright winner market to change that.
Brighton v Burnley
Premier League – 5.30 pm
BT Sport
The action from the Amex on Saturday evening in the Premier League is well worth a look. The Seagulls have managed just the one win in their last ten league outings now, but they aren’t playing badly. Last weekend for example they earned a 0-0 draw against Watford, creating plenty of chances but just not being able to stick the ball in the onion bag.
There’s am interesting thing about Brighton’s home record of W5 D4 L3. Each of those three losses have been against sides currently in the top four. The leading bookmakers have even money on the home side getting the win. The Clarets are unbeaten in six now, drawing each of the last three. It’s been enough to just get them out of the drop zone, but there’s plenty more to do.
Three points out of this would be huge for them, but they have only won twice on their travels. Those two away wins were against sides currently in the bottom three.
