France v Scotland
Six Nations Rugby – 2.15 pm
BBC One
The afternoon of Six Nations rugby starts out in Paris. This kicks off our best bets of the day too. This should be a fascinating duel between two sides needing to dig deep and produce a win. France have lost their opening two matches of the tournament. They have both been bitter defeats to swallow too. France threw away a 16 point advantage at home against Wales on the opening weekend of action to end up losing. Then it was a different manner of defeat as they were tactically torn apart at Twickenham by England. Still, France are 1/2 odds to deliver their first win of the season, with Scotland at 9/5 to get their second.
The Scots opened with a win over Italy at home. That set them up well for the visit of reigning champions Ireland in their second fixture. The Scots were on a seven-match winning streak at home in the tournament and had the chance to get themselves in the title mix. But they turned out a sloppy performance as Ireland’s power and control proved too much for them. France have won all their home games against Scotland in the last ten years of Six Nations rugby. This may be another tight duel between them with -5 handicap on France at 10/11 with the top bookmakers.
Wales v England
Six Nations Rugby – 4.45 pm
BBC One
I for one am not going to be able to take my eyes off the rugby on Saturday. This could well be the title decider in this season’s Six Nations. Both Wales and England have won their opening two matches so everything is on the line here. The winner of this clash will be favourites to march their way to the title. Wales produced one of the most thrilling spectacles in Six Nations history on the opening weekend, overturning a big sixteen point deficit in France to produce a win. They would have hoped to have used that as a source of inspiration to then go and tear Italy apart in Rome.
It didn’t quite happen as the Welsh could only produce an ugly win against the Italians. They are going to have to be better this weekend as England visit Cardiff. The Dragons are 8/5 with top bookmakers to pull off an upset. Wales never need extra pumping up for this great fixture. England opened their campaign with a win in Dublin against Ireland. It was a performance of power and might. They followed it up with a thumping victory over France at Twickenham in their second game. This is England’s final away match in this season’s Six Nations, with Scotland and Italy to come at home.
So this is the one where it is all on the line for the Red Rose who are odds-on to win the game. England are on a five-match winning streak over the Welsh in the Six Nations. But they have all been close affairs. None of England’s last five wins over the Dragons have been by a margin of more than eleven points. Expect the Welsh to throw the kitchen sink at England and the top bookmakers have the handicap line short at +/- 4 with England favourites to cover.
Burnley v Tottenham
Premier League – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports
The first kickoff of the day in the Premier League on Saturday is from Turf Moor as Burnley host Spurs. Sean Dyche deserves so much credit for having turned Burnley’s fortunes around. I thought they were simply relegation fodder at one point, but they are now unbeaten in seven, winning four of those. They have taken seven points from their last three home games as well.
They so nearly got a point out at Spurs in December, conceding in the 90th minute in a 1-0 loss. Can they do better at home against the Lilywhites? Spurs come as 4/6 favourites with the top bookies, and they are on a four-match winning streak in the league. Spurs have won their last four on the road as well and apparently aren’t missing Harry Kane as much as they thought they were going to. An early win would see them move to within two points of leaders Man City.
Leicester v Crystal Palace
Premier League – 5.30 pm
BT Sport 1
Leicester are back in a bit of a slump with only the one point taken from their last five games in the top flight. The calls for Claude Puel to take a hike will continue to grow if they lose this one at home against Palace on Saturday evening. Granted the Foxes have faced Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs in their last three league games. But they are on a three-match losing streak at home, which includes defeats against Cardiff and Southampton, two of the current bottom four.
The Eagles are in recovery mode with a three-match undefeated streak of form. They have earned 52% of their league points this season away from home. Palace have scored twice as many goals away from Selhurst Park this season than they have produced at home. With a W2 D1 L1 record in their last four on the road in the EPL, the Eagles are 12/5 underdogs but may have appeal to take on the Foxes.
West Brom v Sheffield United
Championship – 5.30 pm
Sky Sports
The Baggies have taken back to back league wins to strengthen their position in their promotion push. A 3-2 midweek win over QPR saw them edge to within three points of leaders Norwich. Now at this stage of the season, it is all about momentum. Can they continue their run of form? This is the perfect game in which to do it, as they are taking on second-placed Sheffield United. West Brom are 13/10 favourites with the top bookmakers to win this huge clash.
What will give the Blades some hope on their visit to the Hawthorns is that West Brom have won only one of their last seven league home games and none of their last four. Sheffield United are on a five-match undefeated streak of form themselves currently. It has been back to back wins from them too. The only concern for punters will be the fact that they haven’t won away at any current top-half of the table side. This would be the perfect opportunity in which to do that. They will be up for the fight in this engrossing contest.
