Arsenal v Chelsea
Premier League – 7.30 pm
BT Sport
There is plenty to focus on in the Premier League on Saturday and yet it wasn’t hard to pick a main draw for my best bets of the day preview. It’s Arsenal v Chelsea, obviously. Arsenal’s hopes of scrapping their way into the top four this season could hinge on this game.
Yes, it is that important for them. They are starting the game six points adrift of the top four already and the team they are trying to reel in? Yes, that is Chelsea who are sitting in fourth. So a win for Arsenal would close the gap, while a defeat for them would leave them facing a massive deficit in trying to get to Champions League football next season.
Chelsea won the first meeting this season 3-2 at Stamford Bridge and the top bookmakers have them as the 11/8 favourites to collect the win in this one. The Blues will carry a three-match away winning streak into the game and they have scored in each of their last seven away from the Bridge. That is with Eden Hazard operating as a false nine as opposed to having an outright striker.
But then Arsenal can’t be totally dismissed. Their home form is fantastic with a four-match winning streak at the Emirates and they are unbeaten in ten there. They have averaged over two goals per home game as well. Hopefully, entertainment fully wins out with the goals flowing between them again.
Wolves v Leicester
Premier League – 12.30 pm
Sky Sports
The weekend’s Premier League action starts on Saturday lunchtime from Molineaux. Wolves will be playing host to Leicester in the early kick-off. While there isn’t a great deal of importance on the game in terms of the race for a top six place or relegation or anything, it could still be a fascinating battle. Wolves have done well on their return to the top flight this season but have slipped to back to back 2-0 defeats at home.
So they will be looking for a big response. Leicester have won their last two away games, both by a 1-0 margin and they were good wins at Chelsea and then Everton. It may not be a game of high-goal output as only 36% of Leicester’s away games have gone over 2.5 goals and only 27% of Wolves’ home games have gone over the goal line. The top bookmakers fully recognise that as under 2.5 goals is quoted at 4/7 odds. It may be a good war of attrition though.
South Africa v Pakistan
1st ODI Cricket – 11.00 am
Sky Sports
There’s a good day of cricket starting in the morning as India will be taking on South Africa in the first game of their ODI series. Pakistan will be looking for a bit of light relief or something as they had a terrible test series against the Proteas losing 3-0. They switch over to the ODI format and the tourists are going hard at this game with a strong lineup. South Africa meanwhile are taking the chance to rest some of their star players (namely Quinton de Kock and Dale Steyn).
Still, the leading bookmakers have South Africa as the 4/9 odds-on favourites to pick up the victory. South Africa have put together a four-match winning streak in ODI matches against Pakistan, the most recent of which was back in the summer of 2017 in Birmingham, England at the ICC Champions Trophy. Will the Proteas continue their streak or will the tourists be able to enjoy their first bit of cheer on this tour?
Cardiff Blues v Lyon OU
Champions Cup Rugby – 1.00 pm
BT Sport
We are into the last round of matches in the pool stage of this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup. This action from Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday afternoon actually is one without any bearing on any qualification issues. Both Cardiff and Lyon have found the going really tough in Pool 3 of the competition and this is just nothing more than a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in the group. The Blues look likely to do that as they have five points on the board and Lyon have none.
While there are some really high-profile matches around on matchday six of the Champions Cup on the weekend, the hope is that with no pressure, this could be a good entertaining open match. Players can take risks without any fear of failure. That is what a game like this can deliver. The first meeting back on matchday one was a high scoring affair with Cardiff landing a 30-21 victory. The leading bookmakers have them at 10/11 to cover a -14 handicap back on home soil against the French outfit.
Manny Pacquiao v Adrien Broner
Boxing – 4.30 am (Sunday)
ITV
Sunday is a busy day so let’s get straight down to the features for the best bets of the day. Early on Sunday morning, 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao will step back into the ring, trying to prove that age is nothing more than a number. The Filipino veteran makes a return to Las Vegas where he will be facing up to Adrian Broner.
Pacquiao puts his WBA regular welterweight crown on the line in this one. Last time out, after a year’s break from the sport, he knocked out Lucas Matthysse. It’s hard to figure out what he’s searching for. Maybe another big-money spinning bout against Floyd Mayweather? His opponent Broner has won 33 of this 38 fights, 24 of those by a knockout. He has been up and down the weight divisions and he’s a big 9/4 shot to upset the odds in the best place possible, Vegas!
