Serie A Betting: Expect goals as Conte's Juventus visit Bologna

"In the last 22 head-to-heads, Juve have recorded 13 victories, with eight games ending all-square and Bologna triumphing just once."

Italian football expert Dave Farrar thinks Juve's visit to Bologna could provide entertainment, but he doesn't expect the same at Pescara...

Bologna v Juventus

Juventus moved nine points clear at the top of Serie A with their 1-0 win at home to Catania last weekend and it's difficult to see second-placed Napoli or anyone else catching them with just 10 games left to play.

This weekend's opponents Bologna hardly looked equipped to trip up Juve, either. Bologna sprung a surprise by winning 1-0 at Inter last weekend - although it won't have been a surprise to readers of this column, as we backed Bologna at 5.2 - but it would be asking too much to expect Stefano Pioli's side to claim two major scalps in a row.

The historic stats also suggest a win will be beyond Bologna. In the last 22 head-to-heads, Juve have recorded 13 victories, with eight games ending all-square and Bologna triumphing just once. Opta also reveal Juventus are unbeaten in their last 10 Serie A visits to Bologna (W6-D4-L0) and La Vecchia Signora's formidable away form - just two defeats in their last 32 Serie A games on the road - also tells you which way this encounter is likely to go.

The 1.72 on Juventus will hold little appeal for many bettors, so you might prefer to focus on the Over 2.5 Goals market. Ten of Bologna's 14 home games and six of Juventus' 13 away games have featured over 2.5 goals. Overs is my selection.

Recommended Bet

Bologna v Juventus Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.02

Fiorentina v Genoa

Fiorentina made it three wins from four when they won 2-0 at Lazio last weekend, moving above Lazio and Inter into fourth place in the standings.
La Viola's games are generally entertaining - 16 of their 28 league fixtures have featured three goals or more - and home fans at the Artemio Franchi are likely to enjoy what they see this weekend.

Fiorentina have won four and drawn two of their last six meetings against Genoa, keeping clean sheets in each of those wins. They have netted at least once in each of the last 10 meetings between the sides, with Genoa failing to record a victory on their last 14 trips to Florence (W0-D5-L9) and losing on each of their last six visits. Genoa's away form generally is a concern, too - they are winless in their last seven.

The stats all suggest the 1.4740/85 on Fiorentina is justified. If that's too short I would recommend backing Fiorentina -1.0&-1.5 Asian Handicap. With that selection, you'll make a profit if they win by two goals or more, something they're entirely capable of doing - seven of Fiorentina's 10 home wins this season have come by two goals or more.

Recommended Bet

Fiorentina -1.0&-1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.02

Pescara v Chievo

Right now, Pescara are unbackable. They're stuck in the relegation zone, and a run of just one point from their last nine league games makes it easy to see why. They have lost their last four home games so home advantage appears to be no advantage at all at the moment.

Not that I have much faith in Chievo, either. They have lost their last three Serie A fixtures on the road and had managed just one point from five games before last weekend's surprise 2-0 win over Napoli. Their longer-term form and league position (16th) make it clear that win over second-placed Napoli was the exception rather than the rule.

Most bettors would understandably swerve this game altogether but the one market worth considering is Under 2.5 Goals. Sixteen of Pescara's 28 games have had under 2.5 goals. The same applies to 17 of Chievo's 28 games.

Unders is therefore my selection, although traders out there may like to wait until after kick-off as bigger prices may become available once the game is under way. These two sides have conceded the most goals of any teams in Serie A in the opening 15 minutes of games: nine for Pescara, eight for Chievo.

Recommended Bet

Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.70

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NBA Betting Preview: Phoenix visit is chance for Spurs to step up

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 01 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

The pressure is on the for the Spurs

"I am expecting a huge effort from the Spurs in this crucial fixture."

With LA hot on their heels, San Antonio need to raise their game this weekend. Nick Shiambouros selects the best bets at the start of an exciting weekend in the NBA...

The Boston Celtics beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-97 at the AT&T Center on Thursday evening. Both teams traded punches all night long but it was the Celtics who proved the stronger in the final quarter.

Point guard Rajon Rondo had a huge night for Boston, scoring 22 points with 14 assists, in a very important victory which leaves the Celtics just two games behind Chicago in the Eastern Conference.

This was the fifth straight loss for San Antonio who are in real danger of losing the number one seeding in the Western Conference. The Spurs are now just 2.5 games ahead of Los Angeles with seven games left in the regular season.
On Thursday, the in form Los Angeles Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-82 in one of the most ill-tempered games I've seen all year. The game got out of hand in the fourth quarter when the teams were involved in an altercation on the floor. Four players were ejected as a result of this ugly incident.

This was the eighth win in a row for Los Angeles who are firing on all cylinders. The defending champions look unstoppable at the moment and have shortened to [3.85] to win the NBA championship.

This weekend , the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs continue their battle for Western Conference supremacy and home court advantage.

On Sunday, the San Antonio Spurs play host to the Phoenix Suns in a nationally televised game. This is a must win game for San Antonio who have the best home record in basketball at 33-5. Despite their shocking recent form they will be heavily fancied.

The Suns have played very poorly since the All-Star break and appear to be looking forward to a long summer holiday. They still have a mathematical chance of making the post-season but it would take a miracle.

I am expecting a huge effort from the Spurs in this crucial fixture. Tim Duncan and company fully understand the importance of this game and should have way too many weapons for the disappointing Suns. I'm sure this veteran team will run up the score and should be backed at around [1.9] with the advertised handicap.

Later on Sunday, the Lakers host the Denver Nuggets. LA have been presented with a real chance of catching San Antonio in the West and will fight for every point in this game.

The great Kobe Bryant has been on fire for Los Angeles in the past few weeks and is playing like a man who is desperate to win his third consecutive championship.

At the defensive end of the floor, Ron Artest who has finally recaptured his early season form. He's not the easiest player to coach but he is one of the best defensive players in the game.

The Denver Nuggets are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference and are playing some decent basketball despite losing superstar guard Carmelo Anthony to New York earlier this year.

Head coach George Karl has done a wonderful job with the rotation and they could make a little noise in the post-season. I think the Lakers will be very difficult to beat and should be backed at around [1.9] with the advertised handicap.

Recommended Bets
Sunday back San Antonio with advertised handicap at [1.9]
Sunday back Los Angeles with advertised handicap at [1.9]

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