Premier League Preview Show

Claridge and Eastham target this weekend's Internationals for betting value...

As there are no Premier League matches this weekend Bet Republic TV hosts Steve Claridge and James Eastham are covering this Saturday and Sunday's last few World Cup Qualifiers in their Premier League Preview Show.

As well as the World Cup Qualifiers there is also a full schedule of International friendlies including an enticing encounter in Qatar between England and Brazil.

Sports betting expert James Eastham presents the show - that is streamed onto bet republic on Thursday evenings - alongside Steve Claridge, a former professional footballer with clubs including Portsmouth and Leicester.

Each week the two betting-mad pundits trawl through bookmakers' prices to hunt out the weekend's best bets. They have a formidable record of picking winners every week from among the 100 or so markets that are available on every game of football with most bookmakers.

These are the games that they are focusing on this weekend, with stats and betting recommendations. You can watch the show on www.Betepublic.com from Thursday evening at 9pm UK time. Alternatively video clips of the game will run on the BetRepublic YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/slicker66.

Saturday, 14 November 2009

GREECE v UKRAINE

Greece won four and lost one of five home qualifiers

Both teams scored in four of Greece’s five home qualifiers

Greece finished second behind Switzerland in their group, one of the easiest of all European pools

Theo Gekas was Greece’s top scorer with 10 goals in nine qualifiers

Ukraine finished second behind England after a great run of four wins and a draw in their final five qualifying games

They’ve kept clean sheets in their last four games

Andriy Shevchenko scored six goals in nine qualifiers

Recommended Bets:

Ukraine +0.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Under 2 goals (21/20)

PORTUGAL v BOSNIA

Ronaldo is out – although fans in Portugal would argue that he never plays well for his country. Reminds me of the John Barnes & England situation in the 1980s

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored no goals in seven World Cup qualifiers

Simao is actually Portugal’s top scorer with four goals in eight games

Portugal finished second in their pool behind Denmark

5/10 had over 2.5 goals, 5/10 had under 2.5 goals

Portugal won two and drew two of four home games following a 2-3 home defeat v Denmark in their opening match

Bosnia’s star player is Edzin Dzeko. He scored nine goals in their 10 qualifiers and is one of 30 players shortlisted for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award

Other key players include captain and centre-half Emir Spahic and Lyon playmaker Miralem Pjanic, one of the best young footballers in Europe

Pjanic has scored five goals in 18 appearances for Lyon this season

Recommended Bets:

Portugal -1.25 Asian handicap (21/20)

Miralem Pjanic to score anytime (7/1)

REP IRELAND v FRANCE

France finished second behind Serbia in their qualifying group, mainly because of a slow start and too many draws

Coach Raymond Domenech remains a hugely unpopular figure in his homeland but France have some outstanding individual players

Centre-half is the weakness in the France team. William Gallas is a regular starter, but a succession of players have been tried without success alongside him

Franck Ribery is out through injury but Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Yoann Gourcuff, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Sidney Govou are all available

Ireland finished second behind Italy in their group – and were one of the few sides to go unbeaten through all 10 games

They drew home and away v Italy, showing their prowess against better sides

Robbie Keane was Ireland’s top scorer with five goals in 10 games.

Recommended Bets:

Draw (9/4)

Andre-Pierre Gignac to score anytime (5/2)

RUSSIA v SLOVENIA

Russia had the best record of any second-placed team – seven wins, a draw and two defeats. Both defeats came against group winners Germany so Russia clearly had an excellent record against all but the very best opposition

Russia’s goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe

Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko was Russia’s top scorer in the qualifiers, netting five goals in seven games

Russia boss Guus Hiddink has a superb recent record at World Cup tournaments. He took Holland and South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and 2002 respectively and led Australia to the last 16 in 2006

Slovenia finished second behind Slovakia in their qualifying group thanks to a superb run of four straight wins in their final four qualifiers, including a 2-0 win away to group winners Slovakia

Slovenia are a side virtually without a single household name. Ex-Marseille and West Brom centre-half Bostjan Cesar is one of the few familiar faces

Recommended Bets:

Russia -1.25 Asian handicap (10/11)

Over 2.5 goals (10/11)

ENGLAND v BRAZIL

TV match: 5pm on ITV1

Under Fabio Capello, England’s friendly record is three wins, two draws and a defeat

England’s only friendly defeat came away to Spain (0-2)

England’s overall record under Fabio Capello is 12 wins, two draws and two defeats

England’s games have been high-scoring under Capello: 13 out of 16 have had over 2.5 goals and nine out of 16 have had over 3.5 goals

Both teams have scored in nine of England’s 16 internationals

England are without a win in their last seven meetings against Brazil – they’ve had four draws and three defeats in that time. Brazil have qualified for next year’s World Cup as the top team in South America’s qualifying pool

Recommended Bets:

Draw (5/2)

Luis Fabiano to score anytime (15/8)

HUDDERSFIELD v WYCOMBE

TV match: 12.05pm on SkySports 1

Huddersfield are sixth in League One with 24pts from 15 games

Huddersfield have an excellent home record – five wins, two draws and no defeats

Wycombe are bottom of the table with just eight points from 15 games so far

Wycombe have won just one of their opening 15 games

Away from home Wycombe have drawn three and lost four

Gary Waddock replaced Peter Taylor as Wycombe manager last month

19-year-old Jordan Rhodes is Huddersfield’s top scorer with nine goals in 14 games

Huddersfield’s games have been high-scoring – 10 out of 15 have had over 2.5 goals

Wycombe’s games have been low-scoring – 10 out of 15 have had under 2.5 goals

Recommended Bets:

Huddersfield -1.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Jordan Rhodes to score anytime (5/4)

Sunday, 15 November 2009

SOUTHAMPTON v BRIGHTON

TV match: 4.30pm on Sky Sports 1

Southampton are 22nd in League One – but their position is lower because of having 10pts docked because of going into administration

Southampton have 12pts on the board but have actually won 22pts on the pitch, a tally that would see them eighth in the table

Southampton have a solid home record – three wins, three draws and a defeat

Southampton’s form is excellent going into this game – four wins and a draw in their last five games

Southampton have scored 15 goals in their last five games. Southampton have lost only one of their last 12 games – five wins, six draws and a defeat

Southampton’s top scorer is their £1m summer signing Rickie Lambert, with 10 goals in 14 games.

Both teams have scored in Southampton’s last seven games.

Brighton have appointed Gus Poyet as their new manager this week following the sacking of Russell Slade.

Brighton’s results have been poor – they’ve won one, drawn three and lost four of their last eight league games

Brighton are 20th in League One with 14pts from 15 games

Brighton avoid defeat a lot away – one win, four draws and just two defeats

Brighton’s top scorer is 36-year-old Nicky Forster, who has nine goals in 13 appearances

Recommended Bets:

Southampton -1 Asian handicap (21/20)

Both teams to score (5/6)

BetRepublic Big Three Bets:

Ukraine +0.25 Asian handicap (evens)

Portugal -1.25 Asian handicap (21/20)

Russia -1.25 Asian handicap (10/11)