Why is it that we gamblers are either on top of the world or in the depths of despair ? but very seldom to be found inhabiting the middle ground in between? Our hot streaks can be very, very hot ? but when they end they tend to do so with a vengeance.
So it's as well to launch this week's column with a wealth warning because yours truly is currently occupying some pretty icy territory. Or, to put it another way, just at the moment I couldn't tip a football match correctly to save my life.
Time to get a grip. A glance at the balance on my account reminds me I've had an excellent season to date with some big winners ? some tipped here, some sadly not. Form is temporary, class is permanent, and, as I've often stressed, it goes with the territory that if you favour long odds stuff you're going to come a cropper on a fairly frequent basis.
Not much point raking over the ashes of last week's selections. The whole world has cottoned on to the League Two away wins phenomenon now ? although it appears to have done so just as some semblance of home superiority is returning.
Meanwhile my double yankee yielded just one measly winner ? Hull at Leicester ? plus three draws, and four defeats. Oh dear. Hardly the man in form.
Still, things can only get better. Can't they? One interesting little side wager occurs to me following Norwich striker Jamie Cureton's hat-trick against his old club Colchester last week. On Saturday the former Bristol Rovers youngster has a chance to dent Bristol City's promotion bid ? and having regained his golden touch Cureton looks a decent bet at 8/1 for first scorer or 14/5 to score at any time.
Now on to the accumulators, and another Yankee double. Feel free to mix and match as you see fit.
I'm restraining the urge to back Derby to beat Fulham this weekend, but insanity still beckons as I'm instead plumping for Newcastle at 9/2 to win at Spurs. I've tripped up over the Geordies several times this season, but having finally nailed a first win for Kevin Keegan last week I've just got a sneaky feeling they'll repeat the dose at White Hart Lane.
Leicester have been well and truly sucked into the Championship relegation battle, and things could look a whole lot darker for Ian Holloway's team if Scunthorpe triumph at the Walkers Stadium this weekend. This is a real do-or-die clash for the Iron, who can give themselves a slender chance of survival ? back Scunthorpe at 3/1.
Crewe are battling gamely to avoid relegation in League One, and have been in good form away from Gresty Road lately. At 2/1 they look a reasonable shout away to doomed Luton.
And we complete a tour of the top four divisions in League Two, where promotion-chasing Stockport will be chasing what I think would be a ninth away win in 10 games at struggling Chester. Take Stockport at Evs.
The second Yankee kicks off with Everton, priced at an attractive 41/10 to win at Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Anything can happen on such occasions, and with a Champions' League spot up for grabs it'll be a no holds barred encounter. Liverpool are likely to be without Fernando Torres, which could just tilt things in the direction of the Toffees ? although realistically much may depend on whether Tim Cahill recovers from his foot injury.
In League One, Carlisle are storming towards promotion, and breathing down the necks of leaders Swansea. At 11/10 they should fancy their chances away to relegation strugglers Gillingham.
In the same Division, Bristol Rovers travel for an all West Country affair at Yeovil, who have been in dismal form of late. Both sides are just about safe from the drop ? though only just. And I'm going for Rovers at 21/10 to pile on the misery for Russell Slade.
And finally, into League Two, where Mansfield simply must win at 2/1 away to Notts County if they're to have any chance of staying in the League. With their recent record they should fancy themselves to beat the jittery Magpies.
How to place a Yankee
– Click on the first betting link to open up the betting slip, verify that the selection is correct and is the only selection so far, then close the betting slip.
– Click on the second betting link to open up the betting slip, verify that both the first and second selections are present, then close the betting slip.
– Repeat this process for each betting link until you come to the last selection.
– Click on the final betting link to open up the betting slip, verify that all the selections are present, then enter your unit stake in the field next the 'Yankee' option, check your estimated returns and total stake (your total stake will be 11 times your unit stake for a Yankee), enter your username and password and click 'submit' to place your bet. If you do not have an account with VCBet open one here and get a free bet worth up to ?100.
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