With the weather more foul than a Paul Scholes tackle, we’re staying in to see if these three punts can make us a bit wealthier.
Last week we went for a red card but we picked the wrong ‘Super Sunday’ game and while Leinster ran in five tries, our pick Jonny Sexton didn’t touch down any of them. Our NFL bet – on the Patriots to crush the Texans – landed easily but that’s no good when you have them all tied up in a treble.
This week we play it a bit safer, and this treble will give you a return of about 8/1.
Ulster (-2) to beat Castres, 10/11
So one of the best teams in this year’s Heineken Cup needs a win to secure a home quarter-final. Standing in their way are a French team who can’t qualify and who Ulster stuffed by almost 30 at Ravenhill. Too easy, right?
We are aware that Ulster are going in without a full deck, and Jared Payne and Nick Williams are big losses, but they should win this game in our opinion, and if they do, it will surely be by more than two points.
Four or more goals, Chelsea v Arsenal, 13/8
Two teams who average more than two goals a game face off in this one but there is more than just stats behind this hunch. No team may have as many goalscorers in their ranks as Chelsea. From obvious names like Ba and Torres (sometimes), to midfield jewels like Hazard, Lampard and Mata, to defensive(ish) players like Ivanovic and Luiz, they are loaded and 45 league goals this year reflects that.
Arsenal are not the most solid of teams and they have a few weapons of their own in Giroud, Walcott and the revitalised Jack Wilshere. We expect Chelsea to win this one, but there should be lots of goals too.
San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 20/23
A team going on the road to play the No 1 seed in the title game should not be favoured. To be favoured by more than a field goal is huge. So why are we throwing our lot in with the 49ers?
Firstly, we did back them at the start of the year to win the Super Bowl at 14/1 and we’re not going to desert them now. Secondly, they put on a show last week against Green Bay, led by the superb Colin Kaepernick.
Last week the QB ran for 181 yards, and two TDs, and he also threw for 263 yards and two more TDs. It was sensational and while the Packers soft defence helped, it was still epic.
Kaepernick will be walking on air as he enters the Georgia Dome, a welcome boost at a hostile venue. Matt Ryan (the Falcons QB) is 34-6 at home but we expect the visitors to book their Super Bowl tickets in some style on Sunday.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
