Monday Night Football - Big Sam's Boys can gain first road win

We usually go for a NFL pick & English football bet as well on a Monday night but we'll be sticking to the Premier League this time as the NFL game between the Chicago Bears & Dallas Cowboys looks like it could be a wild one & we don't want to go near it betting wise! The Premier League game should be interesting as two of the league's lesser lights face off at Loftus Road - we'll have more football bets from European competition & the lower leagues during midweek.

Queens Park Rangers vs West Ham United

QPR currently sit bottom of the Premier League as they prepare to face their third consecutive London derby as they take on Sam Allardyce's West Ham at Loftus Road.

(Anton Ferdinand is out of this one through injury as well as 3 other QPR defenders)

QPR have failed to win any of their five league games so far with three defeats & two draws. It seems that performances haven't gained the points they deserve & this was certainly the case last weekend against Spurs - QPR put in a terrific first half display, capped by a Bobby Zamora goal, & they looked in control until two goals in two minutes turned the game in Spurs favour & they held out for the win. Unfortunately they have four defenders in Anton Ferdinand, Jose Bosingwa, Fabio & Armand Traore ruled out & this is a big concern for a side which has conceded 14 goals in seven matches in all competitions.

West Ham have made a decent start to the season with two wins, two draws & only one defeat in their five league matches, they've picked up seven of their eight points at Upton Park & have struggled on the road with a 3-0 defeat at Swansea & a dire 0-0 vs Norwich. It was the other way around last year in the Championship where they did well in away games but they are yet to score a goal on the road & are reliant on midfield general Kevin Nolan (3 goals so far) finding the net as strikers Ricardo Vaz Te, Modibo Maiga & Carlton Cole just haven't got going in the top flight yet.

(Modibo Maiga has a good chance of getting his first Premier League goal here)

It should be a proper derby match with a little bit of needle between the sides but overall QPR's defensive injuries could prove the critical factor here as West Ham will put an awful lot of pressure on especially at set pieces & the value lies with the Hammers at odds of 11/4. Bearing that set piece threat in mind we reckon one of West Ham's big lads up front could get a goal & we'll side with their 6"2 Malian Modibo Maiga to get his first Premier League goal after scoring a couple of times in the Capital One Cup, he's as big as 100/30 to score anytime.

Selections:
West Ham United to beat Queens Park Rangers at 11/4 (Betfred, Coral & Totesport)
Modibo Maiga to score anytime at 100/30 (BlueSquare & 888Sport)

NFL Week 4 - Patriots can Bounce Back against Buffalo Bills

We're now into week 4 of the NFL & there are only three teams left with unbeaten records, we're taking a look at one of those unbeaten sides in the Arizona Cardinals plus two other games as we look for more winning bets.

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

In our first game we see two teams with mirror records as the Patriots won their first game before failing in their next two whilst AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills lost their opener before winning twice afterwards, we think they'll end up with identical 2&2 records after this one as the Patriots look to keep up their dominance of the Bills having won 16 of the last 17 games.



(Wes Welker remains the Patriots' top receiver - whatever the reports say)

 

The Bills' success this year has so far come down, pretty much, to the play of running back C.J. Spiller after stepping in for Fred Jackson after injury - he's gained 308 yards & 3 touchdowns as well as another 114 yards receiveing & another TD. Spiller is listed as questionable for this one though & Fred Jackson the same, the Bills were suggesting both could end up playing but it looks like neither will be at full fitness & that could prove costly. The Patriots are also a huge step up in opposition after facing the Chiefs & Browns & shouldn't be so easy to bully, the Bills were handed their asses in week one v the Jets & New England are a substantially better team than them. This should be a much easier assignment for the Patriots after travelling to the Ravens & nearly prevailing & previously running into 2012 surprise team the Arizona Cardinals.

New England have been much more balanced on offense this year, being happy to run the ball with Stevan Ridley & Danny Woodhead but their strength still lies in Tom Brady's passing & we think a monster game could be around the corner. There's been a lot of talk about how Wes Welker may be being phased out a little of the passing game & although Brandon Lloyd has had 6 more receptions Welker still leads the team with 251 receiving yards. Along with Lloyd & Gronkowski plus the emerging Julian Edelman, Welker offers Tom Brady some outstanding passing targets - Welker led the league in receiving yards last year & gained 9 TDs so 10/1 for him to score the first one in this game looks too big to be ignored. New England could win this one by some margin if they get in a rhythm & look to be being underestimated by the bookies after two losses against good sides, take the Patriots on the handicap with them giving up just 3.5 points to the Bills here.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Last week the San Diego Chargers were just awful against the Atlanta Falcons on both sides of the ball but there's good reason to believe the Kansas City Chiefs will be a better matchup at least for their offense here at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have already given up 99 points this season from their three games & they just haven't done well enough in terms of putting pressure on the opposition quarterback with just 5 sacks (4 from Justin Houston) & one interception, add to that they've gained just one fumble recovery & they just aren't winning the ball back often enough. Philip Rivers looked to be flustered when under pressure against Atlanta but should be better this week & the Chargers first choice running back Ryan Mathews should improve for his seasonal debut last week, offering them more offensive options.

(Ryan Mathews returning is a boost to San Diego's rushing attack..... as long as he doesn't fumble)

 

The Chiefs actually have the top ranked offense in terms of yards gained thanks to their excellent running game where they have a lot of strength in depth with Jamaal Charles already having racked up 323 yards & Shaun Draughn & Peyton Hillis behind him with 107 & 93 yards respectively. Quarterback Matt Cassel has been serviceable but has thrown 4 interceptions to only 3 TDs but he knows his job is to manage the football whilst the rushers play so well - Dwayne Bowe & Dexter McCluster remain his only targets of note. On the San Diego side they seem to have a lot of depth at receiver without any real standout player other than Malcolm Floyd who is their only player to reach double figure receptions, that does make it tough for opposition defenses as they can't just lock down one player to stop them.

The Chargers will be looking to bounce right back after only scoring 3 points last week so expect to see them come out & throw the ball, Kansas have given up 40, 34 & 24 points in their 3 games so San Diego should get some points on the board. The Chiefs' rushing game may also not be so effective here as the Chargers rank 4th on defense in that category & due to the favourable matchups we think San Diego should just about prevail so backing them to win by 1-6 points at 7/2 looks the best bet.

Miami Dolphins @ Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have been undeniably the biggest surprise team in the NFL this year having picked up three wins for a perfect start & gaining them against some good sides in the Patriots, Eagles & tough Seahawks - those first two games were close but they absolutely blew Philadelphia out of the water last Sunday & will look to do the same against Miami here.

(Kevin Kolb has the chance to lead the Cardinals to an unlikely 4&0 start to the season)

 

Miami have had a pretty tough start, playing three defensively sound teams, only winning against the Oakland Raiders in week two, they'll be disappointed with last week's result as they went down to divisional rivals the New York Jets in overtime & it could be hard to pick themselves up from that. We don't rate the Jets at all so Miami's loss last week doesn't give us confidence that they hold any hope in this one. The Cardinals' quarterback Kevin Kolb really just needs to manage games whilst his defense plays so outstandingly, he has an excellent receiver in Larry Fitzgerald & that combination could work well in this one. The Cardinals' first round draft pick Michael Floyd also saw his first reception (it went for a TD) last week & offers more options & they may just air it out a little more this week with Andre Roberts also proving a dependable target. The Cards also have excellent special teams & Patrick Peterson continues to dazzle when returning kicks, they'll regularly gain great field position making it much simpler for them to score.

The Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill & running back Reggie Bush have both surprised people with higher levels of performance than expected but they are both some way off elite & could both be shut down by the Arizona defense. Miami are pretty sound defensively but they'll need to be as the offense won't score too many points for them here, we can see Arizona gaining a lead & slowly crushing the life out of the Dolphins here,the offer of 8/11 for the Cardinals to be winning at half time & full time looks a great bet.

Selections:
New England Patriots to beat Buffalo Bills with a -3.5 point handicap at 10/11 (General)
Wes Welker to score first touchdown at 10/1 (Paddy Power)
San Diego Chargers to beat Kansas City Chiefs by 1-6 points at 7/2 (General)
Arizona Cardinals HT/FT v Miami Dolphins at 8/11 (Ladbrokes & William Hill)

Southampton's Defence still looks more Sinful than Saintly

We're back on the football betting & looking for another weekend like last one - as usual we've scoured the leagues & come up with bets after looking at form, team news & matchups of styles to try to find some value bets. With at least 5 rounds of games played in the leagues now plus some cup action too it's now possible to have a real feel for which teams have progressed & regressed over the summer & new managers' philosophies are starting to be accepted, it should mean a few less shock results but of course nothing's guaranteed! A top tip in general is to try to disregard teams' reputations that may well have been garnered some time ago & pay attention to their quality right now, Liverpool for example continue to be underpriced in virtually every game even though they struggle to score & at times look disjointed. You don't necessarily have to back against these types of team but they should certainly be left out of multiple bets until their prices lengthen & become more realistic.

Everton vs Southampton

(Leighton Baines is on top form just like many of his Everton colleagues)

We've had a lot of love for Everton this year tipping them up as our Premier League handicap bet & reckoning they could get a quicker start than their usual poor early season form, they've duly obliged so far & they could give Southampton the runaround at Goodison Park this Saturday. Nigel Adkins' side have been shambolic defensively even allowing for the fact they've played some good sides so far with 15 goals conceded for an average of 3 per game & it won't get easier against an Everton side that can mix it up with physicality & class in attack.

Southampton fans may be feeling a little more positive after winning twice in the last week, putting their first points on the board after coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 & then taking care of Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup even whilst resting players - we think it will take a lot more in this one though as Everton are a big step up. Crucially here Southampton's style of play that helped them unsettle Manchesters City & United just shouldn't cause Everton the same problems as they have good central defenders who can cope with Rickie Lambert physically & decent fullbacks who are well protected too to stop Southampton's crosses ever getting in the box.

Everton didn't rest quite so many as Southampton in the week when getting knocked out by Leeds but that loss shouldn't be much of a blow as they look to get as high a league position as possible, Marouane Fellaini continues to be just about the hottest player around & they've even got Anichebe scoring goals! Nikica Jelavic is coming back to fitness & could start here, adding another string to their bow & Leighton Baines & Steven Pienaar will provide him & Fellaini with excellent service as usual. Everton should score & we can see them doing so more than once, their defence should cope better than Villa's youngsters did last Saturday & we fancy them with a -1 goal handicap at odds of 5/4. For a goalscorer bet you could do worse than taking the 5/1 for Leighton Baines to score anytime, he bagged one against Swansea & is Everton's penalty taker plus many free kicks, Southampton gave penalties away against United & City & although those were saved, Baines would almost certainly not be so timid as the takers in those games.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday

(Gingle-Gangle: Tongo Doumbia is a class act at Wolves)

In the Championship we see another form side with Wolves who've won their last three in the league & won't be too concerned with the beating they took at the hands of Chelsea in midweek - they started with 10 different players to their win against Peterborough on Saturday. After a reasonable start to the season it's been all downhill for Sheffield Wednesday as they haven't been able to get it going at home or on the road, a porous defence doesn't help with them having conceded two or more goals in 9 of their 10 competitive games this season. Being poor defensively is not a good idea when playing Wolves as they have one of their Championship's best strikers in Sylva Ebanks-Blake who is perfect at this level with his strength, balance & shot power being key attributes.

Wolves deserved to finish bottom of the top flight last year as they hadn't assembled a Premier League style set of players, it did however mean they were well suited to take on the different challenge of football in this division. The Midlands club have also done a mean piece of business by picking up Mali's Tongo Doumbia on loan with a view to a permanent signing - Arsenal were said to be looking at the midfielder last year & he's looked a class apart at times this season. We think Wolves should win this one with home advantage & odds of 10/11 are fair but an even more certain bet for our money is over 2.5 goals at 8/11, Wolves have kept clean sheets in their last two league games but against poor sides (Ipswich & Peterborough) & Wednesday do hold an attacking threat, Wanderers even seemed a bit shaky when 2-0 up on Leicester & this could be a goal fest.

Tranmere Rovers vs Brentford

Talking of form sides, there aren't many in better nick than Tranmere Rovers at the moment - they've won 6 from 8 league games, have a perfect home record & have scored the most (21) & conceded the least (4) goals in League One, they have a test today in Brentford but there's good reason to think they'll overcome it.

(Tranmere's Andy Robinson has found his shooting boots with 7 goals already this season)

Brentford have made a decent start themselves & have bagged 12 points from their opening 8 games, they have however not won away from home, grabbing 3 draws from 4 road games & we were less than impressed when watching them huff & puff away to Leyton Orient three games back. Brentford will have to go some to stop Tranmere's Jake Cassidy, the tall 19 year old has returned on loan from Wolves again this year after making a big impact at the end of last season & has bagged 7 times already with those coming in their last 5 games. It should also be noted that Brentford have only played one team that currently sit in the top half of the table (a 2-2 draw with Walsall) so this is a big step up in terms of quality of opposition for them & we reckon they'll come up short against Tranmere & their +17 goal difference - take the huge odds against bet of 11/10 on Tranmere.

Selections:
Everton to beat Southampton with a -1 goal handicap at 5/4 (Ladbrokes)
Leighton Baines to score anytime at 5/1 (William Hill)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday over 2.5 goals at 8/11 (Various)
Tranmere Rovers to beat Brentford at 11/10 (General)

Monday Night Football - Blackpool attack can light up Huddersfield defence

A lovely two out of two football bets for us at the weekend hopefully makes up somewhat for a horrible Thursday night, we're taking a look at the Monday Night Football games from the Championship as Blackpool take on Huddersfield & the NFL as Green Bay travel to the hostile environment of Seattle. If you aren't doing so already you can follow us on Twitter @likebuyingmoney by finding us on there or by clicking the Follow button at the top of the page - we're blogging & tweeting right through the football seasons.

Blackpool vs Huddersfield Town

The live English Championship match comes from Bloomfield Road as Blackpool entertain newly promoted Huddersfield Town. The Tangerines have made an impressive start to the season & another victory over Huddersfield will see them return to the top of the table.

 (Tom Ince has made an outstanding start to the season for Blackpool)

Blackpool's home form has been impeccable with three wins & they have dished out hammerings to Ipswich Town (6-0) & most recently Middlesbrough (4-1). That Middlesbrough win looks particularly good after Boro went & took maximum points off of  table toppers Blackburn in their next game. Youngster Tom Ince has bags of potential & it seems a number of Premiership clubs are keeping a close eye on him & who can blame them when already this season he has registered six goals & five assists. The Blackpool squad has plenty of experience & the loan signings of Nouha Dicko & Nathan Delfouneso have slotted straight in with a couple of goals each, with goals throughout the team & an attacking philosophy they are ultra dangerous.

Huddersfield will be pleased with their start & are unbeaten in their last five league games with three wins & two draws after an opening night defeat against Cardiff City. After losing striker Jordan Rhodes, for a handsome fee, they have responded well however all but one of their points have come against sides 16th or lower in the league & this is a much sterner test. The Terriers only gained a 2-2 draw when away to Ipswich & we think that is pretty average form against a side in disarray, Blackpool will play at a high tempo & youngster Nouha Dicko could give left back Paul Dixon a really hard night.

This will be a step up in class for Huddersfield against a side full of confidence & in front of a buoyant crowd & Blackpool should get the points at the best priced of 8/11, however you can also take advantage of Paddy Power's wincast market where you can get 11/4 on Blackpool & in form Tom Ince as an anytime scorer. England manager Roy Hodgson recently said he may have to look at the Championship as well as the Premier League & Tom Ince may well get into a squad soon, we'd take him over Theo Walcott right now without a moment's hesitation.

Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks

We've an intriguing game for Monday night's NFL as the high powered but rather misfiring Green Bay Packer offense go on the road to take on the Seattle Seahawks at their excellent CenturyLink Field stadium.

(Kicking could be prevalent in the Packers' game at Seattle)

We don't mention the Seahawk's home venue without reason - CenturyLink Field is one of the noisiest venues in the NFL along with the Detroit Lions' Ford Field & it can make it difficult for opposing offenses to communicate effectively. One of the Packers' strengths comes from Aaron Rodgers' on-field play calling when he spots mismatches but if his offense are unable to hear those calls it will make things tough especially when trying to convert on 3rd down situations. The Seahawks are pretty strong defensively & at this early stage of the season rank 2nd against the rush & a respectable 13th against the pass, Green Bay have problems at running back & will be unlikely to get anything going here. With the Packers maybe a little one dimensional the Seahawks will fancy themselves to keep this one tight.

(We're hopefully going to see some 'Beast Mode' from Seattle's Marshawn Lynch)

Green Bay are also giving up over 5 yards a carry & Marshawn Lynch will be licking his lips at facing them, he's Seattle's star offensive player & should see plenty of action as they look to keep young quarterback Russell Wilson out of the firing line. Lynch's total rushing yards have been marked up at 92.5 & in week one he only just failed to get that with 85 & last week racked up 122 yards & we think he's a solid bet to get at least that as he looks for another 100+ yard game. The Seahawks will however struggle to pass effectively as rookie quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the weakest in the league & Green Bay love to rush the passer with Clayton Matthews in scorching form & 6 sacks from his first two games. Basically both sides could find it tough to move the ball with fluency & that could mean that field goals end up coming into play, between them the two sides have scored 8 (attempted  9) in their opening two games & having a flutter on over 3.5 field goals here could be prudent. The Seahawks could cause an upset but the odds aren't quite good enough & they're only getting a 3 point lead on the spreads, we've looked at the situation & the Marshawn Lynch & field goals bets look the best on offer.

Selections:
Blackpool to beat Huddersfield Town at 8/11 (General)
Blackpool to win & Tom Ince to score on the 'wincast' market at 11/4 (Paddy Power)
Marshawn Lynch total rushing yards over 92.5 (BlueSquare, Paddy Power & 888Sport)
Over 3.5 field goals in Green Bay Packer at Seattle Seahawks at 10/11 (Bet365)

NFL Week 3 - Top Notch Texans can reach Mile High Pinnacle

We've been waiting to see our Super Bowl fancies the Houston Texans as a main game on TV & we get it this Sunday when they take on Denver, we've got that game covered plus an under points bet from another as we look to ramp it up in the 3rd week of NFL action. It was disappointing to see the Carolina Panthers so readily outpointed on Thursday night after we tipped them up before a major plunge on them throughout the day as the news of the Giants' injury problems filtered through, the Panthers rather froze under the big lights of national TV & look like to be a highly inconsistent lot.

Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos

We're big fans of the Texans here at Like Buying Money & were keen on their chances last year when they started the season at 25/1 for the Super Bowl, this year they were 12/1 & shorter but they've already contracted to odds of just 7/1 & are vying for favouritism with the San Francisco 49ers. They take on Peyton Manning & the Denver Broncos at altitude this Sunday & it's certainly a tougher challenge than their first two games but there's good reason to think they'll prevail up at the Mile High Stadium.

(Brian Cushing (56) & J.J. Watt (99) are two of the NFL's best young defenders)

It's easy to see why the rest of the world are becoming so sweet on the Texans as they are maybe the best balanced team in the league with a vastly improved defense, partly thanks to the great work of co-ordinator Wade Phillips & also some great young talent. On the offensive side of the ball Houston have arguably the best running back & wide receiver in the NFL in the form of Arian Foster & Andre Johnson respectively plus a solid offensive line that protect dependable passer Matt Schaub very nicely indeed. This season the Texans have allowed the fewest passing yards & points in the league (just 17) & taken 3 interceptions, forced 2 fumbles & sacked the opposition quarterback 6 times. Defensive end J.J. Watt has been exceptional so far with 3 sacks already & some reckon he's playing as well as any football player on either side of the ball right now. Peyton Manning had one of his wobbliest ever performances last week when throwing 4 picks against the Falcons last week & this is a much tougher defensive unit, he's proven to be strong mentally but he still has to prove he's back to full physical strength after a year out.

The Broncos are a talented team themselves especially defensively & we especially like Von Miller & Elvis Dumervil whom have laser tracking on opposition quarterbacks as they look to get sacks & put pressure on at all times. On the offensive side of the ball they have some decent receivers in Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker & tight end Jacob Tamme but no real star & we're still not wholly convinced veteran running back Willis McGahee can be depended on week in week out. Manning could struggle to pass the ball again this week against Houston's talented defense & an awful lot will fall on McGahee's shoulders, unfortunately their running game just can't match up to the awesome dual threat of the Texans' Foster & Tate combo. The Texans can move the ball on the ground & in the air & that makes them difficult to stop, they have little problem pounding it in down near the goal line & that means they'll get touchdowns where other teams may have to settle for field goals. With the Broncos having played on Monday night & having had a little less rest the Texans are an outstanding price to win at odds of 5/6 with William Hill even though they are on the road.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals

There is a really interesting matchup out in the desert as the Philadelphia Eagles travel to face the Arizona Cardinals who shocked the Patriots in Foxborough last week, adding spice to the game is the fact that ex-Eagle Kevin Kolb will be starting at quarterback for the Cards.

(Defensive back & kick return specialist Patrick Peterson is the Cardinal's young star)

The Cardinals have been seen as one of the weaker teams around even though they reached the 2008 Super Bowl but they put in a really nice run in the latter part of last season winning 7 of their last 9 & they've narrowly won both of their games this season thanks in large part to a defense that doesn't give up too many points, tending to restrict opponents to field goals - they've restricted their opponents to two touchdowns or less in their last 11 games. We can't say we're too keen on Arizona's offense which ranks 28th & 30th in rushing & passing respectively & their running has been awful in yards per carry with Beanie Wells gaining 2.8 yards per attempt & Ryan Williams just 1.2, that should just mean they stay even more determined to keep this tight & low scoring. The Eagles are pretty good defensively too & can slow teams down & generate turnovers, their road games also tend to be pretty low scoring with only one of their last 6 away games going over today's betting points total. Totesport are going 43.5 for the total points & that looks big as other firms are going 42, this could be a really tense affair & with Michael Vick still not firing at QB for the Eagles this may be the lowest points total this week.

Selections:
Houston Texans to beat Denver Broncos at 5/6 (William Hill)
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals to go under 43.5 total points at 10/11 (Totesport)

Toon Army versus Canaries? It hardly seems fair!

We're back to weekend football action after a rather packed midweek with lower league matches & plenty of top flight sides in European action, we've picked out a couple of bets as we look for quality to prevail over a couple of sides that could be in for long & unhappy seasons. You can keep up to date with all of our latest blog posts by following us on Twitter @likebuyingmoney by checking us out on there or by clicking the Follow button above.

Newcastle United vs Norwich City

(Demba Ba's scored goals & goals & goals when played through the middle - maybe he has a point?)

Backing sides after they've competed in Europe in midweek is usually a sure way to the poor house but at only just a shade of odds on Newcastle United look value to beat Norwich who've been pretty disappointing so far this season. Chris Hughton returns to Newcastle without a win under his belt in the league with his East Anglian side, they took a beating on the opening day from Fulham & have since played out three rather dour draws against Spurs, QPR & West Ham. The big positive here is that Alan Pardew showed what his priorities are by fielding a second string side in Portugal in the Europa League meaning he clearly sees this as a game he's desperate to win.

We felt that Norwich really over performed last year as they don't have an awful lot of quality throughout the side & tend to only have one tactic which is getting it out wide & whipping in crosses to star striker Grant Holt. They didn't lose any players in the summer but that was because no other club wanted them & the transfer activity they undertook themselves didn't impress us with Robert Snodgrass from Leeds maybe their biggest piece of business.

Newcastle burst into a bit of life against Everton on Monday playing some good football in periods, they were certainly fortunate to get a point thanks to some pretty awful work by the linesman on two occasions, but overall they showed more than enough to be strong favourites to win at home here. Newcastle can gain their first win since the opening day at odds of 4/5 - they are as short as 8/15 elsewhere so punters should get their bets on early before this ace value disappears. Striker Demba Ba & his agent have been making plenty of noise in the media but Newcastle can cope with that on the pitch & don't let that put you off a golden wager.

Bury vs MK Dons

(Ryan Lowe returns to his old Gigg Lane haunting ground)

League One sees bottom of the table Bury entertain MK Dons at the Gigg Lane Stadium, the home side have made an awful start with four defeats & no victories in their seven league matches. Last season the Dons gained 80 points to Bury's 56, so averaging over 1/2 a point more per game & the gap in quality between the two sides looks to be even bigger this year as Bury just haven't been able to get a thing going so far. It looked like a battling draw away to big boys Sheffield United might be able to kickstart Bury's season but they then went & got thumped 3-0 by Tranmere on the same weekend that MK Dons put in a convincing display, controlling possession when beating highflyers Yeovil 1-0.

The only worry with MK Dons in this one is that they haven't really hit the goalscoring trail yet with 7 in their 7 league games & only the youngster Daniel Powell having hit the back of the net twice - he only scored 6 league goals in 41 appearances last year so they can't be relying on him too heavily. Luckily they are up against a porous Bury defence that have already conceded 12 this season & let 79 goals in last year & they've only scored 5 themselves this time around. Bury just don't have a proven goalscorer & they look in serious danger of relegation this year, they could come face to face with ex-favourite Ryan Lowe as he's now with the Dons. At odds of Evens MK Dons should be backed to heap more misery upon the Shakers.

Selections:
Newcastle United to beat Norwich City at 4/5 (Bet365 & Bodog)
MK Dons to beat Bury at Evens (General)

Shooutouts in North London & North Carolina

We're feeling a bit happier now as our success rate over the last couple of weeks has improved as the football season has started to mature a little, those few more games really make a difference as you get to see how teams perform against different styles & quality & means betting can be that bit more informed. We were delighted to see Real Madrid keep pushing to the end on Tuesday night & Bradford did things a little more easily as the pair brought in both our bets - this Thursday we're going back to Europe as we look at the Europa League & Spurs' opening assignment plus NFL betting as the New York Giants travel to Carolina.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Lazio

 (Jermain Defoe is relishing currently being the main man for club & country)

Spurs start their Europa League assault against Italian side Lazio at White Hart Lane, manager Andre Villas-Boas won the trophy in 2011 with Porto & has vowed to take the competition seriously unlike previous boss Harry Redknapp. Spurs won their first game of the season on Sunday vs Reading thanks to a brace from in-form striker Jermain Defoe & he will likely lead the line again with Emmanuel Adebayor sidelined. French captain Hugo Lloris & Clint Dempsey are likely to make their first starts for the club & fringe players Michael Dawson, Steven Caulker, Tom Huddlestone & Andros Townsend could feature

Lazio have made an impressive start to the Serie A season with three straight wins against Atalanta, Palermo & Chievo Verona. Brazilian midfielder Hernanes & veteran striker Miroslav Klose have scored six of their seven goals so far & they should line-up in a similar fashion to the one that beat Chievo. Both sides are packed with high quality attacking options & with Spurs' record of conceding & scoring in every game so far this season the 10/11 on both teams to score looks a solid bet.

New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers came up with a nice result when turning over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday & they now host another of the NFC's big hitters as champions the New York Giants look to continue to put points on the board after outgunning Tampa Bay 41-34 at the weekend. The Buccaneers actually provide us with a bit of a form guide as Carolina took them on in week one in a very different contest where the Tampa Bay prevailed with a 16-10 victory in a rather dour affair. The Panthers really struggled to run the ball in that week one game & that could be the Giants' key to slowing them down as quarterback Cam Newton is just about the most mobile starter in the league & keeps any defense guessing. The Giants are especially good in the pass rush though meaning they'll be coming after Newton with regularity but the defense will need to be sharp as they're missing a couple of starters on offense.

(Brandon LaFell hauls one in against the Saints as he gains 90 receiving yards)

The Giants' starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw is out with a foot injury & Andre Brown will line up as starter instead, he did well against Tampa Bay with 71 rushing yards & there's no reason he won't get some success here. Bigger for the Giants is that key receiver Hakeem Nicks is out - he looked awesome on Sunday when gaining 199 receiving yards & will be missed here. Eli Manning will also be missing another receiver to pass to with Domenik Hixon out & that should mean that Victor Cruz gets a very heavy workload & he should get a touchdown as New York are very much a passing team - odds of 4/7 for him to score reflect this.

Although the Panthers lost to Tampa Bay you'd be hard pushed to say they aren't a better team & they have two receivers who could really hurt New York's still ropey secondary in the speedy & dependable Steve Smith & 3rd year pro Brandon LaFell who looks like he might have a breakout year. LaFell could really cause the Giants some problems as he's a big physical receiver & they couldn't cope with a similar type in Vincent Jackson last time out. The Panthers will need DeAngelo Williams to be on his game at running back though as Jonathan Stewart looks like missing out, there are points to be scored against New York & so long as they don't fall behind like they did against the Saints they could win this one nicely. The Giants are more likely to be affected by the short preparation time as they have to travel & being without Bradshaw & Nicks could be the killer blows, backing the Carolina Panthers to prevail at odds of 5/6. In the touchdown markets we do really like Brandon LaFell & he's 11/1 to score the first TD with Ladbrokes - it looks worth a small wager.

Selections:
Both teams to score Spurs vs Lazio at 10/11 (BlueSquare)
Carolina Panthers to beat New York Giants at 5/6 (Various)
Brandon LaFell to score first Touchdown at 11/1 (Ladbrokes)

Real to show City what being Elite in Europe is all about

The Champions League begins again this Tuesday & is undoubtedly the premier club competition in the world, we're taking a look at the glamorous Real Madrid vs Man City tie plus have a pick from the lowest tier of English professional football as we seek the value high & low.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Manchester City embark on their second season in the Champions League after disappointing last year & going out at the group stage & in their opener they face maybe the toughest fixture in Europe when taking on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Mancini will almost certainly be sending his side out with the intention of nicking a draw but that could prove some way beyond them if Madrid can pick themselves up after a very poor start to their league season.

(Will Manchester City be able to cope with the skills of Angel Di Maria?)

Mourinho has publicly questioned his players spirit, suggesting they've only really got up for their Spanish Super Cup games with arch rivals Barcelona so far & they slumped to defeat at Sevilla at the weekend. That Sevilla game could prove a bit of a wake up call though & they have players who tend to be able to rise to the occasion & this is the greatest club competition in the world. Real Madrid won all of their home games in the competition last year & only went out in the semis by penalties, Man City meanwhile struggled on their travels & only picked up a win in their group when taking on the woeful Villareal who ended up without a single point. It takes a while to learn how to play in Europe & City are taking their first tentative steps, of course they weren't helped last year with the Carlos Tevez situation & that is at least seemingly behind them plus Sergio Aguero looks to coming back to full fitness offering them outstanding striking options.

Real do have the pedigree though & the weapons to hurt City, if the English side are potentially vulnerable it would be down the flanks & Cristiano Ronaldo will look to get at Zabaleta & Di Maria will be all over Gael Clichy down the right hand side. They'll have Gonzalo Higuain in the middle & he's looked pretty hot so far this season, taking advantage of Benzema's continuing struggles after a poor Euro 2012 for France. As well as being able to do the pretty stuff Madrid aren't afraid to get physical & they could need to here if they are to stop the rampaging Yaya Toure. We just feel that Madrid are a bit of value at odds of 3/4 at home as they'll look to win this whereas Mancini's caution & City's inexperience could mean they don't offer enough going forward to relieve pressure from defence.

Bradford City vs Morecambe

(James Hanson has 4 goals in all competitions this season)

In League Two Bradford City entertain Morecambe at Valley Parade, after six games each Bradford are in 7th place with 10 points whilst Morecambe are a couple of points back & in 13th. The Bantams have had their struggles on the road so far but have a perfect record in front of their own fans having comprehensively beaten Barnet & AFC Wimbledon (7-0 on aggregate) & also gaining a good 1-0 victory over 3rd place Fleetwood Town. Striking trio James Hanson, summer signing Alan Connell & rising star Nahki Wells have already scored seven league goals between them & will be relishing the prospect of facing a Morecambe defence which has conceded nine goals in six league matches. Morecambe have had a thoroughly mixed start so far with two wins, two draws & two defeats. Most recently Morecambe took 4-0 derby hammering from Fleetwood & that was followed by a dire 0-0 draw against Aldershot on Saturday where they failed to register a single shot on target. Bradford strikers can do the business against an average Morecambe side & bag the three points at the reasonable odds of 5/6 with Coral.

Selections:
Real Madrid to beat Manchester City at 3/4 (BetVictor)
Bradford City to beat Morecambe at 5/6 (Coral)

Monday Night Football - Everton & Falcons can pick apart weary travellers

More Monday Night football action as we see a game between two of the Premier League's teams just off the top set when Everton host Newcastle United & an interesting game in the NFL as the defensively strong Denver Broncos try to slow down the passing hotshot that is Matt Ryan for the Atlanta Falcons. Both games are important even this early in the season as all four teams are looking to lay down a marker as they either push for Europe or a playoff place. We've previewed both games & come up with a pair of bets in each as we look to turn a tidy profit at the start of the week.

Everton vs Newcastle United

Everton started their season off at breakneck pace with wins against Manchester United & away to Aston Villa with Marouane Fellaini excelling in particular, they got brought down to earth with a bump when losing to West Brom though & face a tough game against Newcastle United as they look to bounce back. Newcastle will also be looking to improve after they rather huffed & puffed in a 1-1 draw with Villa at home & they have to make do without their good young keeper Tim Krul who picked up an injury on international duty & that is a setback as they haven't kept a clean sheet in the league yet.

(Technical supremo Steven Pienaar could be the key for Everton)

This could be a game where we see classic home & away roles with Newcastle coming with the intention of firstly stopping Everton, being reactive & forcing the Toffees to come forward with the ball, Newcastle know that they hold a threat whenever they come forwards thanks to their Senegalese strikeforce of Ba & Cisse. Everton tend to look a bit better when teams come at them as they have such a solid defence that they feel comfortable when attacked but in Steven Pienaar they have a player who can unlock the toughest defences when on form. With the signings of Kevin Mirallas & Steven Naismith they've added some additional quality & much needed extra options in attack & with the set piece danger from corners & Leighton Baines' free kicks they should be able to knock one past Steve Harper.

Newcastle will again be without their key midfield enforcer in Cheick Tiote & he's a big miss in games like this, if Pienaar gets time on the ball he should be able to create enough chances, even if Newcastle do defend deep, & Everton now have players who can put those chances away. Newcastle have already played 5 times thanks to their European commitments & they've got a Europa League game against Maritimo on Thursday night, although this game will take priority Everton have the advantage & we like the 5/6 available for the home win. We do think Newcastle will make this tough though & a small wager on a correct score bet of 1-0 to Everton could be worth chancing at 13/2.

Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons

(Julio Jones is starting to emerge as a truly elite receiver for the Falcons)

The Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos go on the road to the Atlanta Falcons after a nice start when beating Pittsburgh at home in week one, this is a much different test though as the Falcons are one of the best teams in the league when in the Georgia Dome. The Falcons have lost at home in the regular season just 6 times in the last 4 years (32 games) & quarterback Matt Ryan looks altogether more comfortable when playing inside - of course playing inside won't be a problem for Manning either having spent his career at Indianapolis.

Both teams looked good last week with Atlanta travelling to take on the Kansas City Chiefs & putting 40 points on the board with Ryan looking hugely efficient completing 23 of 31 passes for 299 yards & 3 touchdowns. Julio Jones was Ryan's main target & he looks like he could be about to move to another level of play at receiver & could be having a monstrous season in terms of receiving yards & touchdowns. The Broncos did well against the Steelers but did have the benefit of going up against their poor O-line & the Falcons are much better at protecting the passer, Pittsburgh also looked to struggle without Rashard Mendenhall at running back & the Fakcons have a dependable sort in Michael Turner. The big positive for Denver was clearly how well Manning has settle into the side & he already looks to have established a good understanding with his receivers with Demaryius homas, Eric Decker & Jacon Tamme all getting 5 receptions each - the Falcons' are a little weak in their secondary & this could be a shootout so we expect Peyton to put up yards through the air again.

(Peyton Manning links back up with tight end Jacob Tamme (no.84))

Although we do think this will be high scoring the total points line is high enough at 52 & instead the value looks to be had by siding with the Falcons as they only have to give up 3 points on the handicap - they are a tough proposition at home & can score touchdowns at will once they get into a rhythm. There is value to be had with a Denver touchdown scorer though as tight end Jacob Tamme is available at 6/4 to score a TD at anytime, he got one last week & Peyton Manning loves to aim for tight ends when in & around the red zone & links up with Tamme after previously being together at the Colts, even though we think Atlanta will win they are likely to concede a few points on the way.

Selections:
Everton to beat Newcastle United at 5/6 (Various)
Everton to beat Newcastle United 1-0 at 13/2 (BetVictor & 188Bet)
Atlanta Falcons to beat Denver Broncos with -3.5 point handicap at 20/21 (William Hill)
Jacob Tamme to score a touchdown at anytime at 6/4 (Various)

Ravens at Eagles - Lots of Squawking & not much Scoring

We were disappointed midweek as the Bears v Packers game was a bit of a damp squib with both teams offensive lines seeming to be made of paper - that will be a feature to watch for the rest of the year because if hey can't protect their passers neither side can be considered for the Super Bowl. We're back this weekend with picks from three games including a potential defensive showcase as the Ravens travel to the Eagles & we've some touchdown scorer bets that seem a little overpriced with certain bookmakers.

Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles

When we started looking at this weekend's games we'd already pinpointed the Baltimore Ravens v Philadelphia Eagles as potentially the lowest scoring game of the week as two scary defenses come up against each other so we were surprised to see the total points line set at a large 46.5 points. Last year the Eagles had just 6 games go over the 46 points set here & the Ravens had just 4 of their 18 games (inc playoffs) go over, so from 34 games played just 10 went over & it seems amazing the line is so high.

(Coach Andy Reid will look to stop the Ravens' offense - cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will be key)

Baltimore got a load of points on the board against Cincinnati on Monday night but the Bengals defense didn't seem to be able to adapt after setting up to stop Ray Rice running & made it too easy for Joe Flacco to use his arm strength & find targets down the field, it will almost certainly not be that easy to do the same against the Eagles. Philadelphia have two ace defensive ends in Trent Cole & Jason Babin who will ensure the pass rush against Flacco is strong & if he does get the ball away their corner backs Nnamdi Asomugha & Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are amongst the best around & should give receivers Torrey Smith & Anquan Boldin problems. Philadelphia weren't at their best last week with Michael Vick throwing 4 interceptions & they're arguably coming up against the best defense in the league with the Ravens, they won't have to deal with the threat of Terrell Suggs in the pass rush but Baltimore still looked stifling without him.

We can see both teams looking to their star running backs in Ray Rice & LeSean McCoy as they try to avoid turnovers & that should mean that plenty of time runs off the clock, this could end up coming down to a field goal & the under 46.5 points must be backed - the price for this should be closer to 1/2 than 10/11.

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

The New Orleans Saints travel up to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Pathers with both teams having suffered losses when favourites to win last week. The Saints were relatively well fancied for a Super Bowl push this year & the 2009 season champions were handed a boost when their players suspended for their part in the 'Bountygate' scandal were cleared to play, Carolina meanwhile were fancied by no one even with their impressive young quarterback Cam Newton.

New Orleans will undoubtedly be disappointed to have lost to the Redskins last week especially as they are usually unbeatable at home but Washington are an outfit on the up with a good defense, an emerging talent at running back in Alfred Morris & an exceptional talent in rookie passer Robert Griffin III. The Panthers' loss to Tampa Bay was more worrying as the Buccaneers lost their last 10 games last year & were rarely even getting close to the opposition yet they limited the Panthers to just two scores (touchdown & field goal) as Carolina went down 16-10. The Panthers are just a bit too one-dimensional as just about everything falls on Cam Newton's shoulders, as well as passing for 4,051 yards last year he also added another 706 on the ground & if he doesn't play well they have little chance.

(Lance Moore should score at some point against a weak Panthers defense)

We feel the Saints are being a little underrated here considering that Drew Brees threw for 346 yards last week & the Panthers ranked just 28th against the pass in 2011, he's got every opportunity to pick them apart here & put huge numbers on the board & taking New Orleans with a -2.5 point handicap looks a very sound bet. A favourite target of Drew Brees' is Lance Moore & he looks a reasonable price at 8/5 to score anytime (8 TDs each of last two years) & 12/1 to score the first touchdown.

Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers

We were pleased to see the San Diego Chargers get their season off to a good start with a win away at Oakland, that was a tough fixture & they'll find it considerably easier when they host the Tennessee Titans. The Chargers were certainly helped by some atrocious special teams play from the Raiders but they were pretty resolute defensively & Philip Rivers looked accurate & efficient after a wobbly 2011 season, it helps that he was so well protected & was sacked just once last week.

(Philip Rivers & Antonio Gates can combine to winning effect for the Chargers)

Both of these teams seem to have problems running the ball with the Titans' star back Chris 'CJ2K' Johnson being wildly inconsistent & again last week he was ridiculously unproductive on the ground with just 4 yards from 11 carries, he does offer a threat in the receiving game though & his ability to break monster runs can't be ignored. The Chargers are really struggling without Ryan Mathews (injury) & he looks set to miss this one again, they only managed 32 rushing yards last week but we feel they have the better quarterback & set of receivers so it shouldn't hurt them so much here. We like the Titans' rookie receiver Kendall Wright but he might need a few more games to be seen to full effect & Nate Washington is capable of making huge plays, they will however struggle until Kenny Britt gets back to fitness, he looks like playing here but could be eased back in. The Chargers will use back Ronnie Brown for plenty of short passes & have an ace tight end in Antonio Gates plus Malcolm Floyd, Robert Meachem & Eddie Royal all as dependable receivers.

We think the Chargers' defense will give young quarterback Jake Locker plenty to worry about with Donald Butler coming after him & Eric Weddle waiting in the backfield to mop up any misplaced passes. The Chargers should take advantage of this being a home fixture & overcome a -6.5 point handicap to win by a touchdown or more. Rivers' most likely target when he gets around the end zone is Antonio Gates & the Evens that he gets a touchdown with Skybet looks generous especially as he's 2/9 with Paddy Power!

Selections:
Baltimore Ravens v Philadelphia Eagles to be under 46.5 points at 10/11 (General)
New Orleans Saints to beat Carolina Panthers with -2.5 point handicap at 10/11 (General)
Lance Moore to score first touchdown at 12/1 (William Hill) & anytime at 8/5 (Bet365) Saints v Panthers
San Diego Chargers to beat Tennessee Titans with a -6.5 point handicap (General)
Antonio Gates to score a touchdown at anytime at Evens (SkyBet)

Home Wins on the Horizon - Gills, Tigers & Mackems Ahoy!

We're back with picks for Saturday after being let down by Brentford on Thursday night even as they dominated chances thanks to an offside Leyton Orient goal & Brentford's inability to find the back of the net. Hopefully things will run more smoothly here as we avoid League One altogether & instead preview matches from League Two, the Championship & Saturday's late Premier League kickoff.

Gillingham vs Bristol Rovers


 (Gillingham skipper Danny Kedwell has 5 goals (all competitions) already this season)

Down in League Two, top of the table Gillingham host Bristol Rovers at the Priestfield Stadium. Last weekend we tipped up Gillingham away at Barnet & they didn't let us down with a comfortable 3-1 victory. The Gills have 13 points from a possible 15 so far with their only blip being a 1-1 draw with Chesterfield. Skipper Danny Kedwell & striking partner Deon Burton are in good goalscoring form with six league goals between them & midfielder Myles Weston has also chipped in with a couple. After relegation from League One Bristol Rovers have made a poor start to the season with two defeats & two draws so far & needed an injury time equaliser from substitute Fabian Broghammer to savage a 2-2 draw against Aldershot Town last Saturday. They are yet to keep a clean sheet & have conceded eight goals in the process so free scoring Gillingham look a reasonable price at 13/16 to put a few goals past them & keep up their impressive start.

 Hull City vs Millwall


(Abdoulaye Faye - strong at the back & always a threat at set pieces)


Steve Bruce's Hull City are looking to continue their solid start to the season as they entertain Millwall at the KC Stadium. Bruce has made a number of good signings this summer most notably ex-Rangers striker Sone Aluko, centre half Adboulaye Faye & most recently Irish midfielder Stephen Quinn. All three players starred last weekend as they put Championship pre-season favourites Bolton Wanderers to the sword in a comfortable 3-1 victory. Again this season Hull have looked solid at the back with centre half partnership of Faye & Alex Bruce already registering two clean sheets & should be able to cope with the Millwall strike force of Darius Henderson & Andy Keogh. Millwall have made a reasonable start with two wins & two defeats so far but look vulnerable at the back having conceded nine goals in five games in all competitions. Hull can use their solid base to take advantage of the soft Millwall defence & grab all three points at the best price of 23/20 with Betvictor.

Sunderland v Liverpool

Finally we come to the Premier League & the battle of the Northern Irish managers as Martin O'Neill's well organised Sunderland side play host to Brendan Rodgers' underachieving Liverpool. Until Liverpool prove that they can score goals they are a side to be avoided against whoever they're playing, the signing of Fabio Borini for £10m convinced no one at the time & his composure in front of goal has been lacking, Luis Suarez meanwhile pulled his old trick of hitting the woodwork whilst on international duty for Uruguay & doesn't look like the natural predator he was in Holland.

(Sunderland's James McClean is one of the Premier League's brightest young talents)

Sunderland have only had the two Premier League games thanks to their game with Reading being cancelled but they've gained draws at Arsenal & Swansea & should be much happier at home. The signing of Steven Fletcher from Wolves raised a few eyebrows thanks to the fee paid but he's reached double figures in his past two seasons in the league & that's impressive considering he was playing for basically a poor side, he started off in impressive fashion with a brace against the Swans. We like Stephane Sessegnon a lot & the attacking midfielder brings the best out in the players around him, James McClean could be one to benefit here as he looks to prove a point after his Twitter outburst when left out of the starting lineup for Ireland. We basically agree that it was ludicrous he couldn't secure a starting berth for ROI but he shouldn't have spoken out, at odds of 11/2 to score anytime it's worth backing the young Irishman.

Liverpool certainly do have a solid core & are strong at the back with Agger & Skrtel & although Reina seems to be increasingly susceptible to handling errors he's still one of the league's best. Steven Gerrard remains a first choice pick for Liverpool seemingly regardless of his performance levels though & he'll be more tired than most after (nearly) playing two full games for England. At his best Gerrard is still capable of winning matches single handedly with his Roy of the Rovers style but nondescript performances are becoming more regular & if he has one here the Reds could be in trouble. Sunderland should be fresher than most teams & a high energy performance can see them make their odds look a steal, back the Mackems at 9/4 to get the win.

Selections:
Gillingham to beat Bristol Rovers at 13/16 (Pinnacle)

Hull City to beat Millwall at 23/20 (BetVictor)

Sunderland to beat Liverpool at 9/4 (Various)
James McClean to score anytime at 11/2 (William Hill) in Sunderland v Liverpool game

We need to talk about the Bears & the Bees

We've got Thursday night action before we get to the weekend as we see a classic NFL rivalry renewed in Green Bay & a League One football game with Leyton Orient trying to follow up their win against Swindon when they host Brentford. We'll be back with picks for the weekend's football from both sides of the Atlantic as the winter sports season nstarts to motor, get notified of updates to the blog by following us on Twitter @likebuyingmoney by finding us on there or clicking the Follow button above.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

(Packers linebacker Clay Matthews is looking to get back to his 2010 form)

The Green Bay Packers get another chance at home after losing to our picks for the NFC the 49ers when they host the Chicago Bears on Thursday night in a standout matchup from the first couple of weeks' action. The layers are expecting a shootout & they've set the total points line at 50.5 but the score going over that is entirely plausible as both teams' opening games surpassed it (52 for Green Bay & 62 for the Chicago). 12 of the Packers' 17 games last year went 51+ points as Aaron Rodger went pass mad & although the Bears' defense is very good it won't be as tough as the brilliant 49ers & that means we should be looking at Green Bay scoring close to or north of 30 points alone. With the Packers' rushing attack looking weak that should mean they pass even more often  that means that time won't run off the clock so quickly & higher scores become more likely.

(Brandon Marshall has settled in very nicely already with the Bears)

For their part the Bears look to have made one hell of an astute signing with Michael Bush as a complementary running back to Matt Forte, we pointed it out before their opener & he went & proved it by pushing home two TDs when down at the goal line - it means they've improved their likelihood of getting touchdowns when in the red zone rather than field goals & again means higher scoring games. The Packers remain weak in coverage & will struggle with Brandon Marshall who has instantly linked up with Jay Cutler after previously being together at Denver & he should get a stack of receiving yardage again.

The Bears' offensive line still doesn't inspire huge confidence when protecting the passer & Green Bay's defense will be on high alert, especially Clay Matthews who had 2.5 sacks v the Colts after a bit of a down year in 2011 following being named defensive MVP in 2010. If the Packers can't get to Jay Cutler he'll hit Marshall & it will set up Forte to break some big runs & the value might lie here with the visitors at 12/5 with Coral. We certainly like the over 50.5 points bet as this game looks like being a cracker with the Packers difficult to stop & the Bears looking effective in the passing & ground games.

Leyton Orient vs Brentford

Leyton Orient host Brentford at Griffin Park in a League One game as Orient try to catch up with the schedule after having a game with Hartlepool postponed. Brentford are sat in 7th spot on eight points whilst Leyton Orient have played a game less & have three points on the board. Orient's points came as they beat Swindon last weekend to arrest a terrible start to the league season with three defeats from three games against Tranmere Rovers, Stevenage & Crawley Town. An away win at Swindon is impressive on paper but there seems to be a bit of unrest in the Robins dressing room & the result probably said more about Swindon than the O's.

(Clayton Donaldson is in great shape & it's paying off with goals)

Brentford have won two of their last three games against Crewe (5-1) & Colchester (1-0) & have drawn both matches on the road. In their five matches there have been seven goals scored in the 80th minute or later so this game could be in the balance right to the end. We don't think that it will be that close though as Brentford's attacking threat is potent with Clayton Donaldson thriving now he seems to have established himself as the main man up front & the summer signing of the Moroccan Farid El Alagui has added some class whilst striking up a solid partnership with Donaldson.

Leyton Orient have just two goals in the League this year & their best chance of success is surely to try to defend & catch Brentford on the break, we don't feel they have the quality to compete though (finished 20th v Brentford's 9th last year) & Brentford are a fair price at 7/5.

Selections:
Chicago Bears to beat Green Bay Packers at 12/5 (Coral)
Over 50.5 points total in Bears v Packers game at 10/11 (General)
Brentford to beat Leyton Orient at 7/5 (Paddy Power & Coral)

St Louis Lambs to the Slaughter in Detroit

Well we started off with a nice winner on Wednesday night as the Dallas Cowboys didn't need their 4 point head start to beat the New York Giants & we're looking to carry that on in the opening weekend games as we look to find mismatches  exploit them for betting $$$. Follow us on Twitter @likebuyingmoney by finding us on there or clicking the Follow button above - we love sports & betting & love to have more punters join in the conversation.

We fear for the St Louis Rams as they visit the Detroit Lions in their noisy Ford Field stadium on Sunday evening, this is a side that managed just two wins in 2011 up against a team that finished 10&6 with their only failures came against the elite sides of the NFC. To sum up the difference in class between these two teams look at the total points they scored in 2011, there were a huge 474 points for Detroit (4th overall) & just 193 on the board for St Louis (a league worst 32nd) - it seems inconceivable that the Rams can even get close here.

(What a player. What a man. What a MEGATRON! Calvin Johnson for the Detroit Lions)

The Lions have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL with quarterback Matt Stafford prepared to air it out against  anyone & he has probably the league's best receiver in 'Megatron' Calvin Johnson as his main receiver. In addition to Johnson they also have a top ight end in Brandon Pettigrew & Titus Young at wide receiver, Young had a very good rookie season but the whisper is that he looked great in practice & is ready to have a breakout year. The Lions do have problems at running back as first choice Jahvid Best has worryingly still jot yet been cleared after suffering concussion symptoms in late November of 2011, they remain confident he will be cleared at some point but for now Kevin Smith will lead the line. They're pretty good on defense too with the dominating Ndamukong Suh being the leader, he's violently excellent & will look to rough up the Rams offensive line as he aims to get to Sam Bradford. Suh is joined by Kyle Vanen Bosch to form an ace pass rush & we love the big play potential of cornerback Chris Houston who has returend 3 of his 9 interceptions for touchdowns.

The Rams are under a new coach as owner Stan Kroenke (also Arsenal's major shareholder) has brought in long time Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher & they will be desperate for improvement. However new coaching means new plays & schemes & it could take a while before we see any real progress from St Louis. Sam Bradford is a talented if maybe somewhat fragile quarterback, it doesn't help that his offensive line isn't good enough at protecting him & his receiver corps is amongst the weakest in the league. The Rams do have a good tailback in Steven Jackson & a lot of their offense will rest on him again & we like the improvement they've made at defensive tackle selecting the huge Michael Brockers in the first round of the draft & bringing in Kendall Langford from Miami. St Louis look to have way too much to do in this one & the Detroit Lions can cover the -7.5 point handicap with ease. Paddy Power are also going a standout 11/2 about Calvin Johnson to grab the first touchdown, it looks an excellent bet for the receiver who gained 16 last year & also had one from his only reception in their last preseason game.

(The Miami Dolphins aren't very good but their defense is & they could frustrate the Texans)

Our Super Bowl fancies the Houston Texans look to start off at their home of their Reliant Stadium with a nice gentle one against the rather hapless Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins actually had a pretty mean defense last year ranking 6th in terms of points given up & 3rd overall against the run, that is a huge plus when you  have to come up against the Texans' indomitable running back Arian Foster. Along with the Broncos (who had running QB Tim Tebow), Houston ran the ball more than any other team with over 34 attempts a game, with Foster ably backed up by Ben Tate, if they try the same tactics here the Dolphins are a side that can potentially slow them down but not stop them. The Texans are unlikely to run quite so much now that they have starting quarterback Matt Schaub fit & he looked pretty sharp in preseason, he'll have one of the league's best deep threats in star receiver Andre Johnson & emerging wide receivers Lestar Jean & DeVier Posey should also offer options.

We've no optimism that the Dolphins will have sorted their offensive problems this season with the installation of promising rookie Ryan Tannehill as starting quarterback, even if Tannehill performs he really doesn't have the weapons at receiver or tight end to pass to. The Dolphins also aren't great at running back - Reggie Bush has done well since joining from New Orleans but he's basically been disappointing as a pro after being selected 2nd overall in 2006, it remains touch & go whether his knees will hold out for a full season. Even if the Dolphins did have a decent attack trying to implement that against the Texans outstanding D just wouldn't be simple, they're strong at the line & with their defensive backs too & will shut down plenty of sides this year. The total points line has been set at 42.5 in this game but that looks too high, in 2011 both sides had 11 of their 16 regular season games going under 43 points & there's no reason to think it will be different here.

(Touchdown 'Vulture' Michael Bush will be looking to pick up the pieces for the Chicago Bears)

We love some of the value available in the touchdown scorers markets & away from our two games we like the look of Michael Bush for the Chicago Bears. Matt Forte is the Bears main man but they do like to protect him when they get around the goal line & he only actually got 4 touchdowns last year (3 rushing & 1 receiving), they often went to big Marion Barber last year but he's retired & they've brought in Michael Bush from the Oakland Raiders. Bush is renowned for his ability down near the goal line & gained 8 TDs in both 2010 & 2011, with the way the Bears play he is just too big at 11/1 to score first.

Selections:
Detroit Lions to beat St Louis Rams with a -7.5 point handicap at 10/11 (General)
Calvin Johnson to score first touchdown in St Louis Rams v Detroit Lions game at 11/2 (Paddy Power)
Miami Dolphins v Houston Texans under 42.5 points at 10/11 (General)
Michael Bush to score first touchdown in Indianapolis Colts v Chicago Bears game at 11/1 (Ladbrokes)

International Football? Pah! Give us Yeovil v Bournemouth any day!

It's international qualifiers this weekend meaning a break for the top two tiers of English football but that doesn't mean the action & betting opportunities have stopped as we've got League One & Two games as their season really starts to take shape & get rolling. We can't say we're big fans of international qualifiers full stop with some real mismatches & often fairly tepid low scoring games, give us the thrills & spills of the ultra competitive lower leagues any day!

Barnet vs Gillingham

In League Two we have an early season top vs bottom clash takes place as Barnet host Gillingham at the Underhill Stadium, Gillingham have made an unbeaten start whilst Barnet are already struggling with only a solitary point after four games.

(Myles Weston has made an instant impact for the Gills with two goals)

Manager Martin Allen has had a good start to his reign with three victories & a draw in the league so far. On the road they have won both league games beating Wycombe Wanderers & Dagenham & Redbridge & also Championship Bristol City in the Capital One Cup. Last season they were the league's top goalscorers with 79 goals & have started in the same vein with midfielder Myles Weston & skipper Danny Kedwell bagging six between them in all competitions.

Barnet were favorites for relegation in the ante-post betting & so far they are living up to expectations. They have lost three of their four games against Port Vale, newly promoted York City & Rochdale & conceded eight goals in the process. Their draw came against Bristol Rovers who themselves have had a very disappointing start to the season & only sit one place above Barnet in 23rd spot.

Gillingham lost in midweek away to Crawley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy but put up a spirited display & they aren't going to be too disappointed that they now have the league to concentrate on as they look to make a genuine promotion push after last season's disappointment of finishing one place outside of the palyoffs. Gillingham's attacking players will be licking their lips in anticipation of this trip & would expect to add to their goal & points tally against a poor Barnet side at the best price of Evens with SkyBet.

Yeovil Town vs Bournemouth

(Yeovil have surprised many with their start to the season - helped by astute signings such as keeper Marek Stech)

Yeovil have had a cracking start to the campaign & similarly to Gillingham above have begun their season with three wins & a draw in the league, the Glovers are hosting Bournemouth this Saturday & the Cherries have yet to win so far with just three draws & a loss to their name. The two sides also had differing fortunes in midweek in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy matches with Yeovil coming away victorious against local rivals Bristol Rovers with a 3-0 win & Bournemouth losing to fellow south coast side Portsmouth on penalties.

Yeovil have basically looked very impressive this year, dominating against Coventry in their first game (65% possession) but only getting a 1-1 draw, they've been more clinical since & gained great away wins against Brentford & Scunthorpe before a measured 2-1 win against Doncaster last Saturday (Doncaster only scored with a late consolation goal). New goalkeeper Marek Stech has slotted right into the team & with more game time the 22 year old Czech stopper could make up into a player who can compete at a higher level, they've only concede 3 in their first 4 games. Stech will need to be at his best because Bournemouth shouldn't have problems scoring with Lewis Grabban up front although they could do with local lad Matt Tubbs coming back to form.

Bournemouth scored three against Sheffield United last week but still ended up losing 5-3 & have conceded in all of their games so far (three 1-1 draws), we're unconvinced that their rearguard can keep Yeovil's in form strikers out & that may prove their achilles heel here. Yeovil have brought in two new strikers in veteran James Hayter & loanee (from Reading) youngster Gozie Ugwu but both have bagged three goals in their opening games so far. Hayter was a bit of a risky signing as his scoring record for Doncaster was unremarkable before being released in the summer but he seems to have enjoyed coming back down south & he could punish the club where he started his career here. Bournemouth will be feeling disappointed after putting up spirited displays against Sheffield United & Portsmouth yet still coming away with nothing, whereas Yeovil are on a roll after three successive league wins & they can outplay & outscore the Cherries at generous odds of 7/5.

Selections:
Gillingham to beat Barnet at Evens (SkyBet)
Yeovil Town to beat Bournemouth at 7/5 (Coral)

Double on above selections at odds of around 7/2+