There are a couple of great games brewing midweek in English football and sportsbooks have made the home sides firm favourites to win. The local derby between Manchester City and Manchester United in the Carling Cup semi final looks to be an interesting clash. City have several injury concerns which may make fielding a winning side interesting.

Carling Cup betting odds have City at 6/4 with United kept safe at 2/1. This is the first leg of the semi final with City having first home ground advantage. I don’t know if it will be enough. United are playing well and given the injury concerns facing City – A United win wouldn’t surprise.

The other semi-final has Aston Villa at home to Blackburn with the home side firm favourites at 8/13 to the visitors 11/2. Villa have everything going for them in this tie and should sail home.

In Premier league games, Arsenal have the chance to go level with table leaders Chelsea on Wednesday night when they again face Bolton. Arsenal had Bolton’s measure easily over the weekend and another win is on the cards here as well. Arsenal are 2/9 with Bolton at 16/1. As the odds suggest, another easy win for the Gunners.

The second game on Wednesday night should be a good one. Liverpool host high flying Tottenham in a game that could make or break the Reds. Sportsbooks have Liverpool 6/4 to win with Spurs at 2/1. Liverpool are floundering and seem to have lost their ability to work well as a team. They desperately need a couple of good wins to regain their confidence. A loss on Wednesday night may just be the proverbial straw. At 2/1 and given the current form of the two sides, it’s hard to go past Spurs – Spurs to win and effectively end the Reds season.

If you are feeling a little lucky today then jump in quick and check out the sportsbooks odds at the Brisbane International women’s tennis tournament. The poor old sportsbooks are having to rely on history to frame their markets and that is where we can make a killing – if we get our bets rights.

Let’s see. The favourite is US Open super mum Kim Clijsters at 6/4. Second favourite is Justine Henin at 9/4, she hasn’t played a serious game of tennis in 18 months after retiring. She is back and appears to be full of hunger for more wins. Third favourite is Ana Ivanovic at 10/1. Ivanovic played most of last year but seemed totally off her game and almost disinterested.

Of the three, Ivanovic is probably the one to watch closely. She had a bad year last year – all players are entitled to that. However, and this is where knowing what is happening in their lives can help, she is much more settled coming into this tournament. She has become and adopted Aussie favourite now that she is ‘involved’ with Aussie golfer Adam Scott. She appears more relaxed, is playing extremely well and appears to be enjoying her tennis again.

It’s amazing how much you appreciate your own sport after following someone else around a golf course for 18 holes. Not just for one day, but for four consecutive days, twice in ten days. She supported Scott and now he is at the tennis earning his punishment. At 10/1, she looks to be great value and is our selection to win this tournament.

Justine Henin will be worth watching, particularly when the circuit moves to Melbourne for the Australian Open. She needs some match practice first. As to super mum Kim Clijsters she has returned not only fit and ready to play, but one senses she has returned with an attitude of having fun. If she wins, she wins, if not – on to the next tournament. That can be pretty powerful when it comes to not losing your cool – it can also rob a player of drive when it comes to tough matches. I think we are in for a great year of tennis as the women go back to the future to find their tennis stars. Tennis sportsbooks will be left scratching their heads and wondering who to make favourite while we walk away with extra in our wallets – let’s hope so anyway.

Everton have a perfect Europa League record to date but most sportsbooks agree it’s all about to end. In fact, Benfica are shades of odds on (10/11) to bring that run to an end. Everton on the other hand are out to as much as 4/1 to bring home the three points.

This is without doubt the toughest match the Toffees have had to face so far. Their Premier League record is not fancy either so it is hard to draw a line between these two when trying to determine a winner.

Odds of 4/1 are certainly very attractive as is the 5/2 quoted for a drawn game. One of the difficulties I have with Everton is that for the past couple of seasons they have struggled in all games. It is not until injury time they finally fire up and score winning or equalizing goals. Tim Cahill is one player that seems to be responsible for these late goals.

Whether Everton are just much fitter and able to play out the full games or the opposition starts to relax as it gets close to whistle time, I am not sure. They are certainly heart stoppers if you have your money on them. Of course, the other question tonight is whether or not Benfica turn up ready to play. A home match should always deliver the three points but you still have to work for them.

Everton to win or draw a tight one – with odds on your side you can back both and still profit.

I also find Fulham’s odds interesting with some sportsbooks quoting them at 2/1. They do face a tough battle at home against Roma but with their odds at 8/5, you can almost squeeze a bet on both and profit. With my luck they will produce a draw and I’ll lose both bets. With that in mind, I will beat them to the punch and back a draw at 23/10 – why not?

The major golf tournament for this week is the Presidents Cup, which is a competition between an US team and a team made up from golfers from around the world. A US-against-the-world tournament if you like.

Sportsbooks really like the chances of the US team and have made them short priced favourites at 4/11 to win the tournament. Considering their team makeup, I am not surprised. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk head a group of 12 US players.

For the rest-of-the-world team, captain Greg Norman has recruited a very talented group headed by Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Geoff Ogilvy. Sportsbooks have them quoted at 11/4. The draw is the long shot at 18/1.

With Tiger Woods in the team you could be forgiven for putting all your hard earned cash onto the US team. I am not convinced they can will this format. Norman is a wily campaigner and will get his pairings sorted out quite quickly.

When you get a talented team like this and their golf betting odds are at 11/4 – you really need to think hard.

Woods is not playing as well as he can; Mickelson hasn’t played well for almost a year; whilst Sticker and Furyk are good journeymen on the circuit, they are not huge match winners either.

I am surprised that Norman hasn’t included Irishman Rory McIlroy in his team – he is probably one of the best golfers in Europe at present. It’s an interesting team event that the top golfers enjoy playing. It is also an event that is popular amongst sportsbetting fans. The US has a good record, which they will be eager to defend – however, at 11/4 I am backing the rest of the world to spring a surprise this year.

With American football kicking off its season, bookmakers are lining up the odds. Two games to watch in the next couple of days are Mississippi and Memphis and Colorado State at Colorado.

Paddy Power has Mississippi at 1/10 vs. Mississippi at 13/2 with the game on for today. On the handicap, with 17 points to Memphis’s favor, the odds are 5/6 both ways. At that money, I’ll take Memphis on the handicap. I think Mississippi is strong, but not as strong as that.

And moving on to Colorado, Paddy Power has Colorado State at 31/4 and Colorado at 1/4. Add the handicap – a cool 10 points to Colorado State – and the odds move to 5/6. I say, “Come on”. You’re kidding me. Colorado at +10 and only 5/6? That’s easy money if you’re betting on Labor Day. Of course, the numbers could move by then.

Other bookmakers have Mississippi-Memphis at 10/11 with a 17.5 point handicap going in Memphis favor. A situation like this is where you could win a few bucks on the arbitrage play. The odds are .5 point off, but that extra 5 points on the handicap could make a difference in the long run.

Then there’s the 17.5 handicap at 5/6 with 888Sport. So you can see all the bookies playing right around the same mark. Must mean there’s something to those numbers.

When it comes to American college football, there’s as much excitement in watching the game as betting, but we’re glad for the betting. The opportunities are there to win big with some great numbers. You just have to do you research, find the right bookmaker, and lay your money down.

Although England reclaimed the Ashes in an enthralling final test match, sportsbooks are taking no chances in the Twenty20 and One Day series posting Australia as firm favourites. The second Twenty20 match gets underway tonight with Australia 8/13 in betting against England 6/4.

Australia were well placed in the first Twenty20 game having England in trouble at two down for only four runs before rain came in and saved the day. They will need to be on top of their game if they want to win this second game.

The One Day series starts on Friday with Australia quoted at 4/7 to win the series. England are at 13/8 with the unlikely drawn series at 10/1. Given the fickle weather at present, whilst unlikely, a drawn series at 10/1 is a pretty good bet and worth at least a little saver.

The best odds are in the pick the result betting with Australia at 5/2 for a 4-3 series win; 11/2 for 5-2; 6/1 for a 6-1 win and 14/1 for 7-0 series win. England are 7/2 for a 4-3 win; 15/2 for a 5-2 win; 20/1 for a 6-1 win and 66/1 for 7-0 clean sweep. Other feature bets with online bookmakers include:

• Top Batsman
• Top Bowler
• Top Australia Batsman
• Top England Batsman
• Top Australia Bowler
• Top England Bowler

Australia are hard to beat in the shorter forms of the game and with pace bowler Brett Lee back in the side you can expect to see plenty of action. In cricket the saying is – the faster they bowl the faster they go to the fence. Its true, if you hit the ball. Australia do that well then come out and bowl at your stumps – miss and you’re gone. Australia to win 5-2 – nice odds at 11/2.

Tiger Woods has probably had a lean run by his standards although sportsbooks would probably beg to differ. He may not have won any of the ‘big’ tournaments since his return – in fact, he missed the half way cut in the Open – but he is winning many of the minor competitions.

He is scheduled to appear in another ‘minor’ tournament this week – the Buick Open – and sportsbooks have made him a prominent 13/8 favourite to win. If form was any guide, this would be a two horse race. Jim Furyk, who has been playing some fairly good golf in recent weeks is the only other player close to Woods in the betting, and even then Furyk is at 14/1. The next group in the market are at 30/1 or longer.

For us punters, there is not a lot of value in backing Woods, however, players like Furyk, at 14/1 win or 7/2 for a top five placing; Justin Leonard, Brian Gay and Scott Verplank all come in to play with each way bets. The latter three are each at 32/1 to win or 8/1 for a top five finish.

You could back all four players above Tiger Woods and still beat the sportsbooks at their own game, it would just take one of them to finish in the top five.

The Buick is seen as a decent lead into the major end of summer tournaments and one which Woods would dearly love to win. Given the lack of quality in this field, he shouldn’t have any trouble winning from start to finish – but then, if there is no one to push him, perhaps he may struggle again. Won’t the online bookmakers love him if he does struggle?

The troubled Formula 1 motor racing circus moves to Hungary for this week’s Grand Prix and whilst owners and the sports governing body fight over control of the sports future, sportsbooks are predicting a McLaren fightback.

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t had the best of seasons so far with McLaren. His car hasn’t been able to match it with the top teams. The German Grand Prix was a turning point with his car, thanks to a new fit out, proved to be quite competitive. He just didn’t get the chance to put it to the full test.

He will this weekend and if the car is firing, the current front runners may have to watch out. McLaren have a good record in Hungary, having won the last two Grand Prix there. If Hamilton and McLaren do fire, it will create an interesting mix for both the drivers and constructors championships.

Sportsbooks have Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Brawn’s Jenson Button, co-favourites for the race at 2/1. Red Bull’s second driver, Mark Webber, is on the second line at 4/1 followed by Hamilton at 7/1.

Button currently leads the drivers championship with both Vettel and Webber 20 odd points behind. The two Red Bull drivers are under instructions to run their own races. In other words, there is no preferential treatment and one driver is not going to be used to block others to ensure victory – unless the leader has a big break anyway. So, either driver is still in the race for the drivers championship.

Button, with a two race lead in points is at 1/2 with sportsbooks to take out the championship. Vettel is second pick at 3/1 with Webber, who broke through for his maiden win in Germany last time out, 8/1.

The Hungarian Grand Prix is a tough race on drivers being very technically demanding. Hamilton has the experience and the skill to win through again and with online bookmakers offering 7/1, looks to be a good bet. Webber can be impetuous at times and I question whether he is technically good enough to win.

Vettel and Button are at least a little better. However, Button in his early days often got a rush of blood that saw him spinning out of control. That leaves Vettel, but at his price, he is a little short. Hamilton to break through for his first win of the season.

If history has anything to say then Tom Watson should be a sure thing in the Open Championships. Sportsbooks of course are ignoring history preferring to gamble on current form – and that could be a mistake.

Of course, Tom Watson does have one thing going against him – his age. But on this course, it could also work in his favour. Watson has played this particular course quiet often over the years – and he has learned to master it. Watson won the Open here defeating Jack Nicklaus in an epic battle, but that was 32 years ago of course.

Since then has been back with his latest victory being in the 2003 British Seniors Open. Turnberry is a true links course which many of the younger American players get little experience on – and that includes Tiger Woods.

So why do I mention Tom Watson – surely a 60 year old couldn’t win the Open? Watson sizzled around the course returning a 65 – five under par for the first round. He was only bettered late in the day by Miguel Angel Jimenez, he managed to sink a 60 foot putt on the last. The years that Watson has won here have been on the back of rounds of 65 – coincidence, perhaps, but it does wonders for confidence and golf is a confidence game.

Tiger Woods is still the favourite but he has drifted alarmingly, especially if you backed him at 2/1. He is now out 11/2. Ben Curtis has been a big firmer and is in to 16/1 following his run of 4 birdies in the last 6 holes to join Watson at 5 under par. The best finish by far was by Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya who even par going into the 15th. He drilled a final four holes that read birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie to wind up equal second on 5 under.

Sportsbooks still have him at 66/1 to win whilst Watson is even longer 125/1 – I think a small each way wager at 1/4 the odds for a top finish could pay handsomely here. Given his history, and form in this tournament, 125/1 seems to be way over the odds. Perhaps the online bookmakers will have the last laugh after taking my money, but if Watson does have a top five finish – I will be having an even bigger laugh.

The Tour de France has reached an interesting stage with both race favourite Alberto Contador and sentimental favourite Lance Armstrong in strong positions. In fact, most sportsbooks have them as the only two in the race with Contador in the red at 2/5 and Armstrong at 4/1.

As they approach the alps and the mountain stages, Armstrong appears to be best placed. Many pundits are predicting Armstrong to try and steal a big lead over the mountains forcing Contador to either go with him or to make up a lot of ground over the last week of the race.

Defending champion Carlos Sastre is still in the hunt although sportsbooks have him out of contention at 33/1. Another pre-race favourite, Andy Schleck, is also drifting and is now out to 16/1. The real shock so far has probably been Cadel Evans who was expected to challenge and lead through the early sprints. He has really failed to fire and although still close enough to win, would need a huge form reversal to do so – and sportsbooks agree pricing him out the back at 40/1.

The Tour is one of those races where anything can, and often does, happen. I would not be too quick to rule out Schleck. Whilst all the media attention is being focused on the top two, he is quietly working away at his own plan. He and Sastre are both good over the mountains and at longer prices are much better value.

You can generally get 1/4 the odds with online bookmakers for a top three finish – that puts Schleck at around 4/1 and Sastre at 8/1. There is certainly better value than backing Armstrong to win at 4/1, or Contador to win at 2/5.