Two pundits and our professional odds compiler hunt for value in the QPR v Southampton and weekend sporting markets.

The worst column of the season so far last week with just a single 7/5 winner to report between the three of our pundits. Let’s hope that early season spurt wasn’t temporary and they get back to winning ways this week.

Andy Hillman

Winners so far:

NAP: Crystal Palace to win at Peterborough @ 7/5

Just the single winner last week, and Crystal Palace had to come from behind in the last ten minutes to secure that win at Peterborough. I’m in danger of getting cocky and forgetting what made me successful in the earlier part of the season, so it’s back to basics for me this week.

NAP: Arsenal vs Spurs - both teams to score @ 4/7

Look, it’s not the most profitable thing you’re ever going to bet on, but both teams to score has landed in 14 of the last 16 games between the two. I quite like the look of over 3.5 goals at better than 6/4, but I’m playing it safe with BTTS.

QPR related Bet: both teams to score, QPR to win @ 5/2

Yeah, I’m still ploughing this QPR to win market. My bet has evolved from QPR to win, to QPR to win from behind, onto BTTS, QPR to win. Incidentally, Southampton have a worse away record than we do this season.

Inevitable Scorers: Suarez to score first vs Wigan (4/1), Hernandez to score anytime vs Norwich (13/8)

Liverpool, as awful as they are, should beat Wigan, and if anyone is going to score for them it’s Suarez. Hernandez has scored in his last five games in a row, and scored seven in the process.

Longshots - Premier League Draws @ 65/1 & 220/1 (!)

I fancy quite a few draws in the Premier League this weekend - Reading vs Everton, Newcastle vs Swansea, West Brom vs Chelsea & Fulham vs Sunderland. Pinnacle, a new bookmaker specialising in bizarre odds, offers around 65/1 for any three and a whopping 220/1 for all four! (William Hill are only offering 130/1 for all four by comparison...) back the trebles and the quad for small stakes.

Brian Power

Winners so far:

Notebook – Owen Coyle new Scotland boss 10/1

The main event in the racing world this weekend takes place at Cheltenham and the Paddy Power meeting. On Saturday the Gold Cup takes place with Grand Crus a worthy 5/2 favourite. If you fancy Grand Crus to win this and the King George on Boxing Day, Blue Square will give you 10/1. Avoid this as you can get 5/1 on him to win the King George and the accumulative odds if placed as a double at prices of 5/2 and 5/1 is 17.5/1

I will be backing Michael Flips each way at 14/1 in this race as it offers a little bit of value. It ran fifth to Rebecca Curtis horse Gus Mcrae a couple of weeks ago at Ascot and the run should help him. With Ms Curtis in mind she does have two entered on Saturday Take Of Shoc's (IRE) in the 3.40 and my Nap of the Day Tea for three in the 1.55

I am going back to my old ways in an attempt to bolster the Christmas funds with four aways in the form of a long shot but am also tempted at a straight single on Spurs to win at Arsenal.

And as for us well it is a crunch game against the Saints. Both teams should score as they can’t defend and we really do need to be quick out of the blocks to put them under pressure and to pacify what could be a hostile home support if we lose. I looked at the correct score price and 12/1 is very short for the 3-1 to us. 3-2 to us is a more attractive 25/1 and the Power shilling will be going on that. The 7/1 on Hoilett to score first is appealing. Let’s get behind the team and hopefully the win column will have a one in it come 5 o’clock on Saturday evening.

NAP - Tea for three 1.55 Cheltenham

Longshot - Four trebles and a four fold

Balckpool 5/4 at Bristol City

Notts Co 7/5 at Scunthorpe

Oxford 9/4 at Chesterfield

Spurs 31/10 at Arsenal

The Pro

Winners so far:

QPR and Everton to draw 13/5, 18/10/12

Watching QPR this season is taking us fans closer and closer to the building with padded cells. Around 1600 made the trip to Stoke, spending anything between 50-100 quid for the experience, and go pretty much exactly the same as they've seen week after week: little or no real effort or fight for the people who primarily pay their wages. If a plumber came round my house and said 'it'll cost you 50 quid for me to fix that pipe' and then after I'd paid him, he turned round and said 'well to be honest, I can't really be bothered but thanks for the money', we would be outraged. But week after week, this is in effect what is happening to our hard earned. We must be mad - and to emphasise how mad this season has made me, I actually think we are going to win at the weekend.

Southampton were not ready for the Premier League and despite some spirited performances since their arrival, it is plain to see they are the worst side in the division. Even so, they sit above us but I feel that won't be the case come Saturday afternoon. It surely has to be a matter of time before some of our talented players find the net and thanks to our appalling record so far in front of goal, there are a few decent to score anytime prices floating about this week.

I will be splitting my stakes between Granero (4/1 generally) and Diakite (12/1 Coral) to find the net. With Faurlin hopefully re-instated for good, it gives these two more licence to get forward and Diakite especially at home has been getting more and more chances in recent games. Even reading this back I feel I am writing my final preview before entry to the funny farm but the prices are too big based on chances per game so far and I am an eternal optimist.

Weekend Bets - Granero and diakite to score anytime: 4/1 and 12/1 as advised.

Tweet @andy_hillman, @BPQPR, @loftforwords

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