The Betting Slip - share your winning bets!

It's 0-0 at half time after an incredibly nervy opening half. Real Madrid had a great chance just before the break though, thankfully they hit the post! Come on Barca!

Well, the second half was pretty one-sided: Barcelona were attacking and Real Madrid were hanging in there. No goals were score until the end of the 90 minutes and Real will have to thank their keeper for that, he pulled off a few incredible saves. My bet was already a losing one since it took into account the result at the end of the regular 90 minutes. But the game went into extra time and I was still hoping to see Barca winning. That didn't happen either, Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Real and it was all over, Mourinho's men lifted the Kings Cup. Congrats to them but Barca will get revenge in the Champions League :)

What a bummer Johnny.  Hope you enjoyed the game even though your bet lost.

blue

What a bummer Johnny.  Hope you enjoyed the game even though your bet lost.

 

blue

The game was quite nice but it would have been a lot more pleasing with a Barcelona win... Hats off to Real Madrid though, they played an almost perfect tactical game.

Alright then, it's finally time for this week's bet. I didn't bet on a hockey match for quite some time and since the Conference semi finals have just started I thought that it would be a nice opportunity to get back on the ice.

What I chose is a low-risk bet, I put my money on a Vancouver Canucks win tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Canucks have already won the first game and my belief is that they won't miss the opportunity to make it 2-0 given the home-ice advantage. Game one was not easy though, the Canucks only won it 1-0, but I'm counting on goaltender Roberto Luongo to keep the door shut again tonight as he has a tremendous season so far. I'm also expecting to see the Canucks' two talented brothers stepping up tonight, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, they didn't score in game one and I believe that at least one of the will do that tonight.

Here's the betting slip from Sports Interaction, the projected winnings are not great but I guess that would do for now just to get back on track.

Good luck with your bet Johnny.  Looking forward to you saying that you won!

blue

Thanks Blue, I hope that the Canucks won't let me down tonight.

Oh no, Nasvhille won 2-1 in overtime! Damn, it seems that I've hit a bad luck streak again...

Awww Johnny.  That's not good news - seems like your luck is on a downturn.  I hope you can turn this around on your next bet.

blue

Awww Johnny.  That's not good news - seems like your luck is on a downturn.  I hope you can turn this around on your next bet.

 

blue

I was quite sure of this bet, maybe I should have thought twice... Anyway, hope I'll do better on the next one.

Alright, it's that time of the week again! I must admit that I'm a bit low on confidence after the last few losing bets but hopefully I'll return to winning ways tonight.

The game that I will follow today is the NBA Conference Semi Final game 3 between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies did a great job to get this far in the playoffs as they knocked out number 1 seeds San Antonio Spurs in the previous round and they also got off to a great start against the Thunder by winning game one on the road. Then they lost game 2 due to some particularly poor shooting but I believe that they will make the home-court advantage count tonight and beat the Thunder in game 3. My hopes lie in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, they have led the team this far and I hope that they will pull off a great performance tonight. Memphis Grizzlies for the win!

Here is the betting slip from Sports Interaction:

Yay, I won! The fantastic Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101 to 93 in overtime! Zach Randolph was the game's MVP with 21 points and a staggering 21 rebounds!

Congrats Johnny.  Sorry I missed your post for the bet and didn't get to wish you luck.  Maybe that's why you won?

Well done to you.  Back in the game!

blue

Congrats Johnny.  Sorry I missed your post for the bet and didn't get to wish you luck.  Maybe that's why you won?

Thanks Blue, you wished me good luck so many times so I guess there was no need to anymore :)

After last week's successful bet I decided to go for a riskier one this time, winning is not too exciting if the risk is low :)

This time I decided to bet on a soccer game, one from the English Premier League to be exact. The game will be starting in less than two hours and it will see the Blackburn Rovers hosting almost champions Manchester United. Manchester United will need at least a draw to be crowned as champions with a game to spare while the Blackburn Rovers might be pleased enough with a point in their battle to avoid relegation since that point could confirm their survival in the Premier League if Blackpool and Wigan don't win today. If this game was played in Italy the draw would have been the safest bet in the world but in England you can't really know for sure. However, I hope that the two teams will provide an entertaining match but in the end both sets of players will see what's the most important: reaching their objectives.

Here is a screen shot of the betting slip from Sports Interaction:

That will be a tasty return - but do you really believe it will be a draw? 

I think Man U will walk all over them personally.  Anyway, I wish you the very best of luck with your bet Johnny.  I hope you are right.

blue

That will be a tasty return - but do you really believe it will be a draw? 

 

I think Man U will walk all over them personally.  Anyway, I wish you the very best of luck with your bet Johnny.  I hope you are right.

 

blue

Well, the Blackburn Rovers are leading 1-0 at half time! I think it's the perfect scenario for me now, Man United will have to attack in the second half and get that much-needed draw! :)

Haha, what did I tell you? :) Manchester United bagged the equalizer 20 minutes from time through Wayne Rooney and then the game cooled off. The last 5 minutes were totally quiet, both teams were just waiting for the final whistle. That gave Man United the 19th Premier League title, Blackburn a good chance of staying up and 12.25 dollars for me :)

hehe - big congrats Johnny.  Your streak continues.....and long may it.

blue

hehe - big congrats Johnny.  Your streak continues.....and long may it.

 

blue

Thanks Blue, two can hardly represent a streak but it feels nice to get back to back wins.

It's a big day in European soccer today: the Europa League final will be played tonight in Dublin and it will feature an all-Portuguese battle between giants FC Porto and surprise package Braga. It's quite obvious that Porto are hot favorites to win this one and I think they will lift the trophy after all. However, betting on a win for Porto wouldn't give me great winnings so I chose a different type of bet.

I placed a bet on the total number of goals that will be scored, I believe that we'll see at least three goals even if it's a final and, like all finals, it might be a nervy game. However, Porto have a fantastic duo in attack with Colombian Radamel Falcao and Brazilian Hulk. I believe that these two players will do a lot of damage tonight and maybe Braga will score one too out of pride :) If you look at Porto's latest results you can certainly understand why I believe that we'll see a few goals tonight (they took the foot off the gas in the most recent game, they saved the goals for tonight):

14/05/2011 Liga Zon Sagres Maritimo Funchal vs. Porto 0:2

08/05/2011 Liga Zon Sagres Porto vs. Pacos Ferreira 3:3

05/05/2011 Europa League         Villarreal vs. Porto         3:2

01/05/2011 Liga Zon Sagres Vitoria Setubal vs. Porto 0:4

28/04/2011 Europa League         Porto vs. Villarreal 5:1

20/04/2011 Taca de Portugal Benfica vs. Porto 1:3

Here's the betting slip from Sports Interaction:

Fingers crossed for you Johnny.  This could be win number 3 - I guess that officially counts as a streak?

blue

Thanks Blue, 3 would definitely count as a streak! :)

So far so good, Porto are leading 1-0 at half time. Radamel Falcao scored what I hope would be just the first of his goals this evening :)

Damn, I should have seen this coming... Braga wanted to attack in the second half but they couldn't while Porto didn't really want to score anymore so the game ended 1-0. I guess I lost this one because I got greedy, I should have bet on a plain victory for Porto, I would have won less money but the streak would have continued... Back to square one!

There's always tomorrow in The Betting Slip (a true story)  ;)

There's always tomorrow in The Betting Slip (a true story)  ;)

Indeed Froggy, there's always hope as long as there is tomorrow :)

What a shame Johnny.  I really thought you had this in the bag.  As you say, back to square one.....sigh.

blue

What a shame Johnny.  I really thought you had this in the bag.  As you say, back to square one.....sigh.

 

blue

Yeah, I was quite sure about it but I overlooked the "final factor", Porto didn't want to take any chances at 1-0...

The biggest event of the week is coming up tomorrow, the soccer UEFA Champions League final!

Two of the most successful European clubs of the season will be meeting at the new Wembley next Saturday to battle it out for the most important trophy in European football: the Champions League. The irony is that FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC each won their first European Champion Clubs’ Cup at the old Wembley! Barcelona won the Primera Liga title quite comfortably, Manchester United won the Premier League title, so both teams will be entering the final with great confidence. They seem to be equal on that aspect and the past record is also even: this is the 11th meeting between the two sides and the record so far is three wins each and four draws. The teams have contested two major finals, Barcelona prevailing in their last meeting in Rome in 2009 while United won their 1991 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup decider in Rotterdam.

However, the odds seem to favor Barcelona. Here's how Sports Interaction see it:

Barcelona v Manchester United

Barcelona  91/100

Draw  49/20

Manchester United  5/2

I am a Barcelona fan, everybody knows that, but my gut tells me that tomorrow's match will go on for more than 90 minutes. That's right, I'm counting on a draw at the end of the regular 90 minutes and I think that the match will go into extra time. I believe that Manchester United will put in a spirited performance and although Barcelona have far more talent in their team the English side has a lot more determination. Here is the betting slip from Sports Interaction.

Enjoy the final!

Good luck Johnny.  I think you could be right about the score at 90 mins. It'll be a nice return if you are.

blue

Thanks Blue. I guess you might call it wishful thinking but it would be a shame to end such a game after just 90 minutes :)

It will be a great match and I too am excited to watch it.

Not sure who I will be cheering for yet though. ;D

Wish you a good luck,Johnny.

Thanks Nan! I will be cheering for Barcelona but maybe only during extra time :)

Well, I lost this bet but I'm not upset at all. I witnessed a lesson of football, Barcelona played an almost perfect game and they deservedly won 3-1. Manchester United stood no chance tonight, Barcelona were just too good for any opponent in the whole world.

They were indeed.  They played a corker.

Sorry you lost your bet though Johnny.

blue

We'll have the Roland Garros Men's Final today and I believe that's the perfect opportunity for a bet. As you know the main favorite, Novak Djokovic, was knocked out in the semi final by Swiss ace Roger Federer. Everybody was expecting Djokovic to compete with Nadal in the final but Federer played a brilliant game in the semi final and earned his place in the final act.

Now the bookies believe that Nadal is the favorite to win the tournament but I think differently. Federer was stunning in the semi final and I believe that he will beat Nadal today! Plus, I like him a lot more than Nadal to be honest :)

So here's the betting slip from Sports Interaction, I really hope it will be a winning one!

Not good, Nadal took the first two sets... I'm still hoping for a Federer comeback but I guess it's highly unlikely... :(

Awww Johnny.  So sorry I missed your betting slip post.  I hope your bet wins and you get a Federer comeback....fingers crossed.

blue

Thanks Blue but it didn't happen... Federer did attempt a comeback as he won the third set but Nadal played him off the court in the fourth set and clinched yet another Grand Slam title. Nadal was unbeatable today, hats off to him.

Unlucky Johnny.  Better luck for next time.

blue

Thanks Blue, I guess I'll take a lower risk next time.

The Dallas Mavericks can win the NBA Finals tonight and they can celebrate that title right on Miami's home floor. That would be an outstanding achievement for Dirk Nowitzki and company but I don't think it's going to happen, at least not tonight!

I believe that Miami's big stars: Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and especially LeBron James will turn up for tonight's game and make sure that the Heat will have the chance of playing a decisive game 7. James has been widely criticized for his performances lately and I think that he will do much better tonight but that's not the main reason why I believe that Miami will win. The main reason is that they also have Bosh and Wade while the Mavericks will probably have to rely on Dirk Nowitzki again.

So I think that the Miami Heat will win game six, here is the betting slip from Sports Interaction:

Best of luck Johnny. 

blue

Thanks Blue :)

Another losing bet, the Mavericks were not to be denied last night as they stormed past the Heat... More about that in the NBA section ;)

Sorry to hear that Johnny.  My fingers were very tightly crossed for you.

blue

I know Blue, you can uncross them now but keep them ready for the next bet :)

I know Blue, you can uncross them now but keep them ready for the next bet :)

Heh - I surely will Johnny.  Will be nice to see a win for you.

blue

This week's bet is a rather exotic one: I put my money on a soccer game from the Brazilian championship! The season has just started and I admit that I am addicted to this league because they play some beautiful soccer over there, I always try to catch as many games as I can on TV.

The match that I have chosen is Ceara vs Sao Paulo mostly because I have been quite impressed by tonight's visiting team so far. Sao Paulo have started the season in brilliant form and they are currently top of the table after grabbing four wins out of four. Ceara have 1 win, one draw and 2 losses to their name but tonight's game will surely be difficult for Sao Paulo since it is away from home. There are two players at Sao Paulo that can make a difference: experienced striker Luis Fabiano who has made a name for himself in Spain while playing for Sevilla and an extremely talented 18-year old midfielder by the name of Lucas (he has already scored 2 goals in 4 games). So there you go, my money is on Sao Paulo!

Here is the betting slip from Sports Interaction: