A full Premiership programme over the weekend offers an opportunity to use one of Betsson’s specialist markets.

Handicaps markets offer a way of trying to make a game closer or more interesting and can therefore create opportunities to support a team at better prices than in the match odds or conversely at a slightly lesser price but with a little additional help.

Using the Stoke City vs. Tottenham game as an example, you can support Stoke at 1.7 with a goal start so effectively when they kick, off they are leading 1-0 and that “goal” will be added to the final score line to produce the handicap result. Should they draw 1-1, then the “mythical” goal they receive will provide them a 2-1 win for the purposes of the handicap market and you would collect on your bet if you supported Stoke on the handicap market.

These markets are also useful when the home team is a very strong favourite and too short for many punters – a case in point on Saturday would be Arsenal in their home game against West Ham. Providing West Ham with a goal start means the Gunners are a more attractive bet.

One start could be crucial for Potters

Stoke do look to provide an excellent betting opportunity with a one goal start against Tottenham on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp’s men head for the so called ‘Fortress Britannia’ this weekend. The label is however slightly misleading, as for all their blood and thunder, Stoke’s only win against a side in the top half of the table came against Fulham.

However, this is where the handicap bet comes into its own. The Potters may not beat the top teams but they rarely lose to the sides outside of the top three. Already the clubs chasing fourth spot – Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool – have left The Britannia with just a point each.

Therefore whilst many people will want to support the home side at a bigger price on Saturday against the sort of side they are perceived to do well against, surely the better option is to take Stoke with a goal start at a lesser price. If they produce their normal result against this level of opposition that goal start will be invaluable in producing a winning bet.

Stoke can be supported with that goal start at 1.7 in the handicap market on Betsson.

Generous Gunners to give away a goal

The handicap can also be used to create a price that looks more attractive than the match odds in a game which should be a home banker.

The visit of West Ham to the Emirates provides the opportunity to use the handicap market to produce a far better price for Arsenal than is available in the match odds market.

There is a new ruthless streak in Arsenal, just ask Porto, and they should see off their London rivals.

The Hammers don’t have a bad record against the Gunners at the Emirates but they are struggling at the moment and that counts more than past trends.

The handicap means Arsenal have to give a goal start on Saturday evening but that doesn’t look enough for the Hammers. Not only have the Gunners won all eight of their home games so far against teams from the bottom half of the table, they have done so by at least two goals.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United have already covered a two goal margin at home to West Ham and Arsenal should become the third member of the top three to repeat the dose.

Prohibitively priced at 1.24 in the match odds market – a much more attractive 1.6 is available with Arsenal giving up a goal, a margin they should cover comfortably given their record this year against similar sides.

Handicap markets offer another dimension to your betting – check them out on Betsson.

Finally! Drogba returns to the Premiership title race.

Tonight Chelsea got an away fixture at Hull and I expect Drogba to be on fire.

Hull is stuck in the relegation fight after nine games without a win while Chelsea is the clear favorite for the title.

Away win doesn’t pay enough tonight, not even a handicap bet is worth it. The best value in my book is more than 3.5 goals at a price of 2.60. £200.

More Premiership betting.

Tonight we got Sunderland vs Stoke. Stoke are unbeaten in their last three matches including last weekend’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Arsenal and The Black Cats have not won for nine league games.

Away win then? Well, Darren Bent is on fire (four goals in the last six) and the home side usually comes out on top when these two meet. Also, Stoke have great difficulties scoring away.

I smell a draw. At a price of 3.40 it looks like the best bet. £100.