UEFA Champions League

I'm seriously considering putting a few bets on the upcoming round of 16 matches for the UEFA Champions League. Nothing too crazy, probably betting Man U and Real Madrid to win, etc. You can also get decent odds on ties, so I might bet a few matches to tie, and if half of them hit, I'll win money.

I know a little about European football, but not enough. Are there any of the 16 teams I should pay particular attention to, or steer away from?

Still debating about UEFA betting. But I did put $5 on Liverpool to beat West Ham and $5on Man United to beat Arsenal. Got Man U at +210.

Betting on English football is a brave pursuit nowadays, given the fact that about 2 players of any team are usually English.

Barca are the better option for the title.

But, to be honest, I wouldn't put it out of the question that Spurs could also get to the final based on how we have played thus far.

If only we could play the same way in the league....

Jesus Christ man, Spurs are doing not bad and are a half decent team, but you are not getting to the final. Your probably not even going to be in the competion again in the next 5 years!

Spurs have a chance, they will beat Milan IMO and go through to the next round. Not sure how the draw is setup but of the remaining teams Spurs can easily beat the likes of Shaktar, Roma, Schalke, Valencia, Marseille and Lyon. They could upset Chelsea, Arsenal, Inter and Bayern too. But they will get spanked by ManUre, Barca, and probably Real Madrid. Spurs should hope for a kind draw, they could sneak to the semis.

Okay, in all seriousness, how the hell does one bet football? As an American, I feel dirty betting on teams to draw, but it's always a good number. Beyond just betting the top teams in the EPL, where can I find value?

Make four predictions and have it run as an accumulator, or alternativley go with safe bet single or doubles and put big sums on it.

Betting for draws will make you money if it comes up, but its very hard to do.

Betting on draws because they have good odds sounds like working it backwards to me. It sounds a lot like the "Hard Way" bets on a craps table. The payoffs are higher, but they're a lot harder to hit than the less glamorous pass/don't pass bets. In short, it looks like a sucker bet. Betting on a sport you really don't know very well sounds like a quick way to lose money. Not that there's anything wrong with putting a few quid to add to the entertainment, but from the sound of it, you'd be making a bet thats not much more sophisticated than the guy at the dog track who bets on the dog that takes a crap before going into the starting box. I think getting into an NCAA men's basketball pool would a lot more fun for the money. In my experience in picking brackets it's a total crapshoot and how much you know makes little if any difference, and it's a month's worth of fun.

Liverpool won it the year they finished fifth....a league position we have not dropped below in nearly two seasons. We also have as muc chance as City and Chelsea of finsihing in the CL spots again this season. So why is it unrealistic?

People said that we would "do and Everton". We topped our group and beat both Milans. So how is getting to the final a "no chance" situation?

Word. That's the exact reason I don't bet college hoops, and rarely bet hockey. The only reason I've bet a couple of EPL games is because I saw what I thought were holes in the line, and I lost both games. There's no way I'd try to set up any kind of system for EPL without doing a ton of study, and honestly, with something like the NFL, you pick up knowledge just by being plugged into the sports scene.

For example...Copenhagen is a 10/1 dog in their UEFA game. That's a great number...but I wouldn't touch it if there's no chance they'd actually win. Is UEFA the kind of tournament where anyone can knock anyone off, or is it pretty much pre-ordained who's going to win? I just don't know enough about the teams and the tournament to bet smartly.

What you want, ideally, are to exploit holes in the lines, ride hot teams and avoid public teams that get their lines jacked up because everyone bets them (the Cowboys and Pats in the NFL, the Lakers and Heat in the NBA, etc). Then you make your bets before the lines move to get the best number. And pray.

Copenhagen are not going to beat Chelsea unfortunatley.

Its a cup competition so upsets will and do happen, but the reality is that from the 16 teams left in the competition, its going to be won by one of:

Man U
Barca
Arsenal (I don't see it)
Real Madrid
Inter Milan
Bayern Munich
Chelsea

To be perfectly honest, you are a lunatic. In the other thread you were getting angry about Spurs not taking the bull by the horns and pushing on with more investment while you are doing well. Completley ignoring the fact that you are currently watching Spurs most succesful and settled period in the last 25 years! That would be the better part of your football watching life time I am guessing.

Try and enjoy it while it lasts. It won't last long when you ship three goals to Wolves and have no consistency. Good players come and go, unfortunatley they frequently go from teams which are not living up to their potential.

Just sitting down to watch Arsenal and Barcelona. Should be a good one...

From what I can tell online, Arsenal is utterly crapping the bed.

That said, I feel awful for anyone who scores an own goal. I can't help but flash back to Andres Escobar...

Arsenal were quite poor, but the game ended up turning on a bad refereeing decision which is a shame.

No matter what country you live in and what team you root for, bad officiating is universal. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armando_Galarraga's_near-perfect_game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hue_Hollins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_to_Officiating_in_Super_Bowl_XL#Reaction_to_officiating

While I don't want to gloat too much since we are almost certain to get booitng out by Milan tonight I thought Arsenal's result was highly amusing, especially in light of their Carling Cup result.

Milan are a team full of old timers and have had their arse handed to them badly by every English team they have played in the last few seasons. Spurs will win quite comfortably.

Arsenal just couldn't live with Barca. The Van Persie sending off wouldn't have made a difference, Arsenal were going out either way.
It's going to take a really top team to beat Barcelona, and I doubt any of the English clubs left will be up to the task.

I put a little bet down on Schalke 04. Winning!

Man, it really hasn't been a good week for Arsenal fans.

Congrats to Spurs, well done.

I enjoyed the game myself. Won a little bit of money on it too.

I don't support any team, but I'm hoping Arsenal win the English Premiership. I prefer the club philosophy to that of Man Utd or Chelsea - fewer big signings, more concentration on developing young players.

The Arse have had hardly any notable young players come through in recent times unless you are counting Walcott.

As for them winning.....no chance.

Jack Wiltshire, Aron Ramsey.......

Arsenal have the easiest run in of all the potential league winners. I wouldn't count them out yet.

Yeah. I guess they have plenty of time to spend on it since they have been shat on in every other competition.

Arsenal are just a bunch of talented bottlers these days. They lack the leadership and characters they had in the past with the likes of Adams, Vieira, Henry etc. They won't be winning the league, they don't have the mettle for it. All the more galling that ManU have one of their worst teams in decades but they are still walking away with the title!

$5 on Man U to beat Marseille. I love betting home teams in a must-win situation, no matter the sport.

That will get you you the grand total of what $7?

Jeez man, grow some balls. At least put a treble on for 3 home wins. Man U, Chelsea and Real Madrid.