Pick #4 - Southampton vs MANCHESTER UNITED

First and foremost, Leeds finished with a 2-1 away win against the struggling Peterborough last week, who don't look in much better shape travelling to Birmingham Saturday. Chelsea and Man United justified their favoured priced, and Everton proved a sensible pick.

Sunderland's game was rained off, a real Premier League rarity in the modern day. Bristol City slotted away four more against a Cardiff side that are yet to show their best - I was a second away from choosing Cardiff over Leeds last week. Notts county also lost to big underdogs Walsall by a single late goal.

Midweek's cup fixtures were swerved for good reason, as shown by Blackburn and Leicester's losses. Looking to this weekend, only City are heavily priced, 2/9 at home to the mid-revolution QPR. Looking to the lower leagues, Yeovil are off to a flying start, and are priced around 6/4 at home to Doncaster. After announcing plans for a Jessica Ennis stand, Sheffield United host Bournemouth, priced about evens. MK Dons host Carlisle at a similar price.

As always, value can be found in the championship, with Middlesborough 2/1 away at Millwall. Blackburn head to Leeds in what I can see being a score draw, with the draw priced at 5/2.

The Prem holds some interesting fixtures Sunday; Aston Villa look no more promising than last season, and have to travel to St. James Park to face Newcastle, who are favoured at 4/6. Liverpool host another top club, with the draw a possibility again at 5/2. The correct score of 1-1 is relatively short at 6/1 odds.

My pick this week is another away favourite; Manchester United. Despite an opening loss to Everton, and shaky moments against Fulham, Man United are ultimately one of the best sides in the country. Southampton followed an impressive fight against City with a home loss to Wigan, making a bounce back on national TV this weekend essential. The major reason for this week's pick is a consistent theme; Manchester United are the better team and the quality on paper is far superior. The beauty of the Premier League is how anybody can beat anybody on the day. All we can go off is logic, and the quality of players like Van Persie do outweigh the talents of Southampton, a team I believe will stay up this season.

Pick #4 - MANCHESTER UNITED to beat Southampton within the 90 minutes at 1/2.

After this week (providing United win) the money will be paid in and bets will be placed online; shorter odds from bookmaker shops have cost me 25% already.

Pick #3 - Peterborough United vs LEEDS UNITED

Doncaster left it late midweek to beat a 10 man Bury, but the ball keeps rolling. Burton had a more than convincing 6-2 win against Wimbledon and Huddersfield nabbed a late point against the impressive Nottingham Forest. Wednesday was a day of temptation; impatience left we wondering whether or not to choose Chelsea at 3/10 against Reading. Nothing more than timing prevented me from placing the last minute bet, a decision that left me with relief at half-time and regret at full-time.

 

This weekend's fixtures look very interestingly priced. The heaviest major favourite is Manchester United at home to Fulham, priced as low as 1/5 with some bookies. Chelsea are around 1/2 against Newcastle, surprisingly heavy considering the calibre of their opposition. With Chelsea's shaky albeit productive opening pair of wins, Newcastle hold some serious value as an outsider at 6/1.

 

Sunderland seriously tempted me earlier in the week; they're 4/5 in their first home game to Reading. My only problem is how willing Reading may be to settle for a point if they were to sneak an early lead. Everton are away at Aston Villa; going off the two team's opening games Everton may hold the edge. Cardiff's odds have been shortening down to 6/5; they play away to Bristol City, who were terrible last year at home but managed an impressive 4-1 win earlier in the week against Crystal Palace.

 

Like Cardiff, Middlesborough are another team to be potentially pushing for promotion this season. They host Crystal Palace this week at the Riverside who don't look too impressive so far. Notts County are losing value at home to Walsall, down from 5/6, now as low as 6/10. A treble of Everton, Cardiff and Notts County can pay as high as 10/1 dependant on the bookmaker.

 

My pick this week is not one I hold complete confidence in. The price is tasty, with £6.08 returns off £2.70, but that's only with a win. Peterborough have had a nasty start to the season, losing their first two games, one against a Millwall side that they may not be too far from come the end of the season. However, this also means that they need to grab something at home this weekend.

 

Leeds have had a difficult off-season; Warnock's used an inadequate budget to built a surprisingly solid defence. Going forward they do lack creativity, but the likes of Becchio and McCormack are more than capable of finishing whatever chances they get. Ultimately, of the two sides on the pitch this Saturday, Leeds are the superior, and if this game were played at Elland Road, the Yorkshire side would be a banker. I can see Peterborough eventually picking up how they looked early on last year; an entertaining, creative side with a chance of beating anyone on the day. Just, not yet.

 

Where these sides currently are, Leeds look the much better. This week does hold much more of a 'gamble,' but if the prediction pays off, its one step closer from a pound to a thousand.

  

Pick #2 - DONCASTER ROVERS vs Bury

MK Dons eventually broke through in the second half against Oldham, opening the season with a comfortable 2-0 win. Leicester, Sheffield united and Chelsea were also good bets and a reliable treble.

Intially, tonight's fixtures looked too close to call, leaving me leaning towards a patient wait for the weekend fixtures. However, divulging deeper into the football league matchups, several teams tempted me into risking week one's £1.62 returns. Burton Albion look an appealing bet against AFC Wimbledon, with very good value at 7/5. A fixture that makes me wonder tonight is Huddersfield vs Nottingham Forest. I'm still not completely convinced the newly built forest is completely ready, and in their first home game of the season I could see Huddersfield nabbing a win at 17/10.

The solid bet for me tonight looks like Doncaster Rovers, at home to Bury. On paper the recently relegated Rovers look to still possess enough quality to start their home form with a win, priced somewhere between 5/6 and 4/6.

Pick #2: DONCASTER ROVERS to beat Bury within the 90 minutes at 4/6.

Pick #1 - MK DONS vs Oldham Athletic.

The season opener is never an easy one to call. All you can go off are last year's performances and unproven summer deals. On the flip side, this is the same case for the bookies, with few teams favoured too heavily. A treble of Leicester, Sheffield United and Chelsea will pay around 3/1 depending on the bookmaker.

My first pick off the season is based mostly on last season, as well as expectations for the current year taken into account. Last season the MK Dons were consistently a reliable addition to an accumulator, often favoured but reasonably priced. Promotion was a pair of playoff games away from the Dons last year, and top six is the least I expect from them this time round.

Pick #1: MK DONS to beat Oldham Athletic within the ninety minutes at 8/13.

Only after placing the bet did I care to look about for a better price - Coral are offering 8/11, a significant difference when bigger money is on the line.

Where to start?

About A Pound to a Thousand
A Pound to a Thousand is my new hobby, task, and aim for the news sporting season. I will be creating a manual accumulator, beginning with a single pound coin in the hopes of reaching four digits.
Beginning this weekend with the start of the new football season, I'll place a one pound bet on a single football match, on a team to win within the 90 minutes. I shall do this every weekend and every major midweek set of fixtures. If I wish to pass on midweek fixtures I may, however I must have a choice at least once a week.
Other Projects
As well as football, I enjoy  both American Football and Basketball.  Their seasons begin in September and October, more to come on those at a later date.
A Few Calculations
The majority of my weekly picks will be favourites. If every team I select are at odds of 1/2, by week 17 the returns will be £986.
from there, if I choose to continue after reaching my 'Thousand' aim, I would be at £3300 by week twenty. You can assume a reasonable amount of money is being dealt with at that point.
As for the NFL, there are 16 weeks within the season. American sports with larger margins are usually the subject of handicap betting, where odds are 10/11 for each team with the appointed handicap. if I can predict just one correct handicap per week, by the end of the regular season I will have reached over £31000, fittingly enough to fund my eventual American Road Trip, with plans of stopping at every state.
Lets get to it
Now enough with the  boring stuff, time to get to it. A little wisdom, with a load of patience and the always necessary bit of luck, and this season may well get me from A Pound to a Thousand.