If you really need a reason to understand why sports betting is popular then this past weekend’s results are a good guide – anything can and will happen. Bookmakers spend a lot of time sifting through data to try and put together betting odds that they feel reflect the probable outcome of any contest. The keyword there of course is probable – the one thing you cannot rely on in sports betting is human nature.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson: Their Own Worst Enemies

Let’s take Tiger Woods as an example. Prior to the start of the Firestone Invitational he was a clear cut favourite. The result, Woods finished 78th out of 80 players – his worst ever result as a professional. Still, he will wake up today and the one headline that will grab his attention is the one that reads “Tiger Still Number One”. Phil Mickelson only had to finish equal fourth or better to claim that number one ranking – and he was quoted at short prices to do so after day two. What happens, come day four, he shoots one of his worst rounds and rather than finishing fourth, he finishes forty-fourth – but that’s golf.

Weekend Football

What about the football yesterday? Bookmakers had Chelsea at short odds to win yesterday’s Community Shield. We tipped Manchester United and they duly saluted for us – but I don’t think anyone would have expected a 3-1 drubbing. Still, they won at a good price for us. In fact, online bookmakers have eased Chelsea marginally and firmed United in Premier League betting.

Cricket And Beating The Odds

We’ll finish with cricket, and isn’t that becoming a little interesting? England were 1/33 to win prior to the start of yesterday’s play while, on the betting exchanges, you could have backed Pakistan at 50/1.  Rather than rout the visitors, England struggled a little so we now go into day four with Pakistan holding a 115 run lead with a wicket still in hand. The best price about England now is 1/19 while the best you can get for Pakistan is 16/1 – that’s a huge drop from 50/1.

The question for everyone now is, can Pakistan rout England? The pitch is taking spin, England are a little jaded following a disappointing day in the field, and Pakistan will have a little belief. England should win – their betting odds suggests that most punters agree with me there – but then, this is cricket. More importantly, it’s sports betting – and this is why it’s so popular  – it’s totally unpredictable.