Week One: Accumulator

I'm going to do a weekly accumulator on each round of the 6 Nations, more fun then anything else, where I'll try to beat the spread on all 3 games. If I bet 1 unit on each of these and win only 1 over the course of the tournament I'll still be up 2 units.

Ireland (-21) v Italy - Hard one to call at that spread. Ireland will obviously win the game but at what margin of victory is the question. Down the years Ireland have struggled to run up big scores against teams. Italy will be fresh and ready to maintain pride as they always do. The last two home games in this series have seen Ireland win but by small margins although the last game in Lansdowne Road was in terrible windy conditions and the last game in Croke Park was the first game after Ireland's World Cup shambles. Ireland did run up decent scores against the Italians in Rome the last two times but the important point is that they weren't the first game of the campaign when passes go astray and moves haven't been prefected. Italy are coming off a decent Autumn when they beat Somoa and weren't humilated against some high calibre Southern Hemisphere opposition. BUT Sergio Parrise is out for them, this would be like Ireland losing Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and 2 other starters: this man is that key to this team. All in all it just comes to down how many times Ireland can break them down and such and because I don't want to root against my boys I'm going with Ireland (-21) @ 2.00 Boylesports.

England (-4) v Wales - Very hard game to call. A lot of talk of a resurgent England and the selection does seem very positive from Martin Johnson. Of key importance is the presence of Riki Flutey who will take pressure of Johnny Wilkinson and provide a dynamic threat going forward. Wales front row has been decimated. Wales looked like a team in decline in the Autumn but how many times have we said that and then they go and win a grand slam? Wales have a terrible record in Twickenham. England and Johnson in particular need this win and I expect them to get it and such I am taking England (-4) @ 2.00 Boylesports.

Scotland (-7) v France - See the below post for my thoughts on this one. Your probably wondering why I am taking -7 here and not -6.5 that's available with Ladbrokes? That comes down to the odds offered here by Boylesports which is evens on all the handicaps and not 1.91 offered in most other places. Pick: France (-7) @ 2.00 Boylesports.

Overall Accumulator: 1 unit on Ireland (-21), England (-4) and France (-7) @ 8.00 at Boylesports.

I won't make a habit of always taking the team laying points but I feel this weekend it's what makes sense most with little recent form to help.