Soccer Fans around the world are looking forward to another FA Cup battle this time between Chelsea and the unlikely Portsmouth. The FA Cup was always set up for David and Goliath battles and while both these sides figured in England’s top flight in 2010 this match certainly qualifies. The big spending Chelsea have a team choc a bloc full of the game’s elite while poor old Portsmouth are in administration, have been relegated from the Premier Division and there are plenty of uncertain times ahead for both the club and many of its squad. Everybody loves an underdog and the one certain bet here is that everbody except hardened Chelsea supporters will be barracking for Pompey to get something from what can only be described as a horrible year. Portsmouth boss Avram Grant does know this Chelsea squad intimately and while his knowledge will help its little consolation for an under strength engine room and an inexperienced defence which knows how to leak goals. There’s no doubt that Chelsea will need to have an off day if Portsmouth are to cause one of the biggest FA Cup finals in history. Watch For: Portsmouth’s 17 year old defender Lennard Sowah – If selected Sowah will become the third youngest player to play in an FA Cup final. Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 First Goalscorer Bet: While the likes of Drogba, Anelka and Lampard are always a chance there is very little value about them. Those who like a value bet could do worse than take the $15 about John Terry, always a danger from set pieces, and the $12 about Portsmouth’s Piquionne who has shown plenty of ability during his short stint at Pompey. Best Bet: Portsmouth will attack from the onset which should open the game up – Take the $2.10 about both teams scoring. FA Cup Final Betting Odds Below we have FA Cup betting odds from reputable online sportsbooks and bookmakers from Europe, UK, Australia. Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Australian Rugby has been rocked by the biggest scandal ever with Melbourne Storm, the premier rugby league team stripped of two premeierships, 3 minor premierships and fined over $500000 while cheating on their salary cup for the last 5 years. If you havent heard the story yet see http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/melbourne-storm-stripped-of-everything-20100422-tfy6.html The news has made headlines in Australia for the last two days since the scandal was exposed and the fallout for Melbourne Storm is getting worse with major sponsors leaving the club after the story broke. Betting on the NRL Wooden Spoon has been suspended after a string of bets were taken on the Melbourne Storm at $251 with Sportingbet Australia yesterday morning before the scandal was exposed. Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said the move set off alarm bells as the Storm are favourites for the Premiership and look no hope of winning the Spoon. “We took three bets to win $10,000 and another to win $8000 on the Storm for the Wooden Spoon all within 10 minutes of each other this morning,” Sullivan said. “You don’t take a series of bets like that unless someone knows something or think they know something and we have suspended betting on the Wooden Spoon as a result. “Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said this would change the way Wooden Spoon betting would be done in the future. “Melbourne has gone from $251 to no betting in the space of six hours which has to be the biggest shortener in betting history,” Sullivan said. “We will look at the way we bet on the Wooden Spoon in the future as punters and bookmakers alike are betting without all the information.” “We have refunded all Premiership bets on Melbourne as they are now out of calculations.” Sullivan said the decision had an enormous impact on betting going forward in 2010 as well. “This has consequences on match betting throughought the year, as what motivation do the Storm have if they can’t finish anywhere but last,” he said. “We have suspended all markets on Melbourne’s game this weekend’s with the Warriors.

Sportingbet Australia’s 2010 FA Cup Semi-Finals Preview – Chelsea v Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth Aston Villa V Chelsea- Wembley, Saturday 10 April 2010 The main priority for Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Semi-Final showdown with Chelsea will be trying to ensure that his side do not dwell upon last month’s 7-1 humiliation at Stamford Bridge. In fairness to Villa, they did bounce back last weekend by keeping a clean sheet in a hard-fought victory at Bolton and having beaten Chelsea at Villa Park back in October, may fancy their chances of erasing the memories of that Stamford Bridge nightmare and securing their first FA Cup Final appearance since 2000. England international midfielder James Milner is expected to be available for Saturday after being an unused substitute against Bolton and O’Neill has also seen his attacking options boosted by Emile Heskey’s return to full fitness. Chelsea, meanwhile, have enjoyed a welcome break this week following their potentially decisive Premiership victory over title rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. Boss Carlo Ancelotti is still without a host of long-term absentees, including Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Branislav Ivanovic, but the Italian has no fresh injury concerns to contend with and indeed has the pleasant dilemma of deciding whether to recall star trio Salomon Kalou, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba to his starting line-up. The men from West London will be installed as red-hot favourites to continue their quest for a third FA Cup triumph in the last four years and although Villa are unlikely to implode as they did a fortnight ago, it’s hard to make a case for them to win here. With no Champions League involvement to distract them, the Blues will be rested and focused and if they perform as they did at Old Trafford last weekend, they should win with something to spare. Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth -Wembley, Sunday 11 April 2010 Harry Redknapp has inevitably dominated the build-up to Sunday’s FA Cup Semi-Final between his present club Tottenham Hotspur and his former employers Portsmouth. It was of course Redknapp who was in charge of Pompey when they lifted the FA Cup in 2008, but the south coast side have fallen on hard times since then and could take the field at Wembley with their relegation from the Premiership having been confirmed by results elsewhere. Current boss Avram Grant remains publicly confident that his side can upset the odds and book another visit to Wembley next month, but his cause has not been helped by the unavailability of both on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who will not be allowed to play against his parent club and defender Anthony Vanden Borre, who is suspended. In other team news, England stopper David James may reclaim the number one jersey after recovering from a calf problem and there could also be places in the squad for Tommy Smith, Marc Wilson, Hassan Yebda and Prince Boateng. Pompey accounted for Coventry, Southampton, Sunderland and Birmingham to reach the last four but were beaten by Spurs only a fortnight ago and also lost to the North Londoners earlier in the season. Spurs slipped to their first defeat in ten outings last week, a result that saw them relinquish their hold on fourth place in the Premiership and Redknapp will be tempted to tinker with his line-up for the Wembley showdown. Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch are both pressing for starts after coming off the bench against Sunderland last time out and Michael Dawson should also return if he can overcome his Achilles problem. Tottenham have taken a circuitous route to the semi-finals, requiring replays to see off Leeds, Bolton and Fulham and are seeking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1991. Most neutrals would love to see crisis-club Pompey make it through to the final having endured a torrid season on and off the field, but Spurs look too strong in key areas and should edge a tight one. Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Portsmouth 2010 FA Cup Semi-Finals Betting Odds Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Sportingbet Australia TV NRL betting preview for Round 5 of the NRL. www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1vJNpiIOlk 2010 Round 5 NRL Betting Odds Below we have 2010 round 5 nrl betting odds Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Sportingbet Australia TV NRL betting preview for Round 4 of the NRL. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHcmW5kXPP8 2010 Round 4 NRL Betting Odds Below we have 2010 round 4 nrl betting odds   Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

Sportingbet Australia’s EPL preview of the important games this weekend Manchester United v Chelsea - Old Trafford, Arsenal v Woverhampton Wanderers and Everton v West Ham United . Manchester United v Chelsea - Old Trafford, Saturday 3 April 2010 Chelsea dismissed talk of a crisis at Stamford Bridge in emphatic style last weekend by dismantling Aston Villa 7-1 and the Blues will therefore head into Saturday’s crunch title clash with Manchester United in buoyant mood. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have also benefitted from not having a Champions League tie to distract them, unlike their opponents who travelled to Bayern Munich in midweek, but the extra preparation time is unlikely to be sufficient for any of the club’s walking wounded to make a return to full fitness. As it stands, the West London side will make the trip north without a host of first-team regulars, including Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Jose Bosingwa, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien, although one key figure who will force his way back into the starting eleven is leading scorer Didier Drogba who was rested for the rout of Villa. Victory for the Blues would see them complete the double over their main title rivals, reclaiming top spot in the process and with United having won only two of the last twelve meetings between the two sides, recent history definitely favours the visitors. Big guns Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand both returned to action for United against Bayern in midweek after being rested for last weekend’s win at Bolton, but Rooney picked up an ankle injury in the 2-1 defeat and is regarded as a major doubt for Saturday. On a more positive note for the Red Devils, they have certainly looked far more secure defensively since Ferdinand resumed his centre-back partnership with Nemanja Vidic and Edwin Van der Saar returned in goal and Sir Alex Ferguson could soon have some additional defensive cover at his disposal with John O’Shea said to be close to recovering from his thigh problem. There should also be a place in the run-on side for tireless midfielder Ji-Sung Park who was an unused substitute against Bolton. After suggesting that Chelsea would find it hard to break Aston Villa down last time out and then seeing them rattle in seven goals, I’m playing it safe this week and predicting that the top two will fight out a tense draw from which the main benefactors will be third-placed Arsenal. Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea   Arsenal v Woverhampton Wanderers – Emirates Stadium, Saturday 3 April 2010   While keeping one eye on how the Manchester United – Chelsea clash unfolds at Old Trafford, Arsenal must also ensure that they do not underestimate an improving Wolves side who have picked up eight points from their last four games to move five points clear of the drop zone. Indeed the Gunners may be a touch vulnerable following a bruising encounter at Birmingham last weekend and a testing Champions League Quarter Final tie against Barcelona in midweek. At least boss Arsene Wenger can recall centre-back Thomas Vermaelen who is available once again after serving a one-match suspension, although Andrey Arshavin, William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas are all rated as doubtful after picking up injuries in the draw with Barcelona. Wolves skipper Jody Craddock, meanwhile, has insisted that two more wins would be enough to secure another season in the top flight for the men from the Black Country and as Arsenal are the only top nine side that they will meet between now and the end of the campaign, there is every chance that Mick McCarthy’s side will indeed avoid making an immediate return to the Championship. McCarthy is unlikely to make too many changes from the side that held Everton to a goalless draw last time out, although Stephen Ward and Adlene Guedioura are both pressing for recalls to the starting line-up. Not since 1979 have the Gunners been beaten at home by Wolves and having lost only twice at home all season, it’s hard to make a case for the visitors picking up so much as a point. Wolves should secure the points that they need to survive with relative ease, but they will have to wait until after Saturday.    Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves    Everton v West Ham United – Goodison Park, Sunday 4 April 2010  Last weekend’s home defeat at the hands of Stoke prompted under-fire West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola to return to his native Sardinia to consider his future at the club. That reverse against the Potters was the Hammers’ sixth on the bounce, a disastrous run of form that has left them level on points with Hull who presently occupy the third relegation place. Speculation is rife that even if Zola is kept on until the end of the season, a new manager will be installed at Upton Park over the summer, with owner David Sullivan said to have Mark Hughes at the top of his managerial wish-list. West Ham’s players were given three days off this week, unusual preparation for a date at Goodsion Park where they have won just once in their last thirteen visits. There could at least be some good news on the injury front for the struggling Londoners, with Danny Gabbidon now fully recovered from a hamstring injury and pressing for a recall to the starting line-up, along with fellow defender Herita Ilunga. Long-term absentees Zavon Hines and Luis Boa Morte, however, are poised to sit out the remainder of the season.    Spirits are considerably higher at Goodison Park where a run of just one defeat in eight league games has seen Everton climb to eighth place and to within five points of arch-rivals Liverpool. In terms of team news for the Toffees, 15-goal top scorer Louis Saha looks to have shrugged off the hamstring strain that troubled him ahead of last week’s draw with Wolves and is expected to start, while former Arsenal man Philippe Senderos will provide an additional defensive option for boss David Moyes after recovering from the knee injury that he picked up in February’s win over Chelsea. Young striker Dan Gosling, however, will face a late test on his knee problem. Tim Cahill has called on his team-mates to be more clinical in front of goal after they drew a disappointing blank at Wolves last time out and they should certainly create plenty of chances against a West Ham side that have shipped some 15 goals in their last six games.   The visitors look to be in freefall at the moment and it’s hard to be bullish about their prospects here. Everton to keep up their late surge for a European place with a comfortable win.  Prediction: Everton 2-0 West Ham EPL Highlights - Liverpool v Sunderland 28 March 2010 www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmEI0X4×2vA

This Saturday is the end of the long Australian 2009-2010 Soccer season with the A League Grand Final. The A league Grand Final is between traditional rivals Melbourne V Sydney. The good news is regardless who wins both team qualify for the 2011 Asian Champions League. Below we have the A league Grand Final preview from Sportingbet. Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC - Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Saturday 20 March 2010 Sydney FC may have taken a roundabout route to get there, but they have finally made it to Etihad Stadium for a Grand Final showdown with arch-rivals Melbourne Victory. The FFA will doubtless be rubbing their hands with glee and in fairness, it is fitting that the two best sides over the course of the season will ultimately battle it out for the A-League crown. Sydney will inevitably come into the final a little more jaded in the wake of a 120-minute Major Semi-Final against the Victory, followed by last week’s hard-fought Preliminary Final win over Wellington and the Sky Blues will also be denied the services of striker John Aloisi. The former Socceroo suffered a torn hamstring against the Phoenix and is likely to be replaced by Chris Payne who proved a more than capable deputy last week by coming off the bench to score two crucial goals. Coach Vitezslav Lavicka is not expected to make any other changes to his starting line-up as Sydney seek to secure what would be their third victory over the reigning premiers this season. The home side, meanwhile, have reaped significant rewards from their extra preparation time, with key attacking trio Archie Thompson, Robbie Kruse and Carlos Hernandez all returning to full fitness. Indeed, other than long-term absentees Billy Celeski and Matthew Kemp, Ernie Merrick’s only injury concern surrounds last season’s Grand Final goal hero Tom Pondeljak who is battling to overcome a hamstring problem. Sydney may have had the wood on Victory during the regular season, but they failed to take that form into the Major Semi-Final and with Melbourne well rested and at virtually full strength, it’s hard not to lean towards the home side taking out the title on Saturday. Factor in that Victory have plenty of Grand Final experience in their ranks and will enjoy the backing of a partisan home crowd and it’s little surprise that Merrick’s men will start as warm favourites. The visitors will again look to Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge to exploit Victory’s lack of pace at the back, but the game may ultimately be decided by Stuart Musialik’s ability to stifle Carlos Hernandez. The Costa Rican playmaker is the heartbeat of the home side and if he can bring his influence to bear, Victory should edge a close one to retain their title. Prediction: Melbourne Victory 2-1 Sydney A League Soccer Grand Final Betting Odds Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

In Australia, Autumn brings the start of the NRL - National Rugby League which has been widely anticipated to be an exciting and mostly competitive year with a number of teams possibly winning the 2010 NRL premiership. With the start of the season there is a flurry of NRL betting especially NRL bets on the 2010 NRL premiership. Below we have a Sportingbet Tv’s Daryl Brohman discussing the betting options at Sportingbet for the upcoming 2010 NRL Season, as well as giving his 2010 NRL Premiership winners predictions. In the next week or so we will have live comparison NRL betting odds from a number of Australian and International sportsbooks offering NRL - National Rugby league betting. So stay tuned. In the meantime members of Sportingbet Australia have a great NRL sportsbetting promotion where any member placing a minimum $10 bet on an eligible team Futures Market (NRL Premiership Winner, NRL Minor Premiers, Reach Grand Final, NRL Quinella) before Thursday 11 March 2010, Sportingbet Australia will give a $10 Free Multi bet to use on Round 1 of the NRL season. Click here for more information or to become a member. Sportingbet TV NRL Betting 2010 Preview www.youtube.com/watch?v=tav9SvWWHh4

 Below is Sportingbet com au US Sports previews for this weekend. If you are not a member of Sportingbet Australia click here to join .  www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KI03LzfwKU

  Sportingbet Australia’s EPL preview of the important games this weekend Manchester City vs Liverpool and West Ham and Hull City. Manchester City v Liverpool – Eastlands, Sunday 21st February 2010 The battle for 4th place and the Champions League berth that goes with it seems destined to go down to the wire with Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa all still very much in the frame. City currently hold 4th, but are only a point clear of Liverpool, who in turn are a point above 6th placed Tottenham whose lead over Aston Villa is also just  a single point. A draw at Eastlands would therefore be the ideal result as far as both Spurs and Villa are concerned and that looks a decent bet with four of the last five clashes between City and Liverpool ending with honours even. City boss Roberto Mancini could not hide his disappointment after his side laboured to a draw at Stoke in midweek, but the Italian could have a fully fit Stephen Ireland, Craig Bellamy and Vincent Kompany at his disposal on Sunday, with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Martin Petrov also likely to be promoted from the bench to the starting eleven. It remains to be seen whether Carlos Tevez will be available after being granted permission to return to his native Argentina for family reasons earlier in the week. For all the talk of a crisis at Anfield, meanwhile, Liverpool have only lost one of their last eight Premiership games and could have more grounds for optimism this week with reports suggesting that Fernando Torres may be fit enough for a place on the bench at Eastlands. The 25-year-old Spaniard had been expected to be out for up to six weeks after injuring his knee against Reading, but is poised to return to full training on Thursday. Jamie Carragher, however, is regarded as a major doubt as he battles to overcome a groin strain, fellow defender Glen Johnson is still a month away from full fitness and a paperwork delay means that striker Milan Jovanovic will not complete his move from Standard Liege in time to feature. Both sides had loftier ambitions than securing fourth place back in August, but now such a finish will make or break their respective seasons and possibly determine the futures of both Mancini and Rafael Benitez. A 2-2 draw was the outcome when City travelled to Anfield back in November and a repeat performance on Sunday looks a strong possibility. Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool West Ham United v Hull City – Upton Park, Saturday 20th February 2010 West Ham United fans may still have their reservations about new owners David Gold and David Sullivan, but at least results have shown a slight improvement since the former Birmingham City duo arrived at Upton Park and the Hammers have climbed to 14th in the table. They are still just one point clear of the drop zone, however and a victory over fellow strugglers Hull City is vital if they are to continue to ease their relegation fears. Boss Gianfranco Zola clearly felt that it was his strikers who had been letting him down as he snapped up no fewer than three new frontmen during the January transfer window in the form of Benni McCarthy, Ilan and Mido. Unfortunately for the Hammers, McCarthy picked up a knee injury in the defeat at Burnley and remains in doubt for Saturday’s game, along with Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon and Guillermo Franco. Hull also remain just one point above the bottom three after losing to Blackburn last week, but the Tigers received a boost this week with the news that the red card handed to George Boateng in that defeat at Ewood Park had been overturned on appeal. There is also a slight chance that midfielder Jimmy Bullard will feature at Upton Park after two months on the sidelines with a medial ligament problem and if the former Fulham man can recapture the kind of form he showed before picking up his injury, City’s survival prospects will improve considerably. Defensive duo Andy Dawson and Kevin Kilbane are expected to pass late fitness tests, while highly-rated teenager Tom Cairney could be handed another start in midfield. Upton Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the Tigers who have won there just once in their last twelve visits and as they are yet to record a single win on the road this season, it’s hard to back them here. West Ham are no great shakes either, but might just have enough quality to secure a narrow, vital victory. Prediction: West Ham United 2-1 Hull City