We're Off Again

Today marks the beginning of a new Bookie Beater season - 2007-2008. This time round, the Paddy Power and Sky Bet pots will both start off with £50. Last season's profits have been locked in!

The Paddy Power pot is immediately being reduced by £12, however. Celtic v Kilmarnock @ 1/5 meets the Bookie Beater criteria and 25% of the pot (rounded down) has been placed.

There are some cracking ties coming up this week. There are plenty of Champions League qualifiers to be played with most of the home teams being clear favourites: Shaktar, Rosenborg, Steaua, Sparta Prague, etc. More analysis will follow but expect bets to be placed on Tuesday & Wednesday.

Next week, the Barclays Premiership gets underway and Chelsea & Manchester United should kick off their respective seasons with home wins. Bayern Munich should also ease to a win despite losing so many players over the summer.

Looking ahead... there's no doubt that the Bookie Beater will continue to back the big boys. Chelsea, Celtic, Manchester United, Barcelona, Lyon, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Linfield and Glentoran. Of course, that doesn't mean that I will be limited to these clubs!

Good luck for the season ahead.