Tennis tips are top for betting odds

Lewis Hamilton, tipped on this pages to win Sports Personality of the Year at 5/2 is now 1/2 to win the coveted crown.

Our other ante-post selections, Laura White to win X Factor and Jermain Defoe to be the top goalscorer in the Premier League, make our current balance look slightly misleading.

The feel good factor is certainly with British sport again after Hamilton's dramatic last lap to clinch the F1 world championship and I strongly believe Andy Murray can carry that good vibe into the ATP Masters Cup which starts in Shangai on Sunday.

The end of season shindig will be without the world's best player, Rafael Nadal, because of injury and this has propelled Roger Federer to market-leader at 5/4, but it's the Scot who makes the best appeal at 7/2.

A small each-way bet is suggested for talented French star Jo Wilfred Tsonga, who won his maiden Master Series last week in Paris. At 8-1 he looks a decent each-way punt, but be sure to place your bets after the draw.

I'm not going to make many friends around the Wharf (if I had any after the last few weeks) but Everton look too big at 2/1 to beat West Ham at Upton Park.

Gianfranco Zola has found out the hard way what management is all about. With the chairman facing financial problems threatening top names leaving in January it's no surprise to see punters taking the 10/1 on the Hammers to be relegated this term.

After a poor start to their campaign, Everton are now vying for a UEFA Cup place. David Moyes has signed a new contract and the team are on the up again. The Toffees have won both their last two matches 1-0 but and prior to that they held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Goodison.

Compare that to the Hammers recent form, including two home defeats in succession to Arsenal and Bolton, which means 2-1 is simply too big.

It's Saturday night so that means one of two things for Specials betters X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing.

This week's best bet is over at the Beeb in Strictly and the John Sergeant bubble looks as though it's going to burst and the 6/4 available on him to become the eighth elimination looks fair.

M-People singer Heather Small is the bookies favourite at 10/11. It's true she doesn't have the public support Sergeant boasts but if he is in the dreaded bottom two the judges will have no choice but to bid farewell.

RUNNING BALANCE -£68.75


SUGGESTED BETS

£20 Andy Murray to win the ATP Masters @ 7/2

£5 e/w Jo Wilfres Tsongo to win the ATP Masters @ 8/1

£15 Everton to beat West Ham @ 2/1

£20 John Sergeant eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing @ 6/4