Superbowl is best bet for backers this weekend

Going into the final day our headline tip, Mini-me actor Verne Troyer, was an unbackable 1/5 to lift the crown while the former weathergirl was a 33/1 outsider. But Ulrika walked away with it, making me doubt betting on reality TV events again, until X Factor starts.

And it was more money done on Saturday when both Wolves and Millwall failed to beat Premier League opposition in the FA Cup.

All in all this year has started badly so I'm not in a very good mood. But bookies should be wary of the wounded tiger.

This weekend sees America come to a standstill when Super Bowl XLIII is played. The underdogs have a very good record in the end of season jamboree but this year there will be no shocks when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals were 80/1 outsiders at the start of the season and as big as 33/1 at the play-off stage. If they pull off the shock of NFL history it would be like Newcastle winning the Premier League, but it ain't gonna happen.

Arizona have a potential match winner in quarter-back Kurt Warner and if they do win then Warner at 9/2 to be the MVP (man of the match) is a certainty.

Pittsburgh are unbackable at 1/3 to win another Super Bowl, having beaten Seattle in Super Bowl XL, but they are worth taking on in the handicap market, giving up a six point start at 10/11.

Their defense is the best and the offense is as powerful as any, led by superb quarter-back Ben Roethlisberger who has already guided them to Super Bowl glory. Odds of 2/1 about the Steelers tailsman voted the MVP have a lot of appeal.

If NFL is not your game and soccer, sorry football, is then this weekend's Premier League fixtures on first glance don't really offer a great bet. You have to wait until Sunday for the best bet and that's Chelsea to beat Liverpool at Anfield.

Chelsea have been disappointing of late but the comeback against Stoke two weeks ago has galvanised the Blues and they haven't looked back since.

On Sunday they welcome back influential skipper John Terry to bolster a shaky defence and Frank Lampard is bang in-form.

Many believe Chelsea's season is over but I disagree. They are keen to prove the doubters wrong and there is no better place to start than at the team that ended your long unbeaten streak at home. The 9/4 about a Chelsea win is far too big.

Sunday's other match is the North East derby between Newcastle and Sunderland at St James' Park.

Relegation is a serious concern for both teams so defeat would be a total disaster. With so much at stake the draw at 5/2 makes appeal, especially as there have been six draws in the last 15 meetings between the two fierce rivals.

Running Total (2009): -£205

Suggested Bets:

£55 Pittsburgh to beat Arizona by more than 6 points in the Super Bowl @ 10/11

£25 Ben Roethlisberger to win the MVP award in the Super Bowl @ 2/1

£20 Chelsea to beat Liverpool @ 9/4

£20 Sunderland and Newcastle to draw @ 2/1