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In your Sports Xtra email today:

• Will it be another all-English final?
  
• A Heineken Cup bet for you...
  
• How to cash-in on the NFL - every week

The Champions League draw was made last week, and it looks as
though the British teams are going to play a huge part again.
Here's Mr X with the latest odds...

Will it be another all-English final?

"If you haven't seen the Champions League draw yet, here are the
Groups containing the English clubs...

GROUP A
CHELSEA
Roma
Bordeaux
CFR Cluj

GROUP D
LIVERPOOL
PSV Eindhoven
Marseille
Atletico Madrid

GROUP E
MANCHESTER UNITED
Villareal
CELTIC
Aalborg

GROUP G
ARSENAL
Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev

English clubs occupy four of the top seven bookie quotes to win the
Champions League, with bookmakers generally making Chelsea the
favourites to win outright at around 11/2. Though every British
club has a solid chance of winning their Group, my take is that
maybe Man United (at 13/2 outright) will be the happiest with their
draw.

Last year's final was that epic encounter between Chelsea and Man
Utd, and you can have odds of 7/2 that this year's final will be
another all-British affair. Or you can have 6/5 that ANY British
club wins it, or 10/11 for just one British club to make the final,
or 13/8 that no British team reaches the final.

______________________

The race for the White House

"The choice of Sarah 'The Barracuda' Palin as John McCain's running
mate in the US Presidential election has certainly livened up the
US election betting market.

The moose population of Alaska will certainly be glad to see her
get to the White House - there was a picture of Governor Palin in
the paper this morning peering down the site of a gun that looked
big enough to blow a hole in a Centurion tank. It seems she shoots
moose with it - and then makes burgers out of them. Cute.

Plenty of serious bets on McCain to beat Obama have been placed
since Palin was named, and McCain's odds have come in to 7/4 from
2/1 to be next into the White House.

You can find the latest odds on the Next American President market
at our odds comparison website:

http://odds.sportsxtra.co.uk/specials/politics/usa/president

If you like to think REALLY far ahead - there has been a flurry of
bets for Hillary Clinton to be the President after next at 10/1.

______________________

The managerial merry-go-round...

"We're just a few weeks into the football season - but some clubs
are already changing their manager. Alan Curbishley has resigned as
West Ham manager today - and Kevin Keegan's future at Newcastle is
in doubt too.

Everton's David Moyes, who is struggling manfully with a small and
much-injured squad, is now just 6/4 to still be in charge at
Goodison Park at the end of the season.

Also, Paul Jewell, who is having a tough time getting a win out of
just relegated Derby in the Championship, is 1/4 to have left the
club before season's end.

We featured the bookies' 'Next Premier League Manager To Go' market
in Sports Xtra at the start of the season. You can read the full
story on that at our website, just click here:

http://www.sportsxtra.co.uk/page.php?cName=Football&pid=198

______________________

A Heineken Cup bet for you...

"A couple of weeks ago we looked at the 'outright winner' market
for rugby's Heineken Cup - and backed Bath at a great value 16/1.

Now it's time for us to get stuck into the 'Pool' betting - I
reckon that there is a piece of outstanding value to be had there
too.

Firstly - how the 'Pools' work.

The twenty-four Heineken teams are split into six Pools - four
teams in each. Each side play their Pool rivals at home and away,
six games for each team. The top team in each Pool moves on to the
knockout stage - together with the two best runners-up drawn from
the six Pools.

Teams earn 4 points for a Pool win, 2 points for a draw, and they
also have the possibility to earn 'bonus points'. A side that wins
a match and scores 4 tries or more picks up 1 bonus point, or if a
side is beaten by 7 points or fewer in a match - they pick up a
bonus point too.

Now - let's focus on one Pool in particular.

POOL 1

Munster - Evens
Clermont - 11/8
Sale - 6/1
Montauban - 50/1

Munster won the Heineken Cup last year and in 2006 too, and are
certainly respected - but this Pool may not be quite the open and
shut case the bookies think it is.

Munster and Clermont were drawn in the same Pool in last year's
Heineken Cup - and the honours were split. First of all Munster
beat Clermont at home 36-13, but that's a bit misleading, Clermont
fielded a weakened side that day - then Clermont beat Munster in
France 26-19, which is a more accurate indication of the two sides'
abilities.

Sale didn't have a great season in the Guinness Premiership last
year (finished 5th) and they will need to step up on that to win
Pool 1. Montauban are making their first appearance in the Heineken
- and they're interesting. This is a very ambitious and well
bankrolled side, and on their own turf they could give the big name
sides something to think about - hard to see them winning the Pool
though.

This looks to be between Munster and Clermont - and I prefer
Clermont.

Good side though Munster are, they aren't known for playing
opponents off the park - or for scoring lots of tries. Aside from
that big win over the weakened Clermont, their other Heineken Cup
victories last year proved them to be a side of low scorers. They
beat Llanelli 22-13, Wasps 19-3, Saracens 18-16 and Toulouse 16-13.

Clermont on the other hand beat Llanelli 48-21 and 41-0, and Wasps
37-27 in their Heineken campaign. This Clermont side also proved
their class by reaching the final of the French rugby championship
last season - going down narrowly 26-20 to Toulouse. And it's worth
mentioning that the Clermont captain is the hugely influential
Aurelien Rougerie - maybe the best player in Europe.

This shoot out between Munster and Clermont for the Pool 1 winners
spot could well come down to which side earns the most bonus
points. And in that situation I have to side firmly with free-
scoring Clermont - they look a much better bet to win the bonus
points battle than Munster.

I reckon that Clermont are probably the best Pool bet in the
tournament - we should have a decent bet on them."

Clermont are currently a best-priced 11/8 with Skybet to win
Heineken Cup Pool 1.

______________________

The new NFL season starts this week - watch out for these teams...

"The NFL starts tomorrow with the game between the Washington
Redskins and last year's Super Bowl winners the New York Giants.
American Football can be a great sport for backers, and though it's
a bit early to try to pick the Super Bowl winner, here are three
'dark horse' sides to support in their early matches this year -
and a couple 'big names' to oppose.

Keep on the right side of...

Jacksonville Jaguars

Often a little underestimated by bookies and pundits last year -
however they are solid in most departments and have an excellent
quarterback. Finished runners-up to Indy in their division and can
improve again this season. Super Bowl 14/1.

Minnesota Vikings

Just an 8-8 win/loss record last year, but it was enough for them
to finish second to Green Bay. The formerly pass-happy Vikings are
developing a strong defence and running game, and could show
improvement this year. Super Bowl 28/1.

Detroit Lions

Poor-ish year in 2007 and finished 'won 7 lost 9', but that was
better than the year before, and it does look as though the Lions
are improving. Had a very solid pre-season and could catch the
bookies out on the match handicaps early. Super Bowl 100/1.

And two to beware of...

Denver Broncos

Very disappointing effort last year from this formerly top class
outfit - will need to show improvement to get into the Super Bowl
reckoning this time. Super Bowl 50/1.    

St Louis Rams

Had a woeful 3-13 win/loss record in 2007 and were poor on both
sides of the ball. An awful lot of improvement needed this year to
make an impact. Super Bowl 80/1."

______________________

How to cash-in on the NFL - EVERY WEEK

With the NFL season about to kick off, Mr X is getting ready to
launch his dedicated American Football service, The Linebacker...

From this weekend, right up until the Super Bowl in February, Mr X
will be analysing all the stats and team performance data - and
sending Linebacker members his urgent tips on every round of
matches.

With 32 teams in the NFL, and 14 matches per weekend, that's a lot
of opportunities to profit. Join The Linebacker and you can cash-in
on the NFL every weekend of the season...

The Linebacker 2008/9 service includes:

• Text Message Tips direct to your mobile phone from Mr X - up
  to 40 over the course of the season
  
• Two Bonus Tips for the start of the season - that'll you'll
  receive as soon as you join up
  
• Members-only access to a password protected Website - follow
  every bet and result online, and get all the NFL betting info you
  need to win big this season
  
• Customer Service and support
  
• AND - Weekly Emails from Mr X, with the latest NFL betting
  news and results

As a Sports Xtra reader, you can sign up for all this with a 28-DAY
FREE TRIAL - at a discounted price for the whole season...

Look out for your Special Invitation email from me before the
weekend, with details of how you can book your place on The
Linebacker service for this season, take up that special offer -
and claim you two bonus tips.

Until then,

Best wishes,

Matt Nesbitt

Sports Xtra
www.SportsXtra.co.uk