PDC Premier League Darts 2019: Week 8 Betting and Odds Preview

premier leagueWeek eight of this season’s Premier League darts involves a double header: Two nights of action take place in Rotterdam and at the end of the week, the tables will really start to take shape.

Because of the fast turnaround, we can only give you odds and tips for the first of those two nights which takes place on Wednesday. Betting markets for Thursday’s round will most likely be published on the morning of the games and you can then make a judgement based on some immediate form.

With that in mind, we’ll take a look at what week 8a, as it’s known, has in store for us but firstly, we’ll start as always with an update on the outright betting.

Outright Updates

Michael Van Gerwen
Michael Van Gerwen

Michael Van Gerwen has only won one of his last four Premier League matches following his 7-5 reverse at the hands of Daryl Gurney last time out. That performance underlines just how difficult it’s been to predict individual games but MVG remains favourite in the outright winner betting. Van Gerwen is now available at odds of 1/2 with William Hill and RedZoneSports.

Behind the favourite, the gaps are starting to shorten just slightly and we have Rob Cross as the next name on the list at 6/1 with William Hill once again. We then move back further to third favourite James Wade at 12/1 with Betway and 10Bet while James Wade is just behind at 14/1 with Unibet.

One of the biggest movers this week is Mensur Suljovic who seems to have brought himself back into contention after an impressive win over Michael Smith. The Austrian can now be claimed at best odds of 18/1 with Betway

We then slip down to Gerwyn Price who continues to lose ground following defeat to Rob Cross last week. Price is on offer at a best of 20/1 with BetFred and 10Bet while Michael Smith can be picked up at a best of 25/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral. The same bookmakers then complete the betting with the same 25/1 on Daryl Gurney before we move to the rank outsider, Raymond Van Barneveld, at 250/1.

That’s the outright betting brought right up to date so let’s see what Wednesday night in Rotterdam has in store.

First Up to the Oche

Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price

We open proceedings with Gerwyn Price taking on Michael Smith. Neither man will take a step back when they reach the oche so we should certainly be in for a competitive night. The bookies seem to share that view and in a tight market, it’s SportPesa who are quoting the best numbers on all three possible outcomes.

Smith is the slight favourite here at 7/5 with victory for Price coming in at 17/11 while the draw completes matters at 57/17.

Next up we have James Wade who tackles the latest temporary Gary Anderson replacement - Dimitri van den Bergh. The Belgian reached the quarter finals of the World Championship and the Grand Slam in 2018 so he can be a threat but he is the predictable outsider here. The Machine Wade starts as favourite at 11/10 with William Hill and Bethard while Van den Bergh is on offer at best odds of 2/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral. The draw completes this one at 100/30 with Betway.

Following On

Rob Cross has, perhaps, been the most consistent darter in this competition and it’s been a tournament of unpredictability so far. Voltage Cross takes on Mensur Suljovic on Wednesday and he can be claimed at best odds of Even Money with BetFred and SportPesa. A win for Suljovic is available at a top price of 9/4 with Unibet while the same two bookmakers have the best numbers on the draw at 7/2.

Rob Cross has taken over from Michael Van Gerwen at the top of the table and the Dutchman will want to address that issue when he takes on Peter Wright. Despite that dip in form, MVG remains hot favourite for the win at 1/2 with William Hill and Unibet. The draw is the next best option at a top price of 41/10 with SportPesa while a win for Wright joins up the dots at 54/13 with the same bookmaker.

Closing Out

Raymond Van Barneveld
Raymond Van Barneveld

Raymond Van Barneveld may be the rank outsider as far as the tournament is concerned but the veteran Dutchman keeps battling away. We tipped RVB to beat Max Hopp last week and if he keeps winning, Barney may yet make it to the second phase.

On Wednesday, Van Barneveld takes on Daryl Gurney in the final game of the night and he’s the outsider at best odds of 9/4 with Ladbrokes and Coral. Gurney starts as the favourite at a top price of Even Money with William Hill and Betway while the draw rounds off the evening at a best of 7/2 with Betway again.

Verdict

The unpredictable nature of this season’s PDC Premier League does mean that we have some interesting prices as we head to Rotterdam. You could delve into the Correct Score betting but we think there is enough value from three odds-against prices in the result markets.

First up, we’re backing James Wade to come through in his match against the temporary Dimitri Van Den Bergh. The replacements for Anderson have given a good account of themselves but wins remain elusive and 11/10 is a reasonable figure on the in-form Wade.

Mensur Suljovic’s recovery last week underlines the unpredictable nature of this tournament and the Austrian can build on that momentum on Wednesday. Opponent Rob Cross is the form player in this league but that run has to end sometime.

Finally, we’ll back Barney to continue his own momentum against Daryl Gurney. In his final season, Van Barneveld will be anxious to show that he remains a force as he bows out and he’s still battling on.

Best Bets: