PDC Premier League Darts: Week 3 Betting and Odds Preview
We’ve seen just two weeks of Premier League darting action for 2019 but already, the table is starting to take shape. There is a familiar face at the top with Michael Van Gerwen the only man with a 100% record at this early phase of the competition.
We’ve also seen some entertaining, tight matches with a high number of draws so what does week three hold as we cross the Irish Sea to Dublin?
Outright Updates
Firstly, we’ll quickly check back in on the outright betting and there are no prizes for guessing who is out in front. Michael Van Gerwen is the odds on option and as he continues to shorten, MVG is now available at odds of 4/9 with William Hill and Betway.
In the absence of the injured Gary Anderson, backers may struggle to pick an obvious second favourite and the bookies have gone for two options with both Michael Smith and Rob Cross available at 9/1 with SportingBet and BetFred. Peter Wright then follows at 14/1 with Unibet before the market starts to drift.
Fifth favourite in this 2019 line up is Mensur Suljovic who is out at best odds of 28/1 with SportingBet and then we have two players at 33/1. James Wade and Daryl Gurney can both be picked up at that same top price with either Ladbrokes or Coral.
Gerwyn Price is as short as 20/1 in places but on offer at best odds of 40/1 with William Hill while it’s left to Raymond Van Barneveld to bring up the rear. You can pick up the Dutchman at a best of 100/1 with SportingBet.
Few would back against Van Gerwen to top the table but the knockout stage will level things out to an extent. We’re not committing to an early outright bet ourselves at this point so let’s move straight on and see what week three has in store.
First up to the Oche
The night begins with what could be a feisty affair as Gerwyn Price takes on James Wade. Neither man is known for holding back with their celebrations so look out for some fireworks but what about a winner?
The bookies are a little undecided on this one with some offering the same win price of 7/5 on both players. Elsewhere, those are the best industry odds for Gerwyn Price and they can be picked up at Coral and BetBright. James Wade is slightly further back at a top price of 17/11 with SportPesa and if the bookies are to be believed, we should seriously consider the draw at 33/10 with Unibet.
Home Favourite
The organisers have done the people of Dublin a favour with this week’s rotating replacement for Gary Anderson. Irishman Steve Lennon is the latest to step up but he’s given little chance of victory when he takes on Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright.
Wright is some way out in front in the result betting and can be claimed at best odds of 8/15 with Betway and SportPesa. A win for Steve Lennon is available at a top price of 9/2 with Unibet while the draw completes things at 4/1 with most bookies including Coral and BetBright.
At first glance there would seem to be little argument but while Peter Wright, historically, has a good record in the Premier League, he suffered some big defeats last year. 2019 has also started a little slowly so we could be looking at an upset here.
Next up we have the entrance of the current league leader as Mighty Michael Van Gerwen gets set to take on Rob Cross. It’s fair to say that MVG handed out a couple of hidings to the man named Voltage last year as the Dutchman won by the same scoreline of 7-2 in phases one and two respectively.
Those stats and current form sees Van Gerwen way out in front to win this match at best odds of just 1/2 with BetBright. The draw is listed at a top price of 9/2 with Betway while victory for Rob Cross can also be found at a best of 9/2 - this time with Ladbrokes and BetFred.
It’s hard to argue with those figures and while Cross can beat any player on his day, Michael Van Gerwen’s current form points to a third straight win in this competition.
Closing Out
Our penultimate match of the evening sees Michael Smith take on Daryl Gurney. There are odds against prices on all three options here although the favourite Smith is only just above Even Money at 21/20 with Unibet.
Victory for Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney is next on the list at 2/1 with 10Bet and SportPesa while it’s back to Unibet for the draw at 33/10.
Closing out for us this week are Mensur Suljovic and Raymond Van Barneveld who are both struggling for form and points. Barney is the one who is really struggling however and that’s why Mensur has been installed as an odds on favourite at 5/6 with 10Bet and Betway.
Completing our match betting for week three is a win for RVB at 12/5 with BetBright while the draw would land at a best of 7/2 with BetFred.
Verdict
The bookies have two clear favourites for week three in Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen while the other three games could be tight affairs. There’s certainly the potential for more ties at six legs apiece so there may well be some value in this week’s market.
We’ll start with that Wright v Lennon match and tip the Irishman to cause an upset. Gary Anderson’s replacements have held their own so far and while Lennon will need to be at his absolute best, Wright can be vulnerable and just doesn’t seem to enjoy this format.
We’ll also look for a drawn game from this week’s schedule: There will surely be a 6-6 somewhere and Michael Smith looked shellshocked following some hostile treatment from the Glasgow crowd last week. Bully Boy hasn’t raced out of the blocks as he did twelve months ago and we think Daryl Gurney can peg him to a tie.
The remaining games should go with the favourites so you could take reasonable win odds on Gerwyn Price to beat James Wade but we’ll end with Mensur Suljovic to beat Raymond Van Barneveld by a 7-5 scoreline. The Austrian looks too short at an odds on figure but that 7-5 is matched at a best of 8/1 in the open markets and that looks far more generous.
Best Bets:
- Michael Smith and Daryl Gurney to draw at 33/10 with Unibet