Premier League Darts 2018 Betting: Week 8

The PDC Premier League Darts Tournament of 2018 is starting to approach the halfway stage after another thrilling night of action in Nottingham last Thursday. The table is really starting to take shape now and it was another particularly good week for Michael Van Gerwen and Rob Cross who, along with surprise package Michael Smith, are starting to break free at the top.

It was a good tipping week for us too with two bets landing from three including a 41/18 win for Smith and a rare draw at 7/2 between Whitlock and Gurney so let’s see if we can continue that run this week.

Outright Markets

Michael van Gerwen

Before we look at Thursday night’s matches we’ll have a quick recap of the outright markets where Van Gerwen remains as clear favourite for the title at unchanged best odds of 4/7 with Sun Bets. After losing his first two Premier League matches, Cross now has four wins from four and follows on at a top price of 5/1 with William Hill and MarathonBet.

Moving down the list and Gary Anderson is quoted as third favourite with MarathonBet and then we have Michael Smith who continues to impress and can be backed with SportingBet.

Next we have Peter Wright who, despite losing his last two matches by the same 7-1 scoreline, is on offer at a mid-range top price of 18/1 with Sun Bets. The remaining qualifying slots are very much up for grabs and when we get to the knockouts anything can happen but from here, the prices start to move out.

Behind Wright there is a significant gap to Raymond Van Barneveld who is available at best odds of 33/1 with Sun Bets and Boylesports. Simon Whitlock picked up that draw with Gurney in Nottingham but it’s been a slow period for the Australian who currently sits at 50/1 in the outrights with William Hill and BetFred.

Mensur Suljovic

Both Gurney and Mensur Suljovic can be claimed at 100/1 with BetFred and Betway and then we move right out to Gerwyn Price who has just two points and is likely to be the first to be eliminated. Price is available for brave punters at 1000/1 with Betway and SportingBet.

That’s the outright betting summed up so what can we expect from week eight as we head across the border to Scotland?

Opening Up

Daryl Gurney

A fairly low key affair between Mensur Suljovic and Daryl Gurney gets us underway in Glasgow and with both men at that same 100/1 in the outrights, it’s a particularly tight match market. Austrian Suljovic starts as the favourite for the win at a top price of 7/5 with Sport Pesa as Gurney follows on at a best of 33/20 with Unibet. The draw completes this one at a best with Betway and it would be no huge surprise to see a 6-6 scoreline between two evenly matched players.

Following on we have an intriguing match between Michael Van Gerwen and Michael Smith. Both men have ten points at the top with MVG leading the way on ‘leg difference’ but this is Smith’s biggest test of the tournament so far.

Van Gerwen inevitably leads the betting for this one at best odds of 4/11 with Sport Pesa while Smith can be taken at a top price of 33/5 with 188Bet. The draw is actually the second favourite in this match at a best of 6/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral but with Smith in top form after wiping out Peter Wright 7-1 last week, it could be closer than the market suggests.

Mixed Form

Gary Anderson

Next up we have Gary Anderson, who has taken three PDC titles since the start of 2018, against Simon Whitlock. Anderson hasn’t quite carried that form across to the Premier League, with just one win and five points from six matches, but the Flying Scotsman is an obvious favourite here at a top price of 8/15 with MarathonBet.

Wizard Whitlock can be picked up at a best of 5/1 with Betway and once again the draw is shorter at 9/2 with BetBright and 188Bet. Anderson’s patchy form in this competition suggests there could be some value in this game and this is therefore one of the less clear-cut contests of the night.

The fourth match in Glasgow could also be close with Peter Wright looking to bounce back after a dreadful couple of weeks. Snakebite has suffered those back-to-back 7-1 reverses and is second from bottom of the table as he prepares to face Raymond Van Barneveld. Barney is better placed with six points from six matches and the Dutchman starts as favourite for this one at best odds of 19/13 with 188Bet.

Victory for Wright follows at 17/10 with Sport Pesa while Betway have the top price on the draw. That could be the toughest game to call but it should also hold some value so we’ll come back to this when we consider our verdict.

Finishing Off

Rob Cross

Last up to the oche are two men with contrasting Premier League form as the resurgent Rob Cross takes on bottom of the table Gerwyn Price. Needless to say, there are no great surprises in this market with Cross available at short best odds of 2/5 with most bookmakers including Unibet and Winner Sports.

The draw comes next in this match at a top price of 11/2 while BetBright have the best numbers for a Gerwyn Price victory at 6/1. In a one-off match there is potential for any market to be upset but form points towards a fifth straight Premier League win for World Champion Cross.

The Verdict

Peter Wright

Cross should come through, as should Michael Van Gerwen so there is potential for small profits at odds on prices if you want to start week eight with either or both of those bets. For our first tip of the night however, we’re going to look at a rather more unlikely option.

Peter Wright came close to landing the Premier League title last year and he gained revenge on the ultimate champion by claiming a 7-5 victory over Michael Van Gerwen in 2018. That remains his only victory so far in a disappointing campaign but he doesn’t become a poor thrower overnight and as the outside bet against Raymond Van Barneveld, Wright carries good value at that 17/10 price.

Mensur Suljovic has shown some promise at times and started with a high average despite losing his opening matches so we like the look of the Austrian at 7/5 to overcome the equally mixed form shown by Daryl Gurney.

That just leaves the game between Anderson and Whitlock which, based on the Flying Scotsman’s performances so far, leaves the favourite far too short at 8/15. The draw is a real tempter in this at 9/2 but while we expect Anderson to edge it, it could be tight and a correct score of 7-5 in favour of the Scot is worth a look at a generous top price of 8/1 with Boylesports.

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