If you know the pain of spending 20 minutes on the games to construct a meticulous bet only for half time to arrive with one already turned inside out, then you are already halfway there. This may or may not be down to bad luck – it might be too many games, seeking impossible odds or refusing to look at the fixture as it is rather than as you want it to be – but the ‘banker’ betting system is designed to help eliminate these.
A ‘banker’ isn’t a certainty in football, as I suspect most who’ve bet more than twice on a game can attest. Instead it’s simply a fixture which form, situation and odds suggest there is only ever one way it can go. It’s about reading the game not judging it.
This week has a strong set of fixtures across the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Sokapicks has been tracking the data closely, and there are a handful of matches that stand out as solid banker candidates. Head over to today's sure banker selections on Sokapicks to see the full updated list, but here is a breakdown of the games drawing the most attention right now.
The Nou Camp, Barcelona, Champions League quarter-final... It doesn't get much closer to a banker in Europe than that. The probability in this game currently stands at a fairly comfortable 62% in favor of the Catalans, and the current form suggest even this is a modest estimation.
In round of 16, Barca demolished Newcastle 7-2 on aggregate. That’s not a result. That's a message. Their attack is potent, their press is immense and at home, in a knockout tie, they perform.
Atletico Madrid are not an easy side. Simeone always produces a well organized defensive block and they will not come to Catalonia looking to break the game open. But the cracks have been there this season from Atletico away in European matches with high stakes. The Barcelona win or Barcelona to score 1.5+ are the bets to focus on.
When playing Bournemouth at home at the Emirates, Arsenal seems to present the cleanest of the home banker chances for this round in the Premier League. As Arsenal's chances of winning are 67.7%, and given the state both teams are in currently, the number does seem plausible.
What they had today though was a comfortable 2-0 home win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, keeping a clean sheet in a European knockout game. That type of result should put some steel in any team's spine. They are disciplined, they are scoring and at home they aren't conceding much.
Bournemouth are a respectable mid-table team and they really have nothing major that they are fighting for at this point of the season. Travelling to the Emirates and playing against a team on this kind of run is not easy. A straight home win looks to be the call here and it is one where a short price can be snapped up.
Brighton come into this fixture 54.6% likely to win, and this figure for an away team, means a huge amount. This highlights how much difference is between these two teams as it stands, with Brighton being very consistent on the road this year, while Burnley have been among the weakest at the back in the division.
This is not the kind of match to get carried away with in terms of odds. Brighton should win, but it will not be a thrashing. Used as part of a two or three-fold accumulator, it adds real value. For a broader look at selections like this, the straight win predictions page on Sokapicks covers the strongest outright win tips updated daily.
Another game where the odds are so skewed in one direction, is Liverpool vs Fulham at Anfield. The odds are 61.8% to Liverpool, they usually don't let the home crowd down and they are coming off the back of a Champions League win at home 4-0 vs Galatasaray.
Fulham work hard, they press well and are a good organized team. But travelling to Anfield for a Liverpool team in this form is a very big ask. A Liverpool win and over 1.5 goals in the game is the smart punt. Not trying to get greedy, it just makes sense.
This is the game where the banker element begins to be tested slightly. Bayern Munich come in as slightly less narrow favourites (43.8% to win) than Real Madrid (32.8%). A simple win bet on either of the two does carry a little more danger than expected.
Real Madrid were surprisingly knocked out Man City in the last round and the Spanish giants head to Munich with an abundance of belief and big European game experience. Bayern on the other hand, have the home advantage of the Allianz Arena where visiting sides have struggled all year. Both teams tend to find the back of the net. Both sides have quality in abundance to ensure a score-sheet.
The both teams to score market is the cleaner call for this fixture. Historical meetings between these clubs tend to deliver goals on both ends, and the current form of both squads supports that outcome. Check the BTTS tips on Sokapicks today for more selections in this market across today's full fixture list.
Banker betting is at its most effective when the slip is short. Two or three selections with proper backing will consistently outsell a seven-fold accumulator over the course of time. It’s a simple equation – the more selections you get on a match, the greater the chance of one going off even if each individual pick is a winner.
Three things make for a solid banker. Home or away form that is clear, and recent (not six months past), and therefore a motivator gap – i.e. One side need a win much more than the other. Head-to-head form to back it up, and when the three elements combine; you have a strong bet on your hands.
The other element is flat staking. Keeping a level percentage of your bankroll staked on each bet, instead of increasing stakes after a loss, is what will keep you around for the long term. A banker bet is about steady growth, not a jackpot win.
This is another of those weeks with plenty of banker bets. Home win for Barca in the Champions league, the London sides are up against cannon fodder in the Premier League and an argument for Brighton to be rated by a fair margin over Burnley. All these choices have tangible reason behind them rather than just reputation.
However we can't win every single bet on football. A well made bet on football, can be thrown away in the last ten minutes. So stake what you can afford to lose and cling to your slip as the form and the figures have their say.
For daily updated predictions across all markets including over 2.5 tips, correct score, and double chance selections, Sokapicks covers it all in one place. Pick smart, stake sensibly, and good luck on your slip.
Disclaimer: All predictions are for informational purposes only. Please gamble responsibly. Betting involves financial risk.
