Looking at the latest odds you´d think Manchester United only have to turn up at Wigan´s JJB Stadium on Sunday for Sir Alex Ferguson to claim his 10th Premier League title.
The Red Devils are long odds-on (1/6) with totesport to do just that but perhaps there is just a slight suspicion that too much is being read into the Steve Bruce factor.
Wigan manager Bruce of course played at Old Trafford for nine seasons, winning eight trophies in the process. It would seem that many sarcastically believe the former rugged defender is going to make that nine trophies by ordering his players to take their feet off the gas and turn the fixture into a title procession for his old club.
Rubbish. If there is one word that sums up Bruce´s career as a player and now a manager it is honesty and the big man will demand nothing less than 100% from his side - even if it incurs the wrath of the United faithful for years to come.
Bruce has even come out this week to say he is insulted by suggestions that Wigan will throw in the towel. And that is something that should alert punters to Chelsea´s title odds (7/2).
Let us not forget that if United lose at the JJB then a Chelsea draw with Bolton at Stamford Bridge would be good enough to earn Avram Grant´s men the Premiership title. Likewise, if United only draw and Chelsea beat Bolton.
With the form that Grant´s side are currently in it is very difficult to see them grabbing anything other than three points.
One of the key factors to making money from the bookies is to only bet when the odds look wrong. Yes, United are still the justified Premier League favourites but this title race is still wide open and Chelsea´s price is too big to ignore.
