SPURS are the 5-4 favourites with William Hill to be the British side to progress furthest in this year's Europa League but I'd rather be on Stoke.
Of the two it's Stoke who are treating the competition more seriously and they are so strong at home.
They are 9-4 second favourites with Hills while Fulham are 11-4 ahead of 7-1 Birmingham and 12-1 Celtic.
Spurs' weakened side struggled past Shamrock Rovers in the previous game and if Harry Redknapp puts out a similar line-up I can't see them beating Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
The Russians are a biggest 9-2 with firms such as William Hill and Ladbrokes but it's safer taking them not to lose (double chance) at 5-4 with Betfred.
Stoke should see off Maccabi Tel Aviv at home but are a biggest 8-15 with William Hill and Ladbrokes. Consider them at 5-4 with Chandler to win to nil. Peter Crouch is likely to pose a major threat to the Israelis defence and is 9-2 at Coral to score first.
Bruges look one of the best bets of the night at 1-1 at home to Championship outfit Birmingham while I expect Fulham to draw away to Wisla Krakow.
Celtic have won just one of their last 31 away games in Europe so when they travel to Rennes there's nothing I can say to justify anything but another disaster.
The Hoops' stats are well known but in recent weeks they've also been dropping points on the road in the SPL and that's a worrying trend.
Rennes are a biggest 8-11 with boylesports and William Hill and I'm surprised it's not smaller. They look a competent outfit who beat Lorient 2-0 at home at the weekend but are resting star playmaker Yann M'vila.
Celtic are a biggest 4-1 with the likes of Ladbrokes and Stan James with the draw 11-4 with Ladbrokes.
The other group game sees Udinese entertain Atletico Madrid with both sides set to rotate players. It could end in a dull draw at 12-5 with bet365.
Elsewhere French fliers PSG look good at 8-11 with Betfred away to Slovan Bratislava and Dutch hotshots AZ are likely to blow away Austria Vienna at home. They are 2-5 with William Hill and Ladbrokes.
Another Dutch side Twente are worth backing at 11-10 with bet365 at Odense and Lazio
(7-5, Hills) should win in Zurich if they put out a full-strength side.
Recommendations
Rubin Kazan double chance
(5-4, Betfred)
Stoke to win to nil
(5-4, Chandler)
Crouch to score first
(9-2, Coral)
In December 2020 we sadly 
