While many punters naturally gravitate towards backing a winner, betting on a draw can be a smart and rewarding alternative.
This is because bookmakers typically assign bigger odds to stalemates, which occur less often than victories for either team.
With that in mind, let’s examine this weekend’s fixtures and identify the games where draw outcomes present the best value.
HamKam vs Tromso (Saturday, 13:30)
The value could lie with the draw when HamKam welcome Tromso to Briskeby Stadion in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts head into this encounter having shared the spoils in each of their last two league matches, with both fixtures finishing 2-2. They now come up against a Tromso side that has also shown a tendency to draw games this season, so another stalemate could well be on the cards.
Indeed, the visitors have been involved in four draws across their opening 14 league matches, which is the joint second-highest tally in the division. A closer look shows that two of those four stalemates have arrived in their last three league outings, suggesting this could be another closely fought contest.
Dundee United vs Arbroath (Saturday, 19:00)
Dundee United have made a shaky start to their Scottish League Cup campaign, and that makes the draw an interesting proposition when they play host to Arbroath on Saturday night.
Jim Goodwin’s side were seconds away from being held to a goalless draw by Stirling Albion last Saturday before they were beaten 1-0 away at Montrose. The Terrors now face a stubborn Arbroath side that would be more than happy to settle for a point here, given that it would put them in pole position to win the section.
Seven of Arbroath’s final 13 matches of last season, including three of their last four, ended all square. Another stalemate could be worth a punt at Tannadice on Saturday night.
Elfsborg vs Sirius (Sunday, 15:30)
Draws involving Elfsborg have been something of a recurring theme in the Swedish Allsvenskan this season, which makes the draw an attractive angle when they play host to Sirius on Sunday.
The Yellow Ones have been honours even in six of their opening 13 league matches of the campaign, and even more encouraging for the purposes of this selection is that four of those stalemates have arrived across their last six outings.
While Sirius have not been as prone to draws this season, they did play out a thrilling 4-4 with Mjallby a fortnight ago, so another stalemate could be worth backing at the Boras Arena.
Weekend Draw Treble
- HamKam vs Tromso
- Dundee United vs Arbroath
- Elfsborg vs Sirius
- Treble pays 42/1 (bet365)
Grant Heaney, aka SlipsTips, is a Freelance Football and Darts Writer with over six years experience. Grant has written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. He is a Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. You can find all of his tips on X @SlipsTips
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