Kingz Voice

In this Weekend Sports Preview, there are a host of varied and exciting events to wager on, including Sunday's Premier League showdown between West Brom and visiting champs, Man United, which will be the last professional game for the team's outgoing manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Cricket: England vs New Zealand in 1st Test

For cricket fans, there is nothing so pure as a 5-day Test match at Lords, the spiritual home of the centuries old game. Which is why the current Test - the first of two - between England and New Zealand at the hallowed London cricket ground is garnering so much attention, both locally and abroad.

Given the recent records of these two sides, it is not surprising that England have been posted as the betting favourites at most sportsbooks, including popular Irish sports betting website Paddy Power (see the odds below). With day two firmly underway, England are on the scoreboard for 186/4 (at the time of writing), and will obviously be looking to drastically extend that to keep the Kiwis at bay.

For England, fast bowlers Steve Finn and Stuart Broad are expected so step up and fly the flag. For my cricket betting buck, the home team will chalk up a comfortable win in this 1st Test.

England vs New Zealand 1st Cricket Test Odds

England - 9/5
New Zealand - 12/1
Draw - 8/15

Horse Racing: Orb Favoured in Preakness Stakes

The last horse to win the epic US Triple Crown of Races was Affirmed in 1978. But as happens each and every years, all eyes will be on the Kentucky Derby winner - which this year is Orb - to see if they can also win the Preakness Stakes - which takes place on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore - as well as the Belmont Stakes.

No horse has been able to win all three races in 35 years, regardless of their pedigree. Considering that Orb is unbeaten in five races, a sixth way well be on the (betting) cards. His highly respected trainer Shug McGaughey seems confident in his charge's chances, especially with talented jockey Joel Rosario back aboard him tomorrow.

Hence Orb's betting favourite status at sportsbooks across the board. In terms of close rivals, fans would be remiss to dismiss the likes of MyLute, Departing and Itsmyluckyday. With an unusually short field of just nine this year, there will be plenty of space for the runners to strut their stuff, Here are the Preakness Stakes odds at Paddy Power:

2013 Preakness Stakes Winner Odds

Orb - evens
Departing - 6/1
Mylute - 6/1
Goldencents - 13/2
Itsmyluckyday - 9/1
Will Take Charge - 14/1
Govenor Charlie - 16/1
Oxbow - 20/1
Titletown Five - 33/1

Golf: 2013 Volvo World Match Play Underway

Match play golf tournaments are very different to stroke play golf tournaments. In the latter, players compete, in essence, against the entire field, by trying to score the lowest score in each of four rounds. In the former, players concentrate on trying to win more holes than their immediate rival on the day, or they are knocked out. And this makes for some exciting showdowns.

Take the 4-day 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship, which kicked off Thursday at the Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort in Kavarna, Bulgaria. With a total prize fund of €3,000,000, including €800,000 for the winner, this event has attracted a slew of top golfers from around the world. These include Graeme McDowell of England, Bo van Pelt of the United States, Henrick Stenson of Sweden, Branden Grace of South Africa and 20 other top-rated players.

In terms of the biggest upsets so far, Brendan Grace knocked out defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, in round one, while Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand knocked out match play specialist Ian Poulter of England. It will be very interesting to see what the rest of the tournament holds, but for my match play betting buck, Grace will emerge the eventual winner. Here are the Volvo World Match Play Championship odds at Paddy Power:

Volvo World Match Play Odds

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano - 1/14
Tie - 8/1
Brett Rumford - 14/1

Thorbjorn Olesen - 10/1
Tie - 15/2
Scott Jamieson - 1/10

Branden Grace - 7/5
Tie - 4/1
Kiradech Aphibarnrat - evens

Bo Van Pelt - 5/6
Tie - 9/2
Geoff Ogilvy - 13/8

Peter Hanson - 11/4
Tie - 5/1
Shane Lowry - 1/2

Thomas Aiken - 8/13
Tie - 5/1
Ian Poulter - 2/1

Graeme McDowell - 1/5
Tie - 7/1
Stephen Gallacher - 9/1

Football: Man Utd vs West Brom and Fergie's Farewell

The final score of Sunday's English Premier League clash between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion will be of little consequence considering that the former has already won the championship. But it will be remembered as the final match overseen by the Red Devils' outgoing manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who has retired after 26 years at Old Trafford.

The match at The Hawthorns will be an emotional one for Manchester United fans as it will be Fergie's last, and fittingly, 1500th of his long and illustrious career. The Scottish gum-toting manager couldn't have asked to end his career on a better note, than with his 13th English Premier League title in the bag, and the club in a very positive and healthy position.

From a betting perspective, Manchester United are unsurprisingly the favourites at Paddy Power.

Man Utd vs West Brom Odds

West Brom - 7/2
Man Utd - 4/5
Draw - 13/5