Premier League Accumulator Betting Matchday 3: How well did I do on my third acca of the season?
I picked the winner of six PL matches for matchday No. 3. Did I get all six correct?
Premier League matchday No. 3 featured some stellar fixtures, including a massive top-four, six-point affair between Newcastle and Liverpool. For last week’s accumulator, I added a selection from the big Premier League fixture, along with five other matches.
For matchday No. 3, I placed a £1 accumulator bet with six Premier League match selections. I will be doing this all season long, keeping readers abreast of how well I do - or should I say, how much money I lose.
Matchday No. 1 and No. 2 didn’t go well. I just missed out on a win for opening weekend but got things horribly wrong for the second weekend of football.
I went into Premier League matchday No. 3 with -£2. So, how did I do with my third acca of the campaign?
What is an accumulator?
Before I go any further, it is important to describe just what an acca is for those who aren’t aware. American bettors may not be familiar with the name, but an accumulator is the same as a parlay.
A football accumulator bet combines multiple individual bets into a single wager. To win, all the individual bets within the accumulator must be successful. If one of the selections in the accumulator loses, the entire bet loses.
My first acca
Accas are fun. I don’t recommend staking a lot of money on them, especially if you add a lot of selections.
Growing up in the United States, I had never been able to bet on sports. When I first moved to England, one of the things I was most excited to do was visit a sports bookie.
My wife had worked at Wolverhampton horseracing track taking bets from punters during her teenage years, so I got her to take me into a local Ladbrokes to place my first sports wager.
For some reason, I was extremely scared and nervous, like the first time I went into a strip club or bought beer as a minor. In the end, I placed a £0.50 bet on Fulham to win a UEFA Cup game (you never forget your first time).
I won back £1.15 or something inconsequential. The next day when I cashed in my bet, the person at the counter looked less than thrilled to pay out my wager. I, on the other hand, was ecstatic.
Being that the bookmakers keep getting richer and most bettors just keep losing money, I’m unwilling to wager more than £5 or £10 on a single bet. I admit, a £10 bet is a rarity.
This is why I enjoy accumulators. I can keep my stakes small. For me, it is also fun to try and predict the outcomes of games.
A few years ago, I placed a £1 acca on an assortment of Europa League matches. Each selection won, providing me with my biggest win ever from an accumulator bet, which was £270. It is the most I have ever won in a sports bet. Unfortunately, I’ve been chasing the dragon ever since.
So, how did I do for Premier League matchday No. 3?
Well, I almost pulled off a great six-fold acca win for Premier League matchday No. 3. Unfortunately, Arsenal let me down, allowing Fulham to score a late equaliser at the Emirates. Thanks, Mikel Arteta!
My selections for matchday No. 3 were:
Man United to defeat Nottingham Forest - Yes
Liverpool to defeat Newcastle United - Yes
Aston Villa to defeat Burnley - Yes
Man City to defeat Sheffield United - Yes
Brighton vs. West Ham over 3.5 goals - Yes
Arsenal to defeat Fulham - No
Had my acca won, I would have received a total of £24.51, with a profit of £23.51. The Liverpool win over Newcastle selection offered the best odds of the six games at 3.00.
After three matchdays, I am -£3 in Premier League accas. There is always next weekend, right?
Here are the games I will be selecting from:
Luton Town vs. West Ham
Sheffield United vs. Everton
Man City vs. Fulham
Brentford vs. Bournemouth
Burnley vs. Tottenham
Chelsea vs. Notts Forest
Brighton vs. Newcastle
Crystal Palace vs. Wolves
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Arsenal vs. Man United
Once again, I will make six selections and hope for a first win of the season.