Football Bet of the Day: Start the week with a French fancy in Nancy

We're hoping to find footballing beauty in France tonight

Kevin Hatchard's back to lead us around the world, and he's starting with a clash from the French second division.

Nancy v Orleans
Monday January 19, 19:30

It's "Blue Monday" today, a day when the statistics say we are all apparently supposed to be miserable. I am down in the dumps after my beloved Green Bay Packers blew the chance to reach the Super Bowl (damn you, Brandon Bostick), but Tobias Gourlay is cock-a-hoop. Yesterday's successful unders bet in the Belenenses v Gil Vicente game made it five winners for the week for TG. Kudos, and challenge accepted.

We start our week in France, and a Ligue 2 clash between Nancy and Orleans. Nancy are having a rough time of it at the moment, having lost their last five league games, and they are now eight points off the top three. 

The market is expecting a sterile affair, with Over 2.5 Goals trading at 2.466/4, and Yes in the Both Teams to Score market a chunky 2.265/4. This looks like an overreaction to Nancy's recent drop in performance level. While it's true that The Thistles have failed to score in three of their last five games, the picture changes if you stretch back a bit further. 

Pablo Correa's men have hit the net at least once in 11 of their last 14 league games, and both teams have scored in 12 of Nancy's 19 league outings this term. 

Orleans are no stranger to a bit of goalscoring drama either. Eight of their last ten games have seen both sides trouble the scoreboard, and Orleans have scored at least once in their last nine games in league and cup. They usually score on their travels, drawing a blank in just three of their 12 away games.

It's tempting to back overs, but I'm going to plump for Yes in the BTTS market simply because it also covers the 1-1 draw. Orleans have drawn 1-1 in five of their league games, while that scoreline's popped up four times for Nancy. 

Recommended Bet

Back Yes in the Both Teams to Score market at 2.265/4

2015 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 7

Points Returned: 5.17

P/L: -1.83 points