Trying to make money from gambling is hard work. Those who are professionals have worked long and hard, but even then it does not necessarily happen over time! There are individuals who make a living out of gambling on horses. They pick a horse and look at factors such as who are the trainers, they examine the form of the horse and they examine the condition of other horses that are in that particular race. They calculate what the odds are, to determine the likely outcome, so the same can be done for other sports. Football prediction is possible. In the next few paragraphs I will give you examples of issues that will change the course of a competition at a result therefore changing what you may bet on.

Horse racing is so different from football. However, football prediction has similar characteristics. You look at the manager, the form of the team, the players, how they have performed at that particular venue. You can see the similarities between the two sports. Is it possible to believe that football match predictions can be done and that it is not based on pure luck?

A competition like the World Cup is the best competition to analyse and the following is a short football betting guide to the World Cup. There isn't any occasions where an outsider has won so focusing in on the large teams would be the best way to go about making some money. In fact there are few examples in history of smaller teams ever winning international tournaments as big as the world cup however in the European competition there are some exceptions such as Denmark winning in 1992, and Greece matching that feat in 2004.

First of all you have the hosts South Africa. The chances of them winning are very small. Many times countries that host the world cup win the competition which help football match predictions as they have home advantage like England, France and Brazil who have all won the world cup when they have hosted it. A country like South Africa's footballing pedigree winning the World Cup is highly unlikely, but home advantage should never be entirely discounted. Recently we have seen an incident when the England captain, John Terry, did something controversial causing a rift in the England squad which resulted in him losing his captaincy. A football prediction would be that unless these issues are sorted out then England will not do well in the competition. Injuries can affect a game but likewise any kind of mental issues to do with morale or trust are equally as bad and could be a major hindrance in the England team. We would urge anyone who is thinking about placing a bet on England in the World Cup to watch this issue revolving around John Terry and see how it unfolds. It is like betting on Tiger Woods, which has decreased significantly due to his "sex addiction" he has had to take a break from Golf and has been abandoned by sponsors. Although not a football prediction it is quite clear to see that Tiger Wood's game will be affected. Not going to draw any conclusions but sponsorship wise the same will happen to John Terry which in turn will result in his form decreasing. Very recently right after the scandal emerged with John Terry, Chelsea, of whom he is the captain,  took on Hull, (who are sitting at the bottom of the league and are fighting for relegation) and could only draw a game in which they look distracted and unsettled.Bookies had Chelsea for a win and yet they drew, could this be because of their captains mind set? You cant help but think that when he was playing against Hull at the back of his mind he will have been contemplating, should I resign as Captain of England? Issues like these help football match predictions as any weakness in a team can change the outcome of a match. The media coverage on this topic has been relentless. We see it on the TV news, papers, magazines etc. How can it not be a distraction to anyone? The same thing happened years ago in rugby with Will Carling,whose affair with another rugby stars wife left his career in tatters. So what can be learned from all this? I suppose what it comes down to is that matters off the pitch, matter as much as matters on the pitch, and in the art of football predicition, these issues must be watched.

Currently in the English Premiership the battle for the top position is very tight and could not be described as a one horse race. In fact it has shaped up to be a very interesting season. A good football prediction would be that Manchester United will win the English Premiership this year in 2010. Reasons being are momentum, quality and management. They have brilliant players and an exceptionally strong squad, some that have been there for so long and influence the rest of the team with their professionalism, winning mentality and vast experience. Their manager, Alex Ferguson brilliance is another major factor, and as any football betting guide will tell you on several occasions in the past he has a track record of bringing the Premiership title and numerous other trophies back to Old Trafford time and time again. Their curret form and momentum such as victories over Arsenal at the Emirates in January this year suggests they have got it in them to go all the way. Futhermore emphatic wins against clubs like Arsenal away from home which are critical, really boost the team's morale, as shown in their 5-0 demolition of Portsmouth in early February. On the other hand Arsenal have a young squad and have got better year on year, and many speculate that under Arsene Venger's guidance they will come good sooner rather than later. On the subject of football prediction it is plausible to say that Arsenal will win within the next three years win the English Premiership as their squad is maturing like a fine wine. With the strength in the players coming through and their financial situation being very strong as well, they can afford to spend money on new players to bolster their squad and will surely be champions again soon. Chelsea's very good chances of a third Premiership League title cannot be denied either, from their defensive solidarity to the rest of their deep squad, especially with the return of their many players who were competiting in the African Cup of Nations. Additionally their pairing of Drogba and Anelka is finally flourishing this season, and nobody would deny that they have the goals in them to steal the title.

This article was written on the 4th of February by Ian Ryan who is the webmaster of www.footballbettingtips.co.uk and the information is to help you, the reader, make money. Follow his advice, read an analysis and then place a bet using the reputable companies listed.