Premier League Darts - Night 14 Predictions
There are just three nights of regular-season action left in this season’s Premier League and there is plenty to play for on Night 14 in Leeds.
Luke Littler is clear at the top of the table and the Nuke has already qualified for the playoffs.
However, the battle for the remaining three top-four spots is brewing nicely and that should make for an interesting night of action.
Bet 1: Luke Humphries to win Night 14 @ each-way
Luke Humphries takes on Michael van Gerwen at the quarter-final stage in Leeds and Cool Hand Luke is bound to have plenty of support from the crowd.
The Leeds supporter played pretty well on the Euro Tour last week, but was narrowly beaten 6-5 by a resurgent Michael Smith. However, the same can’t be said for Michael van Gerwen. MVG averaged only 89.52 when going down 6-3 to Dirk van Duijvenbode in Germany and that was a pretty poor effort.
Humphries is fancied to get past Mighty Mike, but instead of backing the former world champion to beat the Dutchman, Cool Hand Luke rates a bet to win the night.
The Newbury arrowsmith can’t meet Littler until the final, and if he finds a way past MVG, Humphries will be strong favourite for his semi-final clash against either Chris Dobey or Stephen Bunting.
At 4/1, Cool Hand Luke looks a pretty solid each-way bet in Leeds.
Bet 2: Luke Littler -2.5 legs v Nathan Aspinall @ 21/20
Backing Luke Littler to overcome a 2.5-leg head start for Nathan Aspinall looks the best play on the Night 14 card.
The Nuke has won 12 of his 13 career meetings with the Asp and it’s 4-0 in the world champion’s favour in this season’s Premier League.
The 18-year-old arrives in Leeds in good form, after taking maximum points in Birmingham last week and Aspinall could struggle to keep tabs on Littler.
The Asp has been picking up some good results on the Pro Tour, Euro Tour and in the Premier League, but they haven’t been flowing performances and you have to wonder how much effort the Stockport man can keep giving.
Littler has been a handicap winner in six of his last seven matches against Aspinall and that trend looks set to continue in Leeds.
Bet 3: Chris Dobey to beat Stephen Bunting @ 49/50
Basement boys Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey battle it out in the closing quarter-final contest and the loser will know that their playoff hopes are as good as over.
It’s hard to have complete confidence in Dobey, especially after last week’s abysmal effort in defeat to Nathan Aspinall, but Hollywood is generally a progressive performer and the Bedlington man beat Bunting 6-2 in their most recent Premier League meeting.
The Bullet was blitzed by Cameron Menzies in the European Darts Grand Prix last week and that defeat won’t have boosted the Merseyside man’s mood.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation