1 WEST BROM TO BE RELEGATED (11-10)The Northern Echo:

The Premier League title race might be a foregone conclusion, but the battle to avoid relegation from the top-flight will almost certainly go to the wire.

The bookmakers make Swansea City favourites for the drop, but the value lies with the side that currently occupy 19th position, West Brom.

The Baggies failed to get any kind of an uplift from replacing Tony Pulis with Alan Pardew, and their lack of a goal threat will be a major handicap as they look to scramble to survival.

With money tight at the Hawthorns, there are unlikely to be any big-money additions before the transfer window closes, and as a result, it is hard to see how Pardew’s side can survive.


2 TEAM GB TO WIN SIX OR MORE WINTER OLYMPICS MEDALS (5-2)

The Northern Echo:

Britain won four medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, a tally that equalled their best-ever performance at a Winter Games, which had been set in Chamonix in 1924.

With that in mind, it would be quite a leap to jump to six medals in Pyeongchang next month, but this is comfortably the best group of athletes ever to have represented Britain at a Winter Games, and a six-medal target is realistic.

Elise Christie could win two or three by herself in speed skating, while Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton) and James Woods (freestyle skiing) are also set to make the podium.

Throw in Isabel Atkin (freestyle skiing), Katie Ormerod (snowboard) and both the men’s and women’s curling teams, and you have more than enough talent to suggest a six-medal tally can be achieved.


3 ENGLAND TO WIN THE SIX NATIONS (Evens)

The Northern Echo:

Since the Six Nations adopted its current format in 2000, no country has won three titles in a row. Indeed, even when the competition was the Five Nations, you have to go back to 1989 to find the last side to be triple winners, and even then, one of France’s titles was shared.

Can England follow up their triumphs in the last two seasons with another victory this year? They’ll face some strong competition, with Ireland and a resurgent Scotland having progressed nicely in the next 12 months, but should still come out on top.

Eddie Jones’ side flexed their muscles in the autumn internationals with a clean sweep against Argentina, Australia and Samoa, and boast a depth of talent that is the envy of their rivals.

England have to travel to France and Scotland this year but, crucially, entertain Ireland at Twickenham in the final round of fixtures. Home advantage in that game could be decisive.


4 BUVEUR D’AIR AND APPLE’S JADE IN A CHELTENHAM DOUBLE (5-2)

The Northern Echo:

Some unexpected results over Christmas have blown a number of the ante-post Cheltenham markets wide open, but the first day of March’s Festival should still see a couple of short-priced favourites lining up. All things being equal, they should both win.

With major question marks over Faugheen’s well-being, Buveur D’Air looks a cast-iron bet in the Champion Hurdle. Last year’s winner has been as good as ever this year, with his effortless victory in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle especially impressive.

He’s odds-on though, so double him up with another returning champion, Apple’s Jade, who will look to defend her crown in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Apple’s Jade has swept all before her in Ireland this winter, and given that she outclassed her leading rivals in last year’s race, there’s no reason to think she won’t follow up 12 months on.


5 MARK SELBY TO WIN SNOOKER’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (7-2)

The Northern Echo:

Ronnie O’Sullivan continues to be by far the best-known name in world snooker, but his popularity means the majority of his rivals are over-priced at the leading competitions.

Mark Selby boasts a much better record than O’Sullivan over the last three or four seasons, yet it is the ‘Rocket’ who is a short-priced favourite for the World Championships at the Crucible. He shouldn’t be.

Selby has won three of the last four World Championships, and invariably raises his game on the biggest stage of all.

O’Sullivan hasn’t even made the final since 2014, and it is the ‘Jester from Leicester’ who makes by the far the most appeal ahead of April’s tournament.


6 HIDEKI MATSUYAMA EACH-WAY AT THE US MASTERS (20-1)

The Northern Echo:

The title of ‘the best player never to win a Major’ has been passed around a number of players in the last couple of decades, and currently resides with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Yet while some players lack the mental resolve to get over the line in a Major, Matsuyama looks destined to claim a big one sooner rather than later. At the very least, he is a cracking each-way bet for the Masters at 20-1.

His game suits Augusta – he has finished in the top 11 at each of the last three Masters tournaments – and as his top-five finishes at last year’s US Open and USPGA prove, he knows how to raise his game for the Majors.

With most bookmakers offering each-way terms about a top-seven finish in the Masters, Matsuyama is effectively 4-1 to finish in the first seven places. That has to be a good bet.


7 ROB CROSS TO WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS (7-2)

The Northern Echo:

Rob Cross’ display in Monday’s PDC World Darts final was one of the most remarkable sporting performances in many a year, but the bookies clearly expect Michael van Gerwen to come roaring back in the Premier League.

In fairness, MVG nearly knocked Cross out in the semi-finals, so he’ll almost certainly be there or thereabouts at the business end of the Premier League, but does he really deserve to be an odds-on shot?

Barring MVG and perhaps a resurgent Gary Anderson, Cross is head and shoulders above everyone else in the Premier League line-up, and will head into the tournament riding a tidal-wave of momentum.

He will almost certainly gather enough points to make the knock-out stage, and if he does, a price of 7-2 will look extremely attractive.


8 ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI EACH-WAY TO BE TOP SCORER AT THE WORLD CUP (40-1)

The Northern Echo:

The usual suspects are at the top of the Golden Boot market for the World Cup finals, with the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo all expected to have successful tournaments.

However, with most bookmakers going a quarter the odds for a place in the top four, there are some appealing each-way alternatives to the favourites, with Robert Lewandowski standing out.

The Pole topped the goalscoring charts in European qualifiers with 16 goals, and has proved adept at transferring his superb club form to the international stage.

Poland remain underrated, and were handed an appealing group at last month’s draw. They will face Japan, Senegal and Colombia, and Lewandowski can fill his boots.


9 SERENA WILLIAMS TO WIN WIMBLEDON (7-2)

The Northern Echo:

Serena Williams is set to make her return to competitive action at this month’s Australian Open, having been away from the game for almost a year in order to have a daughter in September.

Given her technical brilliance and remarkable will to win, she could well triumph in Melbourne, but a safer bet would be to back her to win at Wimbledon.

Her record on the grass at SW19 is sensational, and by the time the summer rolls around, she should have ironed out any lingering rustiness that might rear its head in the next couple of months.

Unlike with the men’s game, this is not a golden period in women’s tennis, and even a Serena playing at 80-90 per cent of her best would still take some stopping at Wimbledon.


10 MIDDLESEX TO WIN DIVISION TWO OF THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP (9-4)

The Northern Echo:

Newly-relegated sides have an excellent record of bouncing back at the first time of asking in the County Championship, and Middlesex should be backed to triumph in the second tier of the county game this summer.

Had they gained two more points, they would have survived in the top-flight last season, and unlike Warwickshire, who were also relegated, they look well-equipped to seal an immediate return to the First Division.

Nick Compton and Sam Robson should score plenty of runs in the second tier, while avoiding a call-up to the England ranks, and it is conceivable that both Steven Finn and Toby Roland-Jones could find themselves playing plenty of county cricket this season.

Factor in the likes of James Franklin, Tim Murtagh and a potential overseas signing, and you have the makings of a team that should be much too good for its rivals.


LAST YEAR’S SELECTIONS:


WINNERS:

Glen Durrant to win the BDO World Darts Championship (7-4)

Nafissatou Thiam to win the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships (2-1)

Australia to win the Ashes (Evens)


LOSERS:

Ireland to win the Six Nations (Finished second)

Douvan and Thistlecrack in a Cheltenham double (7th and a non-runner)

Diego Costa to be Premier League top scorer (Finished joint fourth)

Dustin Johnson to win a Major (Best finish of 13th at USPGA)

Andy Murray to win Wimbledon (Lost in quarter-finals)

New Zealand to win the Lions tour 2-1 (Finished as a 1-1 draw)

Lewis Hamilton to be Sports Personality of the Year (Made the shortlist)