Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
25th August 1845hrs
Darts – England – Premier League
Pick Micahel Smith to win
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 11/8 odds taken 19:23 GMT Sunday, 23rd August
The Premier League Darts season resumes on Tuesday as the first phase of the season is set to be completed.
The final three rounds of the Phase 1 are going to be played on consecutive nights this week, before jumping straight into Phase 2.
So there is a stack of darts coming up this week and this is the game to get the ball rolling.
Table of Contents
Michael Smith Preview – Smith on course for a top-four finish
It has been an excellent campaign from Micahel Smith so far, posting a W4 D1 L2 record to sit in third place in the table after six rounds.
He claimed a win in three of his final four matches before the season went into a prolonged break.
One of those victories came against Micahel van Gerwen on Night 5 at Exeter.
So he is tracking along with a three dart average of 96.71 for the season.
Smith is carrying a bit of form because he reached the semifinals of the World Matchplay last month as well.
The bookies can’t split these two up, with Smith and Anderson both at 11/8 to win in the math outright* (odds taken 19:23 GMT Sunday, 23rd August).
It was against Anderson that Smith lost in the semi final of the recent World Matchplay, going down 18-16 in a cracking match.
That snapped a run of good form that Smith had been on against Anderson, having won each of the previous four meetings.
The head to head from four previous Premier League meetings is even, with two wins each.
Gary Anderson Preview – Anderson playing catch up
It has been a W2 D2 L2 record from Gary Anderson in this season’s Premier League.
His three dart average is at 94.5 considerably down on that of Michael’s Smith’s effort in the league.
Only two players have produced a lower three-dart average than that of the Flying Scotsman.
It has just been patchy and inconsistent stuff from the Scotsman so far, winning just one of his last five games.
The wins that he has taken were 7-5 victories over Daryl Gurney on Night 1 and then Rob Cross on Night 4.
But he stormed back into form by reaching the World Matchplay final at the end of July.
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Is that the boost that he needs to get himself really firing again?
He is one of the better players in the Premier League Darts format, having won the tournament twice before.
Anderson has also reached at least the semi finals in each of his last five campaigns in the competition as well.
A win would see him leapfrog Smith in the standings by a point and this looks for all the world as if it is going to be a tight scrap.
Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson Betting Advice
Which way do we swing in this one?
It’s likely to be tight and their recent meeting in the semi’s of the World Matchplay was a classic, being edged by Anderson.
We are going to reverse that and back a narrow win for Smith in Tuesday’s fixture.
Bully Boy really seems to have settled into the format well and most of the recent head to head form has gone his way.
Key Facts – Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson Betting Tip
- Michael Smith is W2 L2 in four previous Premier League games against Anderson
- Michael Smith has won four of the last five meetings in all competitions
- Gary Anderson has reached at least the semi’s in each of the last five Premier League seasons
The option of a Smith 7-5 correct score has some appeal at 6/1* (odds taken 19:23 GMT Sunday, 23rd August).
Smith has the scoring edge in the three-dart average of the two players this season in the Premier League and that’s just enough for us.
The best betting odds for Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
Michael Smith to win: 11/8 at Bet365
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Gary Anderson to win: 11/8 at Bet365
