Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen
5th March 2215hrs
Darts – Exeter – Premier League
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 4/1 odds taken 02:21 GMT, Wednesday 4th March
Michael Smith takes on his biggest challenge of the 2020 Premier League so far. He will be lining up against the reigning champion Michael van Gerwen. However, underdog Smith does have some appeal in Premier League darts betting to come up with the win.
Table of Contents
Smith can hold his own against MVG
Michael Smith does have a bit of momentum going in the 2020 Premier League. He has won his last two matches and could cause MVG a stressful night.
Those back to back wins for Smith came against “challenger” Jonny Clayton in Cardiff on week 3 and then over Daryl Gurney last week in Dublin. Smith produced a fantastic nine-dart finish against Gurney as well.
That is a three-match unbeaten streak he’s currently on in the Premier League, a run which started with a draw against Gerwyn Price. Victory over Van Gerwen would shake up the table very nicely on Thursday.
Smith won his last match against Van Gerwen. That happened just on the weekend with Smith claiming 6-5 last sixteen win over Van Gerwen at the PDC Belgian Darts Championship.
In the last four meetings, the head to head is evenly split at two wins each. All of the four previous Premier League meetings between Smith and MVG have gone the way of the Dutchman. Can Smith turn the tide?
Van Gerwen faces a tough test in Exeter
Micahel van Gerwen tops the Premier League table after four rounds of action in the 2020 edition. That’s no surprise. However, this will be his first serious test since week 3 and because of that, he could be worth opposition in Premier League betting.
Van Gerwen opened with back to back wins this season over Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney. But then he was stopped in his tracks as Nathan Aspinall got the better of him in Cardiff on week 3.
Mighty Mike slipped to a 7-5 loss against Aspinall. Last week in Dublin, Van Gerwen was up against “challenger” William O’Connor, collecting a 7-4 win as the heavy odds-on favourite.
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So he will come under pressure for the first time since that week 3 battle with Aspinall. Having lost to Smith on the weekend, that just casts a little bit of doubt over MVG.
Van Gerwen is at a three-dart average of 101 this season in the Premier League, but Smith, who is generally a heavy scorer has done well, holds the current second-highest three-dart average of 97.
Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen Betting Advice
Smith will be full of confidence after his win in Belgium over the weekend against Van Gerwen. That’s the kind of momentum that you have to ride.
Smith has momentum as well in the Premier League and may just be worth a look to get through this fixture by avoiding defeat at the very least. It’s an appealing one.
Key Facts – Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen Betting Tip
- Michael Smith beat Van Gerwen in at the Belgium Open on the weekend
- Smith has the second-highest 3-dart average in the league, behind only MVG
- Michael van Gerwen is 30-8 in the overall head to head with Smith
We are not questioning the power of Michael van Gerwen or denying he’s the best in the business. But the Dutchman has already had an off-night in this season’s league as Aspinall got under his skin.
If Smith gets those 180’s firing (only two players have scored more than Smith has in the 2020 Premier League) he could cause an upset.
The best betting odds for Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith to win: 4/1 at Bet365
Draw: 9/2 at Bet365
Michael van Gerwen: 1/2 at Bet365
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen betting tip & predictions for Thursday’s Premier League darts match. Find the latest odds & tips from betting experts.
