Betfair.net

In sport, nothing can be taken for granted. No matter the extent to which the odds seem stacked against a team, statistics can fade into insignificance when all the discourse and hype of the build-up comes to an end and the action starts.

If you remain skeptical about this, just ask the Vancouver Whitecaps players, who had the misfortune of being present in the Saputo Stadium yesterday as Toronto FC defied the odds by securing a 6-1 victory over the Montreal Impact to win the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

Toronto had started the match needing to win by at least four goals to overtake the Whitecaps and it was nothing short of a miracle when the Reds, a team which had previously never scored five goals in a game, fired six past the Impact's defensive unit.

This said, there are certainly some events in sport which appear like foregone conclusions. The first pick in next week's NBA Draft appears to be one such instance. Blake Griffin is almost certainly going to be taken by the Clippers and the player's odds in the NBA Draft First Pick Market [1.02] reflect the likelihood of this happening.

Next week's draft does still hold interest for bettors as the state of the NBA Draft Second Pick Market is rather more open. Ricky Rubio appears to be the emerging favorite to be picked by the Memphis Grizzlies and, some argue, for good reason. Considered by many to be the most talented player to emerge from Europe, he certainly has the potential to be a real hit in the NBA but some pundits have dismissed him as overrated and the player isn't without his weaknesses. At odds of [2.2] backing Rubio for the pick doesn't represent great value.

If you're looking for value in this particular market, it may be worth backing point guard Jonny Flynn at odds of 130.0 (+12900). Flynn is an extremely intriguing player who is still underrated and this certainly appears to be reflected in his odds.

When assessing the credentials of Flynn, it isn't just his undoubted ability and pace that stand out; his leadership skills are just as, if not more, important. He leads by example but isn't afraid to use his voice on court and his consistency is second to none. Flynn's vision would be an asset to any side and his strength, despite appearances, should not be underestimated.

Flynn's sophomore campaign, in which he averaged 17.4 points and 6.7 assists per game, was impressive and he may not be as easily overlooked by the Grizzlies as his current odds suggest.