Bundesliga Picks - 8 September 2011

Rob Alexander picks out two bets from the weekend action in Germany's top league

Last week's Euro 2012 Qualifiers picks didn't go too well, with only one bet coming in and our stake was returned on the Scotland v Lithuania bet.

It was a case of so near yet so far on Tuesday as Scotland should have comfortably beaten the handicap with a pretty dominant performance over Lithuania, including a missed penalty. In the other match, Finland were seconds away from giving us a profit but Luuk de Jong's injury time goal saw the Netherlands win 2-0 and our bet was doomed.

Domestic football is back this weekend and I'm going to take a look at the Bundesliga for some great bets to get back on the road to profit. Our record in the Bundesliga is decent so far this season, with three out of five bets working out for us, yielding a decent bit of profit.

Weekend Picks

Borussia Dortmund v Hertha BSC

Current Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund have had a decent start to the season, with seven points from four matches. Six of those points have come at home and I fully expect them to continue their 100 per cent home record with a victory over Hertha Berlin.

The recently promoted capital city team have had a solid if unspectacular start to the season, taking five points from four games; including two away draws at Hannover and Hamburg.

The away side have clearly improved over the season so far, winning their most recent match after two successive draws away from home. The most recent away match was a very good away draw to high flying Hannover.

I still feel that Borussia Dortmund offer a much tougher test for Hertha Berlin than their previous away matches and the champions should prevail with a good win.

Bet 3 points on Borussia Dortmund -1.25 at 2.01 with Victor Chandler.

FC Koln v FC Nurnberg

FC Koln picked up their first win of the season in the last matchweek with an impressive 4-3 away win at Hamburg. FC Koln were 3-2 until the 84th minute,when two goals in four minutes swung the match their way.

A comeback like that will serve to give Lukas Podolski and co a confidence boost ahead of a big match against FC Nurnberg, who claimed their second win of the season at home to FC Augsburg in the last matchweek.

FC Nurnberg are sitting higher in the table but I fancy FC Koln to grab their first home win of the season and move towards mid table in the process.

The match is bound to be tight but I fancy betting 2 points on FC Koln with a half goal handicap at decent odds.

Bet 2 points on FC Koln -0.5 at 2.6 with bet365.