NBL LATE MAIL EPL UFC 234

BIG BASH LEAGUE

LOST with the retirement of one of the competition’s greatest players, Brendon McCullum, is the fact he might not be leaving after tonight’s clash with Melbourne Stars. The Heat can still make the finals. It has looked nowhere near it this summer but with a win and a couple of other results going its way, the Heat can storm into the semi-finals. Brisbane will start an outsider against the Stars and given the green machine is laced with its big guns and the Heat has played its home deck appallingly in BBL08 the odds seem right. It won’t be easy for the Heat to qualify for the Big Bash finals. Firstly, it has to win as an outsider, then it’s all eyes on the Hurricanes to make sure Sydney Thunder doesn’t leapfrog Brisbane into fourth. The market can’t split the two and is offering $1.91 on both. Hobart has been the best team all season and it looks like it will keep going. Then it’s all down to the final regular-season game and the Sydney Sixers stopping the Stars at the MCG. It’s another game in which the underdog would need to win. But, for a multi, it’s not a ridiculous bet. The odds on it happening are 8/1. It would be a healthy return and we’d get to see McCullum one more time.

AFLW

YOU couldn’t count your chickens until the final siren in the first round of the AFLW season – apart from the Roos’ blowout of the Blues. If the first weekend is an indication this is going to be a difficult competition for punters to get a read on. The best play might be one suggested last week. The Kangaroos, fresh from a pre-season recruiting spree ahead of their first year, look like they will be the team to beat. The picture will become clearer when they tackle GWS, given it looks like Carlton might be a battler. Adelaide, smarting from its onepoint loss to the Western Bulldogs, get the Blues this week and Ladbrokes have them a 7.5-point favourite in what looks the next best bet of the weekend behind a North Melbourne win. Brisbane Lions have the difficult task of a trip to Fremantle as both look to make a 2-0 start but are still narrow favourites. THERE are seven games this week and every one of them is set to have some impact on the make-up of the final four playoff spots. Adelaide 36ers moved into the top four last weekend and their fate is now in their hands. They are one game clear of Brisbane Bullets in fourth position but standing in their way is Melbourne United, the team which beat the 36ers in last season’s grand final. United will be aiming to secure the minor premiership this round and will start Sunday’s clash against the 36ers in Adelaide as a narrow favourite but has a shaky record as away favourite — it has won only four of its past eight games in this scenario. Melbourne will also be in action against Sydney Kings tonight and that game could decide who finishes the regular season in first place. Melbourne has won the past 10 matches played between these sides and will start favourite. The money says Brisbane Bullets will beat Cairns Taipans tomorrow night, while the Perth Wildcats are $1.62 to beat the Kings in Perth on Sunday. THE race for the English Premier League title is back on. Liverpool had one hand on an elusive EPL trophy when it went nine points clear at the top of the ladder at the end of last year. But it is now only three points clear after dropping points to Leicester City and West Ham and losing to title rival Manchester City. The Reds were as short as $1.33 with Ladbrokes but are now out to $2. Punters seem to think there are shades of the lateseason meltdown in 2014. Manchester City blew out to as long as $3.40 and is now title favourite again at $1.83 after its clinical win against Arsenal. Tottenham is five points behind Liverpool and can’t be ruled out of calculations. It is $17 after getting out to as long as $51 with Ladbrokes at the end of last year. UFC returns to Australia for UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday and this is a huge moment in the career of local champion Robert Whittaker. He will become the first Australian to defend a UFC championship on home soil as he heads into this bout with Kelvin Gastelum on the back of nine straight wins. It is no surprise Whittaker is a clear $1.40 favourite. What is a surprise is that the early money has been with Gastelum at $3. Gastelum earnt this title fight with victories over Michael Bisping and Ronaldo Souza but Whittaker represents a different challenger for the American. Whittaker to win by decision at $2.90 is great value.