SUPER RUGBY
THE Super Rugby draw has not been kind to the Queensland Reds. After having a bye in the opening round of the season, Brad Thorn’s men start their new campaign with a trip to New Zealand to take on the Highlanders today. No team is at longer odds in Super Rugby this week than the Reds who are $7.50 to start their season with a win, while the Highlanders are dominant $1.10 favourites. The Highlanders have won their past two games against the Reds, but they have split their past six matches with three wins apiece and it was only a late goal from Lima Sopoaga that separated the two sides last season. However, the Highlanders won six of their seven games as home favourites last season and the Reds were 1-7 away from home. The Waratahs go into their clash with the Sunwolves as $1.10 favourites and they have won their three previous games against their Japanese rivals by a combined total of 118 points – so the line of 19.5 probably will not be big enough. The Brumbies are the only other Australian side in action this week and home ground advantage will not be that helpful against the Chiefs. The Chiefs have won their past four games against the Brumbies and were unbeaten as away favourites last season. These innovations include; 10point goals for those kicked from outside the “launch zone’’, a free set shot on goal as a penalty for a rushed behind, scissors/paper/rock instead of the coin toss and the “Gatorade Game Changer’’, whose scores are worth double in the final five minutes of play. Ladbrokes bookies have paid more attention to the squads and rules than your average punter and have determined Nat Fyfe’s squad, Team Flyers, and Jack Riewoldt’s line-up, Team Rampage, are the ones to beat. They’ve been installed as equal $3.25 favourites to claim the least coveted trophy in Australian sport. Eddie Betts’ Team Rampage is next in the market while Patrick Dangerfield’s Team Bolts are the “outsiders’’ at $4.33. Team Flyers are the favourite for each of their three pool matches.
NBL
THE NBL is taking the week off before the start of their finals series because of the last round of FIBA World Cup qualifying games. And while the games are six days away, it is hard to see the odds shifting too much from here, with the home teams highly fancied in the head-tohead markets. Andrew Gaze is a much-loved figure in Australian basketball and that no doubt applies in his own locker room. Having announced during the week he would be stepping down as Kings coach to return to Melbourne to be with his family, could we be about to see the Sydneysiders “do it for Drewey”? The Kings are $2.35 outsiders in their opening match against Melbourne this Thursday but given the inconsistencies of United – who lost to Cairns last week – and the minimal travel factor, Gaze’s men might not be a bad bet. Sitting on the third line of betting for the championship at $3.50, behind Perth ($2.50) and Melbourne ($2.75) and ahead of only rank outsider Brisbane ($13), the Kings also look the best value in the futures market. Perth are long odds-on to make it to another grand final series. The most successful franchise in the history of the NBL, the Wildcats are $1.29 in their opening match against the Bullets ($3.55).
A-LEAGUE
IF THERE is one thing we can expect from the Melbourne derby this weekend, it is plenty of goals. Both teams have scored in 10 of the past 12 editions of this contest and the Melbourne Victory have kept only one clean sheet in their past 12 games. A price of $1.67 is available with Ladbrokes for both teams to score and it looks like one of the best bets of the weekend. The other big news in the ALeague this weekend, from a betting perspective, is that the Central Coast Mariners will start a game as favourites and they are $2.35 to beat the Brisbane Roar tonight. The Mariners have started only one of their past 26 games as favourites and they were able to win that game. If the Mariners win, it would end a very long drought against the Roar that stretches back to March 2013.
EPL
IN WHAT is arguably English football’s biggest rivalry, Manchester United and Liverpool will do battle in a pivotal clash this weekend. Manchester United have the home ground advantage, but Liverpool are currently favourites with Ladbrokes at $2.25 and they need to win this clash to go back on top of the English Premier League ladder. Liverpool have won 10 of their past 16 games as away favourites for a betting loss and they have won only one of their past eight games against Manchester United at Old Trafford.