NRL Round 1
The 2010 NRL Season kicks off this Friday night for another big season. The fixture gods have smiled with some HUGE games to open the round. They don’t come much bigger than Parramatta v St George, two teams who had premiership hopes shattered last year. But hang on, it does get bigger! South Sydney and Sydney clash on Sunday, this is always a huge clash.
The Broncos host the Cowboys in the Queensland Derby. Expect some brawls here cause these two are bitter rivals. Rick Stone will coach his first game at the helm of Newcastle when they take on the highly fancied Bulldogs on Saturday night, meanwhile two clubs who’ve had off-field issues in Penrith and Canberra will meet on Saturday night also.
Melbourne Storm will be looking to go back to back this year and their premiership defence kicks off with a trip up to Cronulla to take on the Sharks, while Gold Coast will host the Warriors up at Skileld Park. Monday footy comes from the Sydney Football Stadium as Wests Tigers and Manly do battle.
NAB Cup: Saints v Dogs
Well we’re finally here – the Grand Final of the NAB Cup! The match will be played at 7:10pm on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium and what it means is that we’ll be one step close to the actual season proper and an end of this glorified practice match competition. It is likely this will be the last NAB Cup ever, with the entry of Gold Coast next year.
The Saints start favourite in this match at $1.82 and rightfully so. They had a super season last year, losing the real Grand Final by a narrow margin, and they don’t look to have weakened so far from what we’ve seen. Their defence is still as sound as ever, while their attack is still very potent. They will receive Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard back for this game and will field a full strength squad.
The Dogs are $2.00 to win. We only need to cast our eyes back to last year’s Preliminary Final between these two sides. The Bulldogs lost by a kick and if they had of had a key forward capable of kicking multiple goals, they may well of won. Enter Barry Hall. Hall has had a sensational pre season to date winning games off his boot. He’ll be the wildcard in this match. The Dogs have ball winners everywhere and a good defence, all the ingredients to win a football game.
Denman
Form analysts at IASbet.com believe that the Peter Snowden trained superstar Denman is vulnerable in Saturday’s Group One Australian Guineas and are prepared to take him on.
While other bookmakers and the TAB have him between $1.55 and $1.65, IASbet.com is willing and able to lay him at $1.80.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion, there is rain forecast and the race may well be set up for horses to run over him. I expect Denman to lead from his outside barrier and it may not be an advantage to be on the rail” said IASBet’s John Dow.
The son of Lonhro has won nine of his last ten with his only defeat being at the same distance in the Caulfield Guineas. “I think history is about to repeat itself.” said Dow.
NAB Cup Semi's
This weekend sees the Semi Finals of the AFL Footy NAB Cup. The two winners will go on to meet each other in the Grand Final to be held next Saturday. Bulldogs and the Power meet on Friday with the Saints and Dockers meeting on Saturday. We like both the Saints and Doggies to win this weekend.
Also be sure to remember you can get a $300 Free Bet on this weekend’s matches at Sportsbet. Visit Sportsbet at this link for all the details on this exclusive promotion!
Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Friday 7:40pm, Etihad Stadium
An exciting match between two young teams will meet on Friday night in what should be an exciting match. Both sides were sublime last weekend recording huge victories, Port Adelaide by 78 and the Bulldogs by 57 points. The Bulldogs will start favourite and if last weeks performance by new spearhead Barry Hall (6 goals in a half) is anything to go by, they will be extremely tough to beat. The Dogs have ball winners all over the park and have very little weaknesses now Hall is in the side.
Port Adelaide rookie Cameron Hitchcock was the star last week booting three goals as well as a super goal and he will be important again this week. Port Adelaide have the squad to stick with the Dogs, but its going to be a very tough ask, particularly at Etihad Stadium where the Dogs always play well. We suggest backing the Bulldogs to win this clash. Read more…
NBA Tips 23/2
There looks to be some value out there in the NBA today and we’ll be making a couple of plays. There are three games which take our fancy, so check out our tips below. If you want to place a bet, then be sure to register an account with Sportsbet, where you can claim a $300 Free Bet.
Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards
We’ll start with Chicago against the spread on their road trip to the new look Wizards. Both these sides were active in trade week and we believe the Bulls have strengthened their squad thanks to the addition of Hakim Warrick and Flip Murray. Casting an eye over the stats we see Chicago are 8-2 against the spread in their last ten road matches, while they have won 4 of their last 5 against the Wizards. Couple that with the fact Chicago have won 6 of their past 7 overall, beating the spread in 6 of those 7. They have been averaging 108 pts a game in their last five compared to that of 100 for the Wizards. Take Chicago -2.5 at $1.91 with Sportsbet.
Blue Diamond Stakes Betting
The 2010 Blue Diamond Stakes will be run this Saturday at Caulfield and the fields have been announced. It is a very open field this year with no real standouts. Beneteau (3) has opened at $3.60 after two impressive wins to start his career. He won in style last Saturday at this track by two and a half lengths and the step up in distance will suit.
Star Witness (2) at $7.00 is another with 2 wins from 2 starts and will be looking to add to his one and a half length win a fortnight ago at Moonee Valley. Psychologist (13) at $8.00 is one of only three horses in the field to of won at Caulfield after a stunning four and a half lengths win here in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude on debut a fortnight ago. She looks the real value here.
Others that catch our eye are General Truce (1) at $26.00 who run second to favourite Beneteau in the Blue Diamond Prelude for C&G last start, and he won his two with ease before that, including a win in the Maribyrnong Plate at a whopping $61.00!! Can he repeat the dose? Succession (4) at $10.00 and Crystal Lily (11) at $9.00 also look like good place chances.
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Race Details
Detailed Form Guide
You can view a more detailed form guide including previous runs, ratings and more at our partner size RacingZone.
A-League Finals: Week 1
Well, after 27 Round of action, here were are at the business end of the A-League season with the A-League Finals Series kicking off this weekend. After playing off for the minor premiership last weekend, Melbourne and Sydney go head to head again this weekend for a spot in the Preliminary Final.
In the two Semi Finals, Gold Coast and Newcastle go head to head at Skilled Park, while Wellington Phoenix play their first ever finals match when they host the Perth Glory, also in their first finals match.
We’ll be previewing the round ahead later this week so be sure to check back for our betting preview including tips, odds and more. Remember, get a $300 Free Bet for the A-League Finals when registering a new account at Sportsbet!!
- Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Major Semi Final – Feb 18th at 7:30pm, Etihad Stadium
- Gold Coast United v Newcastle Jets
Semi Final 1 – Feb 20th at 7:00pm, Skilled Park
- Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory
Semi Final 2 – Feb 21st at 5:00pm, Westpac Stadium
NBL Playoffs
The NBL regular season is now complete and we gear up for the Semi Finals, which tip off on Thursday night. The Playoffs will be contested between Perth Wildcats, Wollongong Hawks, Townsville Crocodiles and the Gold Coast Blaze, who rounded up the top four. The two winners of the Best-Of-Three Semi Finals will proceed to the Grand Final.
Below is the schedule, but be sure to check back to our Blog regularly throughout the Playoffs as we’ll be providing a full betting preview of each match which will include the latest odds, tips and news.
Perth Wildcats v Gold Coast Blaze – First Semi Final
- Game 1: Thursday Feb 18th at 7:00pm – Challenge Stadium BET NOW!
- Game 2: Tuesday Feb 23rd at 7:30pm – Gold Coast Convention Centre BET NOW!
- Game 3: Sunday Feb 28th at 4:30pm – Challenge Stadium (if required) BET NOW!
Wollongong Hawks v Townsville Crocodiles – Second Semi Final
- Game 1: Friday Feb 19th at 7:30pm – WIN Entertainment Centre BET NOW!
- Game 2: Wednesday Feb 24th at 7:30pm – Townsville Entertainment Centre BET NOW!
- Game 3: Saturday Feb 27th at 7:30pm – WIN Entertainment Centre (if required) BET NOW!
2010 NBA All Star Match
Well here we are again, All Star weekend in the NBA as the best from the East take on the best from the West. This match is literally going to be the biggest NBA All Star match in history with over 90,000 people expected to be in attendance at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, crushing the old record of 78,129 for a basketball match in America.
This match is always a great spectacle with the best NBA players going head to head. The West won last year event 146-119 in a landslide as Kobe Bryant and Shaq ran riot. Kobe won’t be playing this year due to injury, but the West are still favourites at $1.82, with the East at $2.00 at Centrebet.
The West will be very strong and hard to stop in the paint with guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph and Tim Duncan, while on the offensive end they look unstoppable with Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony both averaging 29 points a game this year, and backup coming from the likes of Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy and Steve Nash. There doesn’t appear to be too many weaknesses in this team.
Read more…
Super 14 Round 1
Super 14 is back, finally, and what a super opening round it should be. We are being treated with six huge derby games to kick off the season. All eyes will be on reigning champions the Bulls as they travel to Bloemfontein to take on rivals the Cheetahs.
Aussie fans have plenty be excited about with the Western Force hosting the Brumbies, while the Reds entertain the Waratahs in Brisbane as the bitter QLD/NSW rivalry heats up a notch.
In New Zealand, the Crusaders and Highlanders meet, as do the Blues and Hurricanes, while last seasons runners up the Chiefs will take on the Sharks in Durban in what is the only non-derby game of the round.
Round 1 Super 14 Fixtures and Odds
Our Best Bets
Some good value out there. We like the $1.50 on offer about the Warratahs over in the west. The star studied Brumbies have been boosted by the return of Matt Giteau and Andrew Pretorious and a top four spot beckons. Take Warratahs straight win at $1.50.
We also like the South African double of the Stormers and Sharks to win at odds of $1.96. Both sides are highly fancied to beat their opponents and $1.96 appears to be a gift.
