Sports betting: Best bets in this weekend’s sport action with Ladbrokes

The Aussies have been dominant this summer against the Kiwis and punters are backing them heavily. But is there any value in backing New Zealand at all?

It has been an incredibly dominant summer to date for Australia and it is no surprise that they are unbackable favourites for the final Test Match of the series.

Australia are $1.27 favourites to complete a clean sweep of New Zealand, while the Black Caps are completely friendless and are now out to $8 to record their first ever Test victory at the SCG.

The SCG has proven a happy hunting ground for Australia in recent memory and England, in 2003 and 2011, are the only other side to win at the venue since 1995.

By his incredibly high standards, it has been a disappointing Summer for Steve Smith, but he remains a dominant favourite in Australian Top 1st Innings Runscorer at $3.25 with Ladbrokes from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne at $4.

The value might lie with the in-form Travis Head, who is $10 to repeat his Boxing Day Test heroics.

Ross Taylor could be value for punters. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

Kane Williamson has scored only 57 runs this series for an average of 14.25, but punters are a forgiving bunch and he is $3.50 in the New Zealand top first innings runscorer from Ross Taylor and Tom Lathan at $4.50. (Update: Williamson is now in doubt for the match).

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are locked in a battle for favouritism in the Australia Top 1st Innings Wicket Taker market at $3.25 from James Pattinson at $4 and Nathan Lyon at $4.50, while Neil Wagner is a clear favourite in New Zealand Top 1st Innings Wicket Taker betting at $3.25.

A-League

It has been almost non-stop action in the A-League over the festive period and it continues with ‘The Other Melbourne Derby’ between Melbourne City and Western United.

Melbourne City are the $1.82 favourites with Ladbrokes and this is a position that they have thrived in this season.

They have won eight of their past 11 matches as home favourites for a clear profit, but they face a Western United outfit that has won two of their past three matches as away underdogs and appeal at the current price of $4.10.

The Wellington Phoenix are another side that are very tough to beat in front of their home fans and they look like the safest bet of the weekend.

Wellington have won their past five matches as home favourites, while the Central Coast Mariners have won only two of their past 13 games as away underdogs.

The game of the weekend is on Saturday night when Adelaide United will attempt to snap their losing streak against Sydney FC.

Sydney FC have won seven of their past nine matches against Adelaide and they haven’t lost to their rivals since 2016, which makes the $1.93 currently available with Ladbrokes appeal.

Tom Brady appears to be slowing down at the Patriots.

NFL

The playoff picture has been drawn up and for the first time in 10 years the Patriots head into the post-season without a week one bye.

The drop off of what many believed could be the best New England team of their almost two

decades of dominance has been alarming for Patriots backers, many who took very short odds about another Lombardi Trophy making its way to Foxborough.

42-year-old quarterback, Tom Brady, is finally looking his age and is another reminder that Father Time is undefeated.

His number one target, Julian Edelman, is injured and the offence, as a whole, looks largely

impotent.

The defence which, at one point of the season, was on target to record historic numbers, has fallen away and last week they were defeated by the Miami Dolphins as a 15.5 favourite.

The same Dolphins whom many believed wouldn’t win a game this season.

But do we dare write off the dynasty? Have we not learned from the ghosts of punting past not to bet against Belichick and Brady?

For the first time in memory betting against the Pats looks a wiser wager than betting on them.

Not only does the $13 about them winning the Super Bowl with Ladbrokes look a waste of money but, the in-form Tennessee Titans also look a good upset bet of wildcard weekend as Belichick faces one of his former assistants for the second time in as many weeks.

As for the other matches this weekend, New Orleans should make light work of Minnesota.

In any other year the 13-3 Saints would lay claim to the number one seed but, due to the NFL’s tie-breaker system, are forced into the three seed despite the same record as the 49ers and Packers.

The Vikings were awful in their week 16 loss to Green Bay and if they roll that out again will get housed by the Saints at the Superdome.

The Texans versus Bills game looks the toughest to pick but the bigger price about Buffalo is more attractive to this punter.

Seattle are forced on to the road to play Philadelphia with the Eagles roster continuing to resemble a MASH unit.

The Eagles must be commended for reaching this point of the season but Carson Wentz throwing to receivers who were on the practice squad at the start of December is not a recipe for post-season success.

Travis Head is set to return to the Big Bash after his Test duties are over. Picture: Michael Dodge

Big Bash

With the tournament around a third of a way through, it looks a lot easier to determine which teams won’t make the finals in the Big Bash than those that will and the two which sit firmly in that category are somewhat surprising.

Last year’s champion Renegades are genuinely battling and the looming absences of skipper Aaron Finch and paceman Kane Richardson to international duties will make the task of defending the title almost impossible.

Perth have long been a dominant force in this competition but with many long time Scorchers

departing the furnace last off-season, they are a shadow of former teams.

Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar being on the plane to India would make a mid-season turnaround more unlikely.

D’Arcy Short was called into the national squad earlier this week and, as the Hurricanes most

consistent batsman of the past few seasons, his loss will be magnified.

The Strikers have set themselves up beautifully for a genuine assault at the business and while Alex Carey trades the light blue for the green and gold, they regain Travis Head from the Test team at the perfect time.

Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis being snubbed by international selectors, coupled with a strong start by last season runners-up has them well positioned for a maiden title, but the team which should motor toward the business end is the Brisbane Heat.

The Heat are top heavy and if they’re big guns fail to fire, they are vulnerable but when they do get going, look out.

That has never been more evident than when Chris Lynn launched last week, blasting 94 off not many and propelling them to victory.

Now, as the New Year arrives, so too does AB de Villiers, adding even more star power to a team already laden with talent.

Having started the season as the tournament favourite, Brisbane’s odds have eased in the past

couple of weeks, meaning now is the time to step into the teal brigade at a tasty price on Ladbrokes.

The Sydney Kings are overwhelming favourites for the NBL title. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

NBL

The NBL Championship market suggests that there are only three legitimate contenders remaining this season.

The Sydney Kings remain outright favourites with Ladbrokes at $2.50, but the Perth Wildcats have been the big firmers over the past fortnight and they have been backed from $5 into $3.

Rounding out that trio are Melbourne United, who have been wound out to $4.50 following their surprise loss to the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday.

The battle for the fourth position in the NBL Playoffs now looks as though it is down to the New Zealand Breakers, South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Cairns Taipans.

The Breakers and the Phoenix are both now $15 to win the NBL Championship, while the Taipans are into $17 following their mid-season surge.

Time is running out for the Brisbane Bullets ($41) and the Adelaide 36ers ($51), while the Illawarra Hawks are $501 to record a highly unlikely Championship win.

Best Bets

Racing – Etana To Win The Wave @ $6.50

The Wave headlines the action at the Gold Coast on Saturday and Etana is great value in the

$250,000 race. She chased home the talented Ryan’s Fender at Flemington last start and the form coming out of that contest has been strong. This is a genuine drop in class and she is well-placed to return to winning form.

A-League – Sydney FC To Beat Adelaide United @ $1.93

Sydney FC have not lost a game since October and it is tough to see that changing in this contest with Adelaide United. The Sky Blues have not lost to Adelaide United since 2016 and they have won 13 of their past 15 matches as home favourites for a clear profit. In contrast, Adelaide failed to win any of their past six games as away underdogs.

Big Bash – Brisbane Heat To Beat Hobart Hurricanes @ $1.80

The Brisbane Heat produced a pitiful performance against the Perth Scorchers on New Year’s Day, but they can return to winning form against the Hobart Hurricanes. The Heat have won five of their past seven games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they should have too much firepower for the Hurricanes.

NFL – Buffalo Bills To Beat Houston Texans @ $2.25

The Buffalo Bills have been underrated all season long and that continues heading into the NFL Playoffs. The Bills have won four of their six games as away underdogs this season for a clear profit and they face a Houston Texans outfit that has covered the line in only one of their past seven games as home favourites.