Author: Online Betting Pro

I am a punter that loves to follow the horse both in Australia and the United Kingdom. I enjoy writing about sports betting and also casino, poker and bingo. In my spare time I like to keep fit by playing football and going for long bike rides. I also like to travel the world and see amazing place s and meet wonderful people along the way.

History Beckons for Plucky Australians in Dharamsala

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It all comes down to a series finale that no one expected. The surprisingly competitive series between ICC heavyweights India and Australia will be settled (or not if we have another draw) in the fourth test starting on Saturday in Dharamsala. The surprise comes from the strong Australian performance in all of the matches so far. Often disappointing in India, and as was the case prior to Christmas when they were an absolute shambles when South Africa put them to the sword.

But the turnaround has been tremendous. They’re a real chance of gaining an upset series win.

The Series So Far

The Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscombe’s engineered great escape in Ranchi mean the riveting series is still tied at one game apiece. Facing a challenging prospect of surviving for 100 overs on a deteriorating fifth-day wicket, the pair battled stubbornly and ensured Steven Smith’s first innings heroics (178*) were not in vain.

The Ranchi draw, where credit should also be directed to India (and more specifically Cheteshwar Pujara for an innings spanning 525 deliveries) for hauling down Australia’s huge first innings total of 451, sets up an intriguing finish to the series at Dharamsala.

The Teams

India

The Dharamsala pitch located in the Himalayas and experiencing some rainfall might play more like an English green seamer than a sub-continent dust bowl. The result could be a recall for Mohammed Shami or Bhuvneshwar Kumar or both. Ishant Sharma who has done a today job without taking wickets could make way and then the selectors are faced with the tricky decision of whether to play only one spinner – which admittedly seems pretty unlikely.

Australia

We can’t see Australia making changes to their side even if the pitch turns out to be greener than expected. Jackson Bird is the backup seamer if they do go that way, or if they’re worried about the amount of work Pat Cummins was required to get through in Ranchi.

The Key Players

India

If there’s ever a time that captain Virat Kohli needs to stand up and come out swinging it’s in this series decider. In a series where he’s struggled with the bat, yet played the role of aggressive pantomime villain with aplomb, Kohli needs to turn that equation around. Less rousing the crowd. Less goading the Australians. More runs. He has just 46 runs in five efforts this series. However, he’s still the Indian favourite to top score – paying $3.40.

Australia

Slow bowlers are generally expected to flourish on the sub-continent, but if there’s one venue where seam might come into the equation, it’s Dharamsala. The pitch could be a green seamer and if it is, Josh Hazlewood could be deadly with his accuracy and wobble. He’s at $4.50 to be the top bowler in the first innings

The Match Odds*

India – $1.83

Draw – $3.75

Australia – $4

*All odds from Bet365.

The Prediction

We would love to see the series decided one way or the other but we think a flat pitch will once again see the match peter out to a draw.

Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks soaring towards Stanley Cup playoffs

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A month ago the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals looked destined to face off in the Stanley Cup Final, such was their dominance in each conference. What a difference a month makes as both teams are now struggling badly and a raft of new contenders has emerged. The Chicago Blackhawks are flying, while the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been superb, and dark horses are arising, from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Calgary Flames. It is all shaping up to be extremely exciting, with just 10 points left in the regular season.

Futures

The Caps’ lead in the Metropolitan Division has been cut to just one point as Washington is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games. The Penguins have now accrued 101 points, the second highest in the NHL, bettered only by the Caps’ 102. But The Penguins are in much better form – 8-1-1 in the last 10 – and they have the momentum to overtake Washington. Pittsburgh, the 2016 champion, is now a real threat and looks an interesting bet at 2/1 to win this division with Bet365.

The Montreal Canadiens are 1/2 with Paddy Power to win what looks a pretty weak Atlantic Division. They have a three-point lead and should maintain it.

In the Pacific Division, the San Jose Sharks are on a four-game losing streak but are still four points ahead of the Oilers and Ducks with 10 games to go. They should hold them off, but the threat may come from the Calgary Flames, who are 8-2 in their last 10, compared to 4-6 for San Jose, and are just five points behind. Still, the Sharks should cling on and the 5/13 at Bet365 on them winning it looks reasonable.

It is remarkable to see the odds in the Central Division, where Chicago is now 1/4 favourite with William Hill and Bet365 to win it. The Wild were odds-on just a few weeks ago, but have now gone out to 10/3 with Ladbrokes on the back of a miserable run that has seen them lose seven of their last 10 games. It is now hard to fancy them for the Stanley Cup, where they are 7/1 with 888 Sport. The Caps are still favourites at 6/1 with Ladbrokes, but the interesting choices are surely the Blackhawks (7/1 with William Hill) or the Penguins (8/1 with 888 Sport). The Blue Jackets also look a good longer shot at 10/1 with Bet Victor.

Upcoming Games

The in-form Flames travel to Nashville to face the Predators on Friday and it should be a close-fought game, with Nashville favoured by bookmakers. But the Flames are the most consistent team in the NHL right now and the 19/16 available on them winning this looks great. The Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars on the same day and should beat a team that is second bottom of the Central Division. Chicago is 5/12 so Calgary and Chicago could make an interesting double bet.

Black Caps Head to Hamilton Hoping For Salvage Job

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Earlier in the summer when the Black Caps were dispatching Pakistan and Bangladesh plenty of supporters were optimistic about their chances of success against South Africa.

The optimism has proven to be misguided.

The limp Black Caps second innings effort brought back memories of collapses past and illustrated the gulf between the teams – especially when you take Trent Boult and Ross Taylor out of the home side.

Can they save their season and the series in Hamilton?

The Series So Far

A calamity in Wellington has seen the Black Caps slip behind in the series and left facing a series defeat to South Africa for the 6th consecutive series.

From a position of strength early on day two, the Black Caps collapsed spectacularly to lose by 8 wickets. They gave up a 91-run first innings lead even though they reduced the Proteas to 94-6 at one stage, and managed just 171 in their second innings.

The loss followed a first up draw in Dunedin and means New Zealand need to win in Hamilton to salvage a home season that looked promising after wins against Pakistan and Bangladesh but is now bordering on a disappointment.

The Teams

New Zealand

Trent Boult is fit to bolster the bowling stocks. He’s overcome a groin injury, which leaves New Zealand with a tough decision on whether to drop both allrounders (Neesham and de Grandhomme) or Tim Southee again to accommodate a second spinner.

South Africa

There’s no reason to make any changes to the side that won at the Basin Reserve. The only concern for the South Africans will be the form of Stephen Cook who has put together just 17 runs in four digs thus far.

The Key Players

New Zealand

Over the last years, Tom Latham has looked the best test opener in New Zealand, but his horror run of form since Boxing Day has seen Jeet Raval overtake him as the most important man at the top of the New Zealand order. The patient left-hander has two half-centuries in the series thus far and looks a good tip to top score at $5.50. We’d like him to turn those fifties into hundreds, though – like he does at domestic level.

South Africa

Keshav Maharaj has been described as steady, a grinder, a fighter in the press and by his own team in media comments this series, however, influential might be the more appropriate term. It’s not often spinners play a major part in New Zealand test matches, but Maharaj has 13 wickets at 13 in the series even before playing at Hamilton where it’s actually expected to turn. He’s paying $5 to be the top bowler for his side in the first innings.

The Match Odds*

New Zealand – $6.50

Draw – $1.66

South Africa – $3.20

*All odds from Bet365.

The Prediction and Best Bets

Given the forecast, it’s hard to see anything other than a draw in the final game of the New Zealand summer. While the Black Cap’s Basin Reserve collapse show anything is possible with them involved, it seems a draw is inevitable. The punters and bookies both agree.

Dogs Want To Sit on Shoulders of Giants

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The big men fly for the first time in the new AFL season on Thursday evening when the Blues meet the Tigers in their now traditional opening night stoush.

Once upon a time, this was a battle between two of the league’s genuine heavyweights, suburban superpowers who ruled the footy roost with only the likes of Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn as genuine challengers.

But that was a long time ago in a world far away – the 1970s and 80s in Richmond’s case, nearly two decades ago in Carlton’s. Now, these two struggle to even make the final eight, as their odds for the championship show all too clearly. Richmond is $51 to win the flag with Sportsbet, Carlton double the price at $101.

Still, there has to be a winner tomorrow night (we’ll discount the draw) and the Tigers, at $1.44 with Sportsbet, are certainly expected to do the business over a Carlton side in a state of rebuild under second season coach Brendan Bolton.

Magic Happened Once – Can it Again?

Last year’s AFL finals series gave us a storyline for the ages with the fairytale victory of the Western Bulldogs, the first Premiership for the club since 1954.

The Doggies did it the hard way, winning finals in Perth against West Coast and in the harbour city against the terrifically talented tyros of Greater Western Sydney. They then saw off the Swans in a nailbiter at the MCG.

Those experiences will have tempered the steel already developing in this still young side, and Luke Beveridge’s men ($1.46 at Sportsbet) should be too good for Collingwood on Friday night.

But will they be able to go back to back? Confidence will be strong in the kennel, and in Marcus Bonteompelli they surely have a Brownlow medallist and superstar of the future in their midfield. And they won last year despite having a series of injured stars, chief of which was captain Bob Murphy.

Giant Strides Towards a Flag?

But punters have fixed upon the prodigiously talented GWS as their flag favourites, reckoning that their experience last season, when they were so close to toppling the Bulldogs in the preliminary final, will be enough to see them take the next step.

GWS have a tough opening game in Adelaide against the Crows, who, at $2.62 might look like a bit of value in front of their own fans against the new challengers, who are odds on at $1.62 to take the points.

The league’s new boys are the outright favourites for the Premiership at $4.50 with the Bulldogs at $5.50 and last year’s defeated Grand Finalists Sydney at $7.00

Former champions Hawthorn have drifted in the futures market and can be backed now at $13 for the flag. The men from Glenferrie have been ruthless in trading and recruiting in the past and, like the Swans and Geelong, are not a club that likes to ”bottom’ before reloading for a tilt at the Premiership. They will be buoyed by the return of skipper Jarryd Roughead, missing last season after battling skin cancer, and if they get off to a quick start those outright odds may tumble.

Hamilton Set to Hit Heights as F1 Roars Into Life

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A new season. New technical regulations, new look cars – but with one glaring exception – the same superstars.

The 2017 Formula One campaign roars into life in Melbourne this weekend, the first race of a marathon campaign.

Plenty will be different but it would be a brave punter who bet against the established names dominating again.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull will be the dominant teams, with Lewis Hamilton ($2 with Sportsbet to win the title), Sebastian Vettel ($4.50) Valteri Bottas ($6) Daniel Ricciardo ($10) and Max Verstappen($9) likely to be the men to follow.

Last year’s world champion Nico Rosberg sensationally quit shortly after securing the title.

The man in pole position to secure his fourth world title is his team-mate Hamilton, a three-time world champion already.

The mercurial Brit, with his flashy diamond studs and penchant for controversial statements, is not everyone’s cup of tea, but there is no doubt that behind the wheel of a Formula One car he is a class act and the man to beat this time round – as his odds of $2.25 to win on Sunday reflected.

He will not have things his own way, though, with his new team-mate, the Finn Valteri Bottas, determined to make an immediate impact having stepped up to the champion team after impressing for several years at Williams.

Filling a world champion’s shoes (he takes Rosberg’s seat with the Silver Arrows) is never easy, but Bottas has the talent and the application to take the fight to his illustrious team-mate.

Germany’s former World Champion Sebastian Vettel (a four-time title winner between 2010 and 2013 inclusive) and his maverick team-mate Kimi Raikkonen (another former world champion and, like Bottas, a Finn) will be desperate to atone for a frustrating 2016 season when neither man won a race.

Vettel managed three second places and three thirds, suggesting that if the Ferrari has found some pace in the offseason then he could give the dominant Mercedes something to think about. He is a $4.33 chance with Sportsbet for Sunday’s race.

On the only two occasions, neither Hamilton nor Rosberg won the race, it was the Red Bull Racers of Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo and Belgian/Dutchman Max Verstappen, who stood on the top step of the podium.

Ricciardo won in Malaysia late in the season when Hamilton retired and Rosberg ran third.

Verstappen, who holds a swathe of records for being the youngest man in history to achieve several F1 milestones, made his mark early in the campaign when he won in Spain.

There is no doubt that the youngster – he is still only 19 – will be a world champion one day, and that is likely to be sooner rather than later, but it would be a surprise if he could find the consistency to go with his pace to trouble the Mercedes team leader at this point of his career.

Ricciardo, a $12 shot on Sunday, might make it appealing for those barracking for a hometown hero to make the top step of the podium.

Time for Title Contenders to Show Mettle in Super Rugby

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Crusaders ($1.08) v Force ($8)

The Crusaders have made a habit of leaving their victory pursuits late, of late. Come from behind wins in all of their first four games, sees them just a couple of bonus points behind the Chiefs in the New Zealand conference. Leaving things late this week is unlikely to be a problem against the struggling Force. The Force are coming off a bye and will undoubtedly struggle in Christchurch. Crusaders 13+.

Rebels ($3.15) v Waratahs ($1.36)

The Rebels are conceding an average of 50 points a game, which is surprisingly, only slightly more than their fifth round opponents, the pre-tournament fancied, Waratahs. The Waratahs lost to the Brumbies at home last week, compounding their losing streak to three. In a battle of two pretty poor sides, we’re going to give it to the Tahs, by 1-12.

Blues ($1.15) v Bulls ($5.50)

The Bulls head to New Zealand with only a solitary win against their name this year. But their chances of adding to that are aided by the fact that the Blues have been equally as poor this season – it could be a low scoring bore fest. Blues 1-12 with little confidence in either side, but some in the individual ability of Jan Serfontein – so good last week.

Brumbies ($2.15) v Highlanders ($1.70)

The leaders of the Australian conference were impressive last week against the Waratahs, getting their first away win of the season through a double to Henry Speight and an impressive turn from Tevita Kuridrani. The Highlanders on the other side have badly missed Ben Smith. While the other Smith – Aaron – looks woefully out of form and a shadow of the player he was before last year’s controversy. Brumbies 13+.

Sunwolves ($11) v Stormers ($1.04)

It’s a measure of the Sunwolves struggles that they couldn’t beat a side that was down to 14 men for almost the entire second half last week. They did manage to make some progress against the reduced Bulls side and had a handy lead going into the last ten, but they subsequently gave it up. Stormers 13+.

Kings ($12.50) v Lions ($1.03)

Last year’s beaten finalists, the Lions, kicked their season into gear with a comprehensive victory over the Reds. Scoring seven tries at their Ellis Park fortress was a warning shot across the bow of the luckless Kings franchise that has just one win this season. Lions 1-12.

Cheetahs ($2.36) v Sharks ($1.60)

This could be the game of the round. Two conference contenders needing to gain some ground on the surprise Argentina packages. Hoping the better Cheetahs outfit turns up – not round 4’s version – the one that got hammered in Buenos Aires. Sharks 1-12.

Jaguares ($1.17) v Reds ($5.10)

Top of the South African conference and so impressive in dismantling the Cheetahs last week, the Jaguares are the real deal. Sure, their franchise name is hard to say, but you’ll get better at it because they are serious contenders and will be hanging around at the business end of the season – giving us all plenty of time to perfect it. Jaguares 13+.