India’s champion status amounts to little
PUNTERS have baulked at backing Twenty20 world champions India against Australia at the MCG tonight. “The biggest bet on the match has been $8000 at $1.45 on the Aussies while India are unwanted at $2.60,” said TAB Sportsbet’s Glenn Munsie.
However, a couple of Sportingbet Australia clients have wagered bets of $4000 and $3000 on India to cause an upset.
Sportsbook.com spokesman Col Greer said Australia were at $1.43 to win the match, while India had firmed slightly to $2.85 after $5000 was placed on them at $2.90.
Mark Morrissey from Betchoice.com said despite the short odds, “every bet we’ve written [has been] for the Aussies”. And Alan Eskander said Betstar.com.au had attracted a bet of $25,000 on Australia.
Munsie added that Australia were $1.36 favourites for the upcoming triangular one-day series, followed by India ($4.50) and Sri Lanka ($7).
Giants popular, too
Not every punter thinks the New England Patriots will stroll to the Super Bowl title on Sunday. “Easily the best-backed option is the New York Giants with a 12-point start,” Centrebet’s Neil Evans said. “We took nearly $30,000 on this and trimmed the start from 12 points down to 11. The punters have even [speculated] the Giants to win the match, although the Patriots remain a very short-priced favourite.”
Greer said the Giants, with 12 points start, had been well backed with Sportsbook.com.au, firming to $1.87.
Meanwhile, Eskander said Betstar.com.au took a wager of $35,000 on New England to win the Super Bowl from the same client who backed the Giants at the inflated odds of $41 before they upset the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional play-offs.
A Sportsbook.com punter this week splurged $50,000 on the Roosters to make the NRL top eight this year at $1.45.
TAB Sportsbet has also attracted early rugby league betting interest, with Munsie reporting wagers of $30,000 on Brisbane at $1.40 to make the top eight, $5000 on the Gold Coast at $3.75, $5600 and $2500 on Canberra at $6.50. In wooden-spoon betting, 2005 premiers Wests Tigers attracted a $1000 bet at $13.
