ANZ Championships – Round 3 Tips

Three of the four 2011 finalists (who had a combined record of 32-7 in the regular season) find themselves 0-2 after the opening rounds, the Thunderbirds look resurgent and the once lowly Steel, Tactix and Fever are among the early finals ‘sleepers’ in 2012. Meanwhile, Three Feet Radio’s own Ben Carbonaro continues to make waves early in the season with his unbeaten streak of recommended bets. Will the streak continue? Only time will tell.

 

Results for Round 2 tips

Round 1:  3 units bet, 3 winners, return of 5.61 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = +87%

2012 total:  5 units bet, 5 winners, return of 9.35 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = +87%

Our 2011 introductory discussion of how netball line betting works and what to expect from this column

Once again this year, for the purposes of this weekly column, we will only recommend a bet where Ben’s opinion differs from that of bookmakers by at least 3.5 goals.

I’m sure nobody is reading this to hear me prattle on for any longer than absolutely necessary, which means it is time to hand it over to Ben for the Round 3 good oil for the 2012 ANZ Championships:

 

Round 3 Tips (please note: all times are the local time for the home side)

 

Sunday April 15, 12:10 PM Queensland Firebirds v Central Pulse

Firebirds:  0-2 (ninth on ladder), 0-2 at home

Pulse:  1-0 (seventh on ladder), 0-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  The Pulse have started the season well and this included an upset win last week, but I think the Firebirds quality across all parts of the court will be too good for their Kiwi visitors. Firebirds by 10

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday April 15, 1:50 PM Adelaide Thunderbirds v Melbourne Vixens 

Thunderbirds:  2-0 (first on ladder), 1-0 at home

Vixens:  2-0 (second on ladder), 2-0 away

Bookmakers’ line:  Thunderbirds +1.5 (TAB Sportsbet)

Ben says:  Adelaide looked like the complete team in their 10-goal win last week and I think there is still more to come from a team that has been quietly going about their business. Thunderbirds by 2

Recommended bet:   1 unit on Thunderbirds +1.5 at $1.87 (TAB Sportsbet)

 

Sunday April 15, 7:20 PM Canterbury Tactix v Southern Steel 

Tactix:  1-1 (fifth on ladder), 1-0 at home

Steel:  1-1 (fourth on ladder), 0-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:   TBC

Ben says:  The Tactix surprised everyone with a win over an inconsistent Swifts team last week, but I don't think there will be too many more in the win column for the rest of the season and although the Steel lost just last week, I think they bounce back here. Steel by 4

Recommended bet:    TBC

 

Monday April 16, 7:20 PM Northern Mystics v West Coast Fever

Mystics:  2-0 (third on ladder), 1-0 at home

Fever:  1-1 (sixth on ladder), 0-0 away

Bookmakers’ line:    TBC

Ben says:  Last year's runner up have started the season in promising fashion winning their first two games of season 2012 and should easily account for a Fever team that are still finding their feet after undergoing significant changes to their playing roster this year. Mystics by 8

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Monday April 16, 7:40 PM NSW Swifts v Waikato/BOP Magic

Swifts:  0-2 (tenth on ladder), 0-0 at home

Magic:  0-2 (eighth on ladder), 0-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:   TBC

Ben says:  The Swifts have had an inconsistent start to the season, dropping away due to a poor quarter in each of their first two games and having to play catch up netball. There's plenty to like about Magic, but the Swifts will win their first home game of 2012. Swifts by 5

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Thanks to Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac for use of the photo

 

Other netball columns:

Idiot’s Guide to the ANZ Championship

Shaking Up the ANZ Championship