ANZ Championships – Round 8 Tips

The big winners last weekend were the Swifts, who upset the competition leaders and solidified their hold on fourth spot. The race for the finals appears to have boiled down already to six contenders, with the Firebirds and Magic (each of whom have won their past two games by double digit margins) currently on the outside looking in. On the punting front, Three Feet Radio’s own Ben Carbonaro split his two recommended bets last week to progress to a very impressive 12-4 against the spread in 2012. He returns to give his thoughts on Round 8.

 

Results for Round 7 tips

Round 7: 2 units bet, 1 winner, return of 1.90 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = -5%

2012 total:  16 units bet, 12 winners, return of 22.45 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = +40%

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.

Here are Ben’s thoughts on Round 8 of the 2012 ANZ Championships:

 

Round 8 Tips (please note: all times are the local time for the home side)

 

Saturday May 19, 11:40 AM Canterbury Tactix v Waikato/BOP Magic

Tactix:  1-6 (tenth on ladder), 1-2 at home

Magic:  3-4 (sixth on ladder), 1-3 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  It couldn't get any worse for the Tactix as they were demolished by the Queensland Firebirds to the tune of 16 goals and it will be more of the same this week when they face Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, who are starting to recapture that good form that saw them be New Zealand's top ranked team prior to last year. Magic will smash the Tactix and evergreen shooter Irene van Dyk will have a field day. Magic by 15

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday May 20, 12:10 PM Melbourne Vixens v Northern Mystics  

Vixens:  6-1(second on ladder), 2-0 at home

Mystics:  5-2 (third on ladder), 3-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  This is the game of the round featuring two evenly matched teams who only have three losses between them from 14 games. Both teams have international quality players all over the court and they will be on show come Sunday, but the home team will rebound from their disappointing loss in Sydney in a close one. Vixens by 4

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday May 20, 2:20 PM NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever

Swifts:  4-2 (fourth on ladder), 4-0 at home

Fever:  2-5 (eighth on ladder), 1-3 away

Bookmakers’ line:   TBC

Ben says:  NSW have discovered some form after an indifferent start to the year, but have recovered to win their last four games (with a bye in between). Being able to play consistent netball in second halves was an issue for them in earlier games, but they have addressed that and everything seems to be working out on court. The Fever have only won two games this season, but they've been competitive in most games so far this season and having former Australian coach Norma Plummer has certainly been a positive for the young team. Swifts by 8

Recommended bet:    TBC

 

Sunday May 20, 7:20 PM Southern Steel v Queensland Firebirds

Steel:  2-4 (seventh on ladder), 1-2 at home

Firebirds:  3-4 (fifth on ladder), 0-2 away

Bookmakers’ line:    TBC

Ben says:  The Steel are an unpredictable team; they’ve gone close against quality sides on a few occasions but been none too flash on others. Coming up against a Queensland team that has started to play great netball will be a tough ask and the Firebirds are starting to work their way back into the form that saw them win last year's ANZ Championship premiership.  Firebirds by 5

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Monday May 21, 7:40 PM Central Pulse v Adelaide Thunderbirds

Pulse:  2-5 (ninth on ladder), 2-2 at home

Thunderbirds:  6-1 (first on ladder), 3-0 away

Bookmakers’ line:   TBC

Ben says:  The Pulse have been more than competitive so far this season and while they have been competitive in most of the games they have played, Adelaide will be too good for them and will continue their superb form that currently sees them on top of the competition ladder. Thunderbirds by 10

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

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