Last round was a shocking one for tipping there is no doubt about it. I wouldn’t think that we’ll see the same level of upset results two weeks in a row but then again I wasn’t expecting what happened last week either. Make sure your tips are educated. Read on for the info you need.
The Train Wreck
I was pouring through the tipping ladder to find some results from last week and after looking at the carnage for a short while, it was clear to me that there were no survivors in the train wreck that was round 14. The top tipper in the GaGR League, The Rhummdogs only managed one correct tip and still held his one point lead over the pack. I can’t go through all the tips but I had a quick read of the forums and will give the big high five to tipper Sucker for Red who nailed 3/6 which considering the results is a cracking effort. Sucker for Red went for a couple of upsets on a week that didn’t look like it would have any and has reaped the rewards.
Tough as Teak
This weekend looks to be back to normal as far as tipping goes and by normal, I mean, probably a couple of results to go against the grain but by and large the results should go the way of the majority of the tippers. A couple of games have me interested though and the first is….
The Blues vs the Sharks. After the game against the Crusaders last week it’s a bit hard to get a handle on where the Sharks are at. If you didn’t watch the game you would be forgiven for thinking that the win by the Sharks with one man down for the most part and to finally snatch the win at the end with only 13 players was nothing short of heroic, and you’d be right. Well, sort of. If you watched the game though, you may hold the view that the Crusaders tactics really let that one slip away from them. What is the most puzzling though, is why the Blues, coming into this week’s game are favourites with the bookies? The Sharks have won the last 9 games on the trot between these two teams, with the last Blues win in 2005! It’s first vs 10th on the ladder. How many more reasons do you need? If you’re after value, then maybe throw a few bones down on the Sharks at just over $2. Me? I’m tipping the Blues.
The second game that has piqued my curiosity is the Bulls vs the Brumbies. Last week I mentioned a bit of an alarming stat for the Brumbies, and that is when their opposition score more than 24 points, the Brumbies lose. The Cheetahs did exactly that last week and it’s not a stretch to think that the Bulls at Loftus won’t do the same. At home, the Bulls are averaging 29 points per game and the Brumbies have only scored above 29 points once this season. The tippers are still favouring the Brumbies but the bookies aren’t. I’m with the bookies on this one and am tipping the Brumbies to come home from South Africa 0 from 2.
Lastly, probably the game I’m most looking forward to is the Highlanders vs the Crusaders. The Crusaders are well backed by tippers and the betting sites alike and at this point in the season, it’s not surprising. This is the point in the season about where the Christchurch juggernaut starts really building up a head of steam. Maybe it’s the fairly un-Crusader performance the red and blacks put in last week or maybe it’s just the solid and consistent footy that the Highlanders have been producing this season but I really like the home side. I don’t have any data to back it up but I’m leaning towards the laddies from Otago. Either way, in the perfect conditions of Forsyth-Barr Stadium, I am hoping for a stellar game of Rugby!
Money for Jam
Two games this round look like easy pickings. The Waratahs vs the Rebels and the Force vs the Lions.
As well as the Tahs are playing, this week I’m not that keen to play my joker on them. Yes the Rebels beat the Reds for the first time last week (and at Suncorp to boot) but that result says more about the Reds season than the Rebels. The thing that’s always in my mind with the Rebels though is their ability to every now and then, just come out and blitz their opposition, regardless of form or reputation. They already have the scalps of every other Australian team and will be looking to complete the set. The Tahs should win this one, but I’m not game enough to throw my Joker down on them.
Which leaves me with the Force. Their loss to the Stormers last week I think was an outlier. An anomaly. All good teams have them and the Force were probably due. I don’t think we’ll see the same result this weekend. The Lions are at the end of their Australasian tour and will be well weary and although the Force are just home from South Africa they will be ready to rip in front of the ‘Sea of Blue’. So there’s my lock. Get on it.
