It’s grand final weekend in Australian sport so if you’re interested in football then this is your weekend. Put the beer on ice, fire up the barbeque and sit back and relax.
Hawthorn has been the best team all year and deserve to start as favorites. A month ago I thought they were close to unbeatable but now I’m not so sure. Sydney play tough uncompromising football, which is perfectly suited to finals. Hawthorn is going to have to fight to win this grand final because Sydney sure as hell isn’t going to give it to them. For this reason, I reckon you should back the Swans at the handicap, for which you should get around 14 points.
Now if you thought it was hard to pick a winner in the AFL, then try to figure out the rugby league. This is the closest betting contest we have seen for a long time in a grand final. The bookies can’t split them and with good reason. Melbourne has the experience but the Bulldogs have the home field advantage. Melbourne has a slight edge in the halves but the Bulldogs have slightly stronger centers, and both forward packs are about even. If the Doggies can handle the pressure I think they’ll win, so I will back them but it could go either way.
The Ryder Cup will take center stage in the wide world of sports this weekend. The US has the home field advantage but I think the Europeans are slightly stronger on paper. Again this is a tough one, but I’m going to stick with the Europeans because they are better value and as I always say, if in doubt go for value.
Football, American football and baseball are also on the menu so there will be plenty of sports to keep you out of trouble and well entertained.
Good luck and good punting.
