Just like that, we have another week in the books, which can only mean one thing for us here at Betcha: the weekend slate of sports is coming up thick and fast. As we mentioned last week, we’re starting a series where I provide some of my best bets for the weekend’s action. Even though we have left Super Rugby behind us with another Crusaders triumph there is still plenty of action to sink our teeth into. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the second edition of this series.
Another weekend of MLC action is coming up as the exciting tournament continues to roll on, with superstars beginning to leave their mark on the results through big runs and plenty of wickets. The Washington Freedom have been a force of nature recently, winning their last four matches, some of them by convincing margins on the scorecard.
They are led by several big names like Glenn Maxwell and Rachin Ravindra, players who can be difference-makers on any team they play for. But one name that may not be as familiar is Maxwell’s fellow countryman Mitchell Owen, who has quietly built an impressive résumé of T20 performances over the past 12 months.
His form in the MLC has backed that up, with two fifties and a 30 in his most recent outings. I would expect Owen to continue his fine run of form against Los Angeles and to hit his overs in his next visit to the middle.
Warriors fans look away, this one might hurt a little. As the team travels to Brisbane this week, we could see something close to a worst-case scenario play out.
The Broncos have been finding ways to pile on points in recent games, and much of that can be attributed to their high-powered backline finally performing up to the talent they boast on paper. A key part of that resurgence has been former Warriors prodigy and current Broncos star Reece Walsh.
With his recent performances in the maroon of the Broncos, there have even been whispers he could earn a call-up to wear a different shade of maroon in the upcoming State of Origin series. Walsh will be looking to deliver a performance that keeps him front of mind for Queensland coach Billy Slater while also putting his former club to the sword at the same time.
With that in mind, if the Broncos can keep rolling in attack, I think Walsh could very well find his way over the line in what could be a statement performance fans on both sides will not forget.
If you’ve read the F1 preview, you may already be familiar with this bet, as it’s a carry-over. But at $3, I really like the value, especially with it being Verstappen in one of his most comfortable environments on the F1 circuit. This is backed up by the fact that he has been the top qualifier at the Red Bull Ring in each of the last five visits, so the chances of him doing it again are higher than many might think.
On top of that, he seemed to find a bit of extra pace in the last race, finishing on the podium and beating both McLaren drivers, which should give him a solid boost in confidence. Given Verstappen’s relentless mentality, it feels like he sees this weekend as an opportunity to reassert his authority and continue closing the gap to the front of the pack.
And there’s no better way to do that than by taking pole position in qualifying. Look, it may sit in a price range that feels a little high to be called a ‘best bet,’ but who doesn’t love a bit of value? Especially when that value is riding on one of the most talented drivers of all time, it feels like a reasonable moment of this weekends slate to take a swing.
An exciting game in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup will see Chelsea and the likes of Enzo Fernández take on his former club, Benfica, as they look to advance to the quarter-finals with the tournament starting to heat up. Like many big games, and especially with both teams coming off long European seasons, it is hard to call a clear winner given the quality on both sides.
However, a bet I like in this showdown is over 2.5 total goals. Both teams have shown they can find the back of the net consistently. While Benfica did not concede against German giants Bayern Munich, they still allowed 2.24 expected goals (xG), meaning they gave up plenty of chances but Bayern did not bring their shooting boots that day.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have already scored six goals in their last three matches, which bodes well for this bet having solid potential.
Flamengo may feel hard done by, as they won their group but, because Benfica upset Bayern Munich, they have ended up drawing one of the largest clubs in the world in the Round of 16 and will come in as heavy underdogs in this match. I have watched them play in the tournament, and the team that is currently at the top of the Brazilian Serie A will look to continue being a thorn in the side of the big sides in this competition.
Bayern, on the other hand, outside of their 10-0 win against Auckland City, haven’t looked like themselves since that result and probably won’t be feeling as confident as usual. Given that, I don’t want to call the game’s outcome, but under 3.5 goals seems reasonable with the hard-nosed Flamengo team turning up with plenty of confidence and resolve against a Bayern side, apart from Michael Olise, that isn’t quite gelling at the moment.