Cricket

Punters have embraced the South Africans’ arrival in Australia and Global Sportsbet has already recorded fantastic interest in the First Test, which started with a fluctuating day’s play at the WACA.

Bets of $5000 at $3.50 and $2000 at $3.30 arrived for the Proteas, but the bulk of the money came for Australia.

Bets included $8000 at $2.05, $2000 at $2.55 and another $2000 at $2.15 in the run yesterday.

The Draw attracted two bets of $2000 at quotes of $3.75 and $3.60.

By the close of play yesterday, Australia had recovered from the early disasters and were into $1.84. South Africa remained solid at $3.60, but the Draw had eased to $4.50.

The Second Test between India and England begins tomorrow, with a Draw the most likely outcome – quoted at $2. India are $2.30 and despite their First Test near miss, the English are $8.25.

The Second Test also gets away between New Zealand and the West Indies tomorrow. In a tight betting affair, New Zealand are $2.60, the Draw $2.70 and the West Indies $3.30.

Horse Racing

The Group 2 Villiers Stakes is the biggest race around Australia this Saturday.

Top weight is Sniper’s Bullet, back from two excellent runs in G1 company in Western Australia. He has been lumped with 58.5kg for this assignment – meaning he will have to set a metric weight carrying record in order to win.

Takeover Target was first past the post in last season’s Villiers (run at 1400m during the EI crisis) under 61kg, but lost the race on protest to Honor In War.

The Villiers is a wide open betting affair, with Voice Commander and the likes of Theophorus and Causeyacan well fancied coming through the Festival Stakes.

Other new blood includes the Queenslanders Rags To Riches and Hey Elvis, along with the in-form My Sweet Cookie.
In Brisbane, the Doomben Stakes takes centre stage, where Albert The Fat steps out of restricted company to take on Open Listed horses after a brilliant last start win.

The barrier draw has again been unkind to Albert, who come up with 17 in the big field. Charming Rogue was heavily backed to win the Summer Stakes two weeks back but was right out of luck in the straight. Punters are sure to follow up on him again. Barlinnie and Tour Guide are other leading hopes.

Punters aren’t short of metropolitan meetings to bet into at the moment. Canterbury race tonight, while the Moonee Valley night series continues in Melbourne on Friday.

NFL

Suddenly the look of Superbowl XLIII betting has taken on a whole new meaning. A couple of weeks back the New York Giants and Tennessee were the only teams under double figures, but it’s wide open betting now.

The Giants still hold their place at the head of the market, but back-to-back losses has seen them ease to $4.25.
Pittsburgh have been the big firmers and are now into $5 for the much coveted title.

Carolina are $7 chances and Tennessee are $8 chances.

Indianapolis ($8.50) and Dallas ($9) are also under double figures.

Four of those teams line up against each other in vital clashes this week.

Early Monday morning (Australian time), Pittsburgh ($1.73) take on the Titans ($2.12) at Tennessee.

The Titans lost just their second game of the season when failing to score a touchdown last week in a 13-12 road defeat to the Texans.

The Steelers snatched a controversial win in the dying stages to beat the Ravens 13-9, meaning they are shooting for a sixth straight win this week.

With the loss to the Texans last week, the Titans' grip on the AFC's top spot has loosened and a loss to this weekend will give Pittsburgh the inside track on homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

In the other big game this week, The Giants ($1.55) get the chance to amend their mini slump when they host the 11-3 Carolina Panthers ($2.50).

This game will be broadcast into Australia live on Monday from 12.15 (EDST), with Global Sportsbet having all the betting bases covered.

This is the two teams’ first meeting since 2006 when the Giants broke their ‘duck’ against the Panthers, winning 27-13. Carolina had won the only three previous encounters.

Golf

Five players are marked within a point and a half of each other at the head of betting for the Chevron World Challenge. Anthony Kim and Kenny Perry share the top line at $8, following by Jim Furyk and Camilo Villegas at $9.
Vijay Singh is marked as a $9.50 chance.

It’s then out to $15 for Mike Weir and $17 for K.J. Choi.

A number of Round 1 2 Balls are also available for punters.

Justin Leonard is $2.02 v Hunter Mahan ($2.08, Tie $9). Paul Casey is at $1.88 to get the better of Luke Donald ($2.25, Tie $9).

Henrik Stenson was the top elect for the South African Open at $7.50, which started today. Ernie Els was rated a $9.50 chance and then out to $15 for Lee Westwood and $17 for Australian Open winner Tim Clark.

At longer odds, Peter Hanson was backed to win $10,000 at $41, while Garth Mulroy was backed to win more than $6000 at odds of $36 and Simon Dyson was the subject of a wager to win $8400 at $51.

Soccer

Punters have shown plenty of interest in UEFA Cup matches over the past couple of days, with a huge volume of bets being written.

A winning $1000 wager was recorded this morning when Deportivo beat Nancy Lorraine 1-0 at odds of $1.70.

Hamburg were also strongly backed at around the $2.10 quote before beating Aston Villa 3-1 overnight.

EPL matches start Saturday night/Sunday morning this week, with Hull City ($2.05) favoured to beat Sunderland ($3.85) and Bolton marked at $2.22 in their home clash with Portsmouth ($3.35).

In the early hours of Monday, the clash of Arsenal and current EPL leaders Liverpool shapes as the match of the round. Arsenal have the home ground advantage and are rated $2.40 favs, with Liverpool $3 and the Draw $3.25.

A double header is scheduled for tomorrow evening in A-League action.

Fourth placed Central Coast do battle across the Tasman against 6th placed Wellington, while bottom placed Newcastle face a daunting task hosting competition favourites Melbourne.

On Sunday, 5th placed Sydney host Perth.