Australia's betting agencies are at odds over the prices they are offering on selected Commonwealth Games events, but on one thing they agree - the Australians will start hot favourites in almost everything.
Their basketball teams are virtually unbackable - the Opals (women) at $1.02 to collect gold, the Boomers
(men) at $1.03.
Even at less than full strength, the Australian men deserve to be short but the Tall Blacks, the second favourites, are worth considering at $8.
Next best are Nigeria at $26.
The Tall Ferns (New Zealand women) face a tougher task against the near full-strength Opals. They too are second pick at $13, with Nigeria again on the third line at $41.
It is the same story in hockey. The Australian women go in at $1.35, New Zealand next best at $5.50 and England a close third at $6.
The men's competition promises more of the same in the gold stakes, with Pakistan second pick at $7, ahead of India ($8) and New Zealand ($13).
The expected two-team race in netball is reflected in the odds: New Zealand at $1.60 and Australia at $2.25.
Jamaica are favoured for bronze, at $9, and England next at $15. Malawi are the clear outsiders at $801.
Australia is further down the list in the chase for rugby sevens gold, coming in on the fourth line at $7.
Fiji offer good value as $3 shots ahead of New Zealand and England (both $3.50) and South Africa ($6). Sri Lanka and Uganda will attract little interest despite the $1001 on offer.
In the triathlon, Australians Emma Snowill ( $1.67 yesterday after opening at $2.60) and Brad Kahlefeldt ($3.25) head their respective events.
Sam Warriner, despite her two wins on last year's World Cup circuit, is the least favoured of the New Zealand trio - at Centrebet at least.
It has Andrea Hewitt at $7, Debbie Tanner at $11 and Warriner at $13. The TAB also has Warriner at $13 but Tanner at $17 and Hewitt $8.50.
Despite his Olympic success, Hamish Carter is seen as only sixth-best for Saturday afternoon's race.
Kahlefeldt is first selection with the TAB but comes in third with Centrebet (at $4) behind fellow Australian Peter Robertson and New Zealand's former world champion Bevan Docherty at $3.50.
Kris Gemmell is the second most favoured New Zealander - $5.50 (TAB) and $6 (Centrebet).
A Carter victory would earn punters $8 with Centrebet and $9 with the TAB. It is also offering odds on which country will win triathlon gold.
Australia is again favoured but only narrowly in the men's race - $1.85, just ahead of New Zealand's $1.95. The Australian women are a short $1.30 with New Zealand next, at $4.00.
A TAB spokesman said books would be opened on other events, including swimming, athletics and cycling, but probably only on finals.
Australia's betting agencies are at odds over the prices they are offering on selected Commonwealth Games events, but on one thing they agree - the Australians will start hot favourites in almost everything.
Their basketball teams are virtually unbackable - the Opals (women) at $1.02 to collect gold, the Boomers
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.