With only hours remaining until 2013 comes to an end, online bookmaker Sportsbet Australia has looked into what Aussie punters think 2014 has in store.
Some trends won’t be a surprise, while some might make you choke on your corn flakes. Without further ado, here’s what the punters are backing to happen across sport, racing, entertainment and politics next year:
AFL:
· A two horse race for the 2014 Premiership between Hawthorn ($4.75) & Fremantle ($5.00). Both have attracted double the money to win the flag than any other side with Freo attracting $3,000 more than the Hawks
· St. Kilda ($3.10) will run last. They’ve attracted double the money than any other team to win the least amount of games in 2014. The Western Bulldogs ($61) and GWS Giants ($1.91) are the next best backed
· Jack Gunston will win the Coleman Medal. He’s attracted 3 times the money than anyone else at the big odds of $21
· Carlton’s Chris Judd won’t find the fountain of youth in the pre-season, attracting one bet of 75 cents to win the Brownlow Medal
NRL:
· The Roosters ($5.00) will cruise to back-to-back premierships. Punters have staked 3 times more money on the Chooks to win the Premiership than any other side. Souths are only the 5th best supported team
· The wooden spoon will head from Parramatta to the Wests Tigers despite the Tigers being $5.00 shots for least wins and the Eels the $3.50 favourite
· New South Wales to finally end Queensland’s stranglehold on State of Origin. Although they’re $2.30 outsiders to win the 2014 series, punters have wagered more money on NSW to win than the Maroons
· Sharks, Bulldogs, Dragons, Cowboys & Raiders are no chance of winning the Auckland Nines, hardly attracting a bet. Punters say that the Warriors are the team to beat
Racing:
· Gai Waterhouse will win consecutive Melbourne Cups with Fiorente, who is best backed to repeat its 2013 feat at the odds of $21
· Shamus Award will repeat its 2013 Cox Plate win in 2014 with punters wagering two times more money on the four-year-old than any other runner
Football:
· Tim Cahill ($2.20) and not Lucas Neill ($2.40) will be captain of the Socceroos for their opening FIFA World Cup match
· 6 punters think the Socceroos at $34 will qualify from Group B
· Brazil ($4.33) will win the World Cup, with Germany ($6.00) their biggest threat
Entertainment:
· Lorde will win the 2013 Triple J Hottest 100 in a canter after being backed from $1.50 into $1.15
· Cate Blanchett will be an Oscar winner, taking home Best Actress for her role in Blue Jasmine
Current Affairs:
· There will be no interest rates cuts in 2014. 99% of money bet on how many cuts we’ll see in 2014 has been on zero
· Christine Milne ($1.45) heavily backed to be the first leader to go – so much so she’s attracted 98% of all money staked on the market
· The Liberals ($1.30) will win the South Australian state election having attracted double the money than Labor ($3.10)