Sportsbet Blog

How about we let you in on a secret. The past winners of Million Dollar Tipping are, well, ordinary Australian’s who enjoy their footy. Not experts. Not insiders. Not big punters.

If you like footy then have a go. Then you can start dreaming about what you will do with $200,000 cash if you won… or even $60,000 for 2nd… maybe $40,000 for 3rd… or even the handy weekly or hot streak monthly cash prizes.

Anyone can win cash in Million Dollar AFL and NRL Tipping Competition.

There’s no obligation to bet – members can play our fun free competitions and win real cash prizes. In fact, well over 1,000 people will pocket a cash prize in 2012. So get in it to win it!

Here’s how to join Million Dollar Tipping:

1. Simply login with your User Name and existing Password. If you don’t yet have a Sportsbet account see their site here and make an account.
2. Join the tipping comp by clicking here or by following the links at the Sportsbet site here. Then simply login with your usual User Name and Password and select the AFL or NRL competitions you want to play.
3. Invite Your Friends: Once you’ve registered, visit the Competitions menu to create any Private Comps for your friends, family or workplace – everyone will be eligible to share in the $1,000,000 prize pool. Plus we have NEW Comp Administrator features available on 17 Feb – manage payments, add notes to your ladder, plus more!
4. Take on Shane or Trent: Visit Shane Crawford’s and Trent Barrett’s weekly Tips Page to get their Private Competition code and password to join their ladder for a chance to win extra prizes.

Sportsbet’s Million Dollar Tipping site is really easy to navigate and quick to place your tips so you can wait till the final teams to be announced to put the tips in.

They also have a new iPhone app that allows you to put your tips in anywhere in the world! See more info on the Sportsbet iPhone app here.

Punters are convinced that this year’s Rising Star award will be won by a long shot, with relative unknowns Billie Smedts (Geelong), Anthony Miles (GWS) Brandon Ellis (Richmond), Lachie Neale (Fremantle) and Jarrod Witts (Collingwood) all being well backed with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au.

With GWS number 1 draft pick Jon Patton expected to be sidelined for the early stages of the season, Richmond first round pick Brandon Ellis has received more bets to win the Rising Star than any other player. If he is to get up and win the award those punters who showed early faith will be well rewarded, with Ellis currently priced at $67 to win.

Another long shot Billie Smedts has been the second best backed player and has come in from $67 to $51.

Bets have also been placed on Miles at $501, Neale at $401 and Witts also at $401.

Gold Coast’s Josh Caddy has continued to have strong support and has firmed further from $21 to $16 after starting the market as a $51 chance, while GWS young gun Stephen Coniglio has also been popular with the punters and has firmed from $10 to $9. Cats ruckman Nathan Vardy has drifted significantly from $9.00 to $41 after it was revealed he may not be available to play until mid-season.

“Without that stand out player it really is an open market and the punters seem certain that it will be an outsider who wins this year’s award,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.

“While names like Billie Smedts, Anthony Miles and Brandon Ellis may not be well know just yet, if the money is right we will all know who they are by years end.”

“Stephen Coniglio and Josh Caddy continued to be the best backed of the established players and have received much more betting action that the two favourites in Kane Lucas and Mitch Wallis.” Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

(Prices from Wednesday 1 February in brackets) 2012 Rising Star Winner

$7.00 Kane Lucas (Carl) (steady) $8.00 Mitch Wallis (WB) (steady) $9.00 Stephen Coniglio (GWS)

(in from $51)

$10 Jeremy Cameron (GWS) (steady)

$13 John Butcher (Port), Sam Day (GC) (steady) $15 Chad Wingard (Port), Jared Polec (Bris) (steady) $16 Josh Caddy (GC)

(in from $21)

$17 Tom Mitchell, Adam Treloar (GWS), Dylan Shiel (GWS) (steady)

$11 Jon Patton (GWS)

(in from $41)

While Buddy Franklin is the short priced favourite to win this year’s Coleman Medal, Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker is looming as a smokey according to online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au.

Initially priced at $26, the Broken Hill junior has come into $23. In a sign that the punters think this could be his break out year, he has been the second best backed pick for the Coleman with sportsbet.com.au, only behind Buddy Franklin who is favourite at $2.75.

“The only player we have taken more bets on is Buddy. The punters obviously think there is some value in Walker’s odds,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.

“There is no doubt he has the talent and he looks to be the Crow’s main man in the forward line. The question will be over his consistency, but the punters don’t seem to worried about it as we keep taking bets on him.”

One punter is particularly confident, having $500 on Walker at $26 to collect $13,000.

Tigers full forward Jack Riewoldt has been the big drifter in the market, now $10 after starting at $6.00.

Kurt Tippett has firmed from $31 to $26 while the punters believe Ross Lyon’s arrival at Fremantle could see Matthew Pavlich spending more time in the midfield as opposed to the forward line forward line, with the multiple All Australian drifting from $21 to $34. Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au 2012 Coleman Medal (Prices in brackets from November 2011 when the market opened)

$2.75 Lance Franklin (in from $3.50) $7.00 Travis Cloke (out from $5.50) $10 Jack Riewoldt (out from $6.00) $14 Josh Kennedy (out from $11) $16 Jonathan Brown (out from $11) $18 Nick Riewoldt (in from $21) $21 James Podsiadly (out from $15) $21 Stephen Milne (in from $23) $23 Taylor Walker (in from $26) $23 Mark Lecras (steady) $26 Kurt Tippett (in from $31) $28 Steve Johnson (out from $26)

$34 Matthew Pavlich (out from $21)

Such is his work ethic, Cronulla, New South Wales and Australia second rower has been installed as the $6.50 favourite by online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to be the player who gains the most metres during the 2012 NRL season. Not only is Gallen the only player in single figures, the next ten players in the market are all backs.

Equal second in the market at $13 are flyers Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Hoffman, Josh Dugan, Darius Boyd and Ashley Graham with Akuila Uate, Nathan Merritt and Michael Jennings next at $15. “He is a machine. He never stops running,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “The fact he’s a back rower and will likely play front row at times this year but is such a clear favourite is a testament to the effort he puts in and the way he plays.” “There are some very exciting and lightening quick players behind him in the market so it will be great to see some of them in full flight but we think Gal will get the gong.” Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi is a $17 chance alongside Blake Ferguson, Kevin Locke and Lachlan Coote with Corey Parker and Jason Nightingale (both $19), Nathan Gardiner ($21), Feleti Mateo ($26), Anthony Watmough ($29) and Matt Bowen ($34) all given an outside chance. Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

Most metres gained in NRL in 2012

$6.50 Paul Gallen $13 Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Hoffman, Josh Dugan, Darius Boyd, Ashley Graham $15 Akuila Uate, Nathan Merritt, Michael Jennings $17 Blake Ferguson, Fuifoi Moimoi, Kevin Locke, Lachlan Coote $19 Corey Parker, Jason Nightingale $21 Nathan Gardiner $26 Feleti Mateo $29 Anthony Watough $34 Matt Bowen $40 David Taylor

The New Zealand Warriors will make it three consecutive Toyota Cup titles says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, who’ve installed the Kiwi side as the $3.50 favourite. Their biggest threat comes from the Melbourne Storm, who’ve been priced at $6.50 with the North Queensland Cowboys and Sydney Roosters sharing the third line of betting at $9.00.

The Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights are next at $13 followed by the Cronulla Sharks and Brisbane Broncos (both $15), Canterbury Bulldogs ($17) and Canberra Raiders ($19). “The Warriors are once again the team to beat. Their line-up is just as strong as the past few seasons and when you throw in their physical attributes and flair, there’s a lot to like about them. They’ll take some beating.” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

2012 isn’t looking good for both the Manly Sea Eagles and Gold Coast Titans, who are the biggest outsiders in the market at $51.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 Toyota Cup winner

$3.50 New Zealand Warriors

$6.50 Melbourne Storm

$9.00 North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters $13 Wests Tigers, Newcastle Knights $15 Cronulla Sharks, Brisbane Broncos $17 Canterbury Bulldogs $19 Canberra Raiders $21 Parramatta Eels

$26 South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers $41 St. George Illawarra Dragons $51 Manly Sea Eagles, Gold Coast Titans

Holden drivers Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will be fighting out their own separate championship battle during the 2012 V8 Supercar season so dominant they will be says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au.

Defending champion Whincup and runner-up Lowndes have been installed as $2.85 and $3.25 chances respectively to take out this year’s title with their nearest rival being Ford’s Shane Van Gisbergen who is at $11. Mark Winterbottom and Garth Tander (both $12), Will Davison ($13), James Courtney ($15), Lee Holdsworth, Rick Kelly (both $12) and Tim Slade ($26) round out the top ten.

“The market suggests it’s going to be another year of chasing Team Vodafone,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. ““We just can’t see how anyone will be able to consistently match it with them.” “Lowndes almost held on to beat Whincup last season so it will be a ding-dong battle between them again. The huge question is whether anyone can spoil their party? We don’t think so.” Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 V8 Supercar series winner

$2.85 Jamie Whincup

$3.25 Craig Lowndes $11 Shane Van Gisbergen $12 Mark Winterbottom, Garth Tander $13 Will Davison $15 James Courtney $17 Lee Holdsworth, Rick Kelly $26 Tim Slade $31 Jason Bright $34 Michael Caruso $41 Fabian Coulthard $51 Steven Johnson, Dean Canto $67 James Moffatt $101 Todd Kelly, Alex Davison, Jonathon Webb $126 Russell Ingall, Tony D’Alberto $151 Dean Fiore $251 Karl Reindler, Warren Luff

Punters with leading online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au have backed  from a distant $13 shot into clear favourite at $2.75 to take the reins of Sydney FC in the A-League next season.

85% of bets placed on the market have been for Arnold to move to the Sky Blues while every other contender originally priced have either drifted in betting or remained the same. Early favourite Gianfranco Zola has drifted from $5.00 out to $5.50 as has Branko Culina ($8.00 out to $13), Steve Corica ($9.00 out to $13), Ian Crook ($11 out to $15) and Tony Popovic ($15 out to $19). “In the punters eyes Graham Arnold will be at Sydney FC next season,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “There’s been little to no interest in anyone else.”

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

Who will coach Sydney FC in 2012/13?

$2.75 Graham Arnold (in from $13)

$5.50 Gianfranco Zola (out from $5.00)

$13 Branko Culina (out from $8.00)

$15 Steve Corica (out from $9.00) $15 Ian Crook (out from $11)

$19 Tony Popovic (out from $15) $19 Lawrie McKinna (out from $15)

$21 John Kosmina (out from $17) $23 Frank Farina (steady) $26 Ange Postegoclou (steady) $34 Ruud Gillit (steady) $34 Aurelio Vidmar (steady) $34 Mark Rudan (steady) $41 Mehmet Durakovic (steady) $41 Paul Okon (steady) $41 Ned Zelic (steady) $51 Zeljko Kalac (steady) $81 Craig Foster (steady) $101 Robbie Slater (steady) $101 Mark Bosnich (steady)

English singer Adele is set to scoop the pool at the 54th Grammy Awards on Monday with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au installing her as the overwhelming favourite in the Record, Album and Song of the Year categories. Adele’s Rolling In The Deep is the $1.20 favourite to take out the Record of the Year category ahead of The Cave by Mumford & Sons ($5.00), Holocene by Bon Iver ($8.00), Grenade by Bruno Mars ($8.00) and Katy Perry’s Firework ($15).

In Album of the Year category, Adele’s 21 is at $1.10 with her closest competition coming from Bruno Mars with Doo-Woops & Hooligans ($7.50) and the Foo Fighter’s Wasting Light ($9.00). Born This Way by Lady Gaga ($11) and Rihanna’s Loud ($23) are the outsiders in that market. Adele’s Rolling In The Deep is the $1.25 favourite for the Song of the Year with All Of The Lights by Kanye West next in the market at $4.50 followed by The Cave from the Mumford & Sons ($7.50), Holocene by Bon Iver ($17) and Grenade by Bruno Mars ($19).

“The markets clearly reflect Adele’s popularity and the punters are definitely keen on her to take out all three categories,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. In the Best New Artist category, Nicki Minaj is the $2.00 favourite with Bon Iver ($3.25), The Band Perry ($4.00), J. Cole ($7.00) and Skrillex ($13) also in the mix. Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

54th Grammy Awards Record of the Year

$1.20 Rolling In The Deep – Adele $5.00 The Cave – Mumford & Sons $8.00 Holocene – Bon Iver $8.00 Grenade – Bruno Mars $15 Firework – Katy Perry

54th Grammy Awards Album of the Year

$1.10 21 – Adele $7.50 Doo-Woops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars $9.00 Wasting Light – Foo Fighters $11 Born This Way – Lady Gaga $23 Loud – Rihanna

54th Grammy Awards Song of the Year

$1.25 Rolling In The Deep – Adele $4.50 All Of The Lights – Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie $7.50 The Cave – Mumford & Sons $17 Holocene – Bon Iver $19 Grenade – Bruno Mars

54th Grammy Awards Best New Artist

$2.00 Nicki Minaj $3.25 Bon Iver $4.00 The Band Perry $7.00 J. Cole $13 Skrillex

Leading online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has opened gun Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall as the $3.25 favourite to score the most points in the NRL this season.

Warriors playmaker James Maloney is on the second line of betting at $5.00 with Australian, Queensland and Cowboys star Jonathan Thurston close behind at $5.50 – the trio are the only players quoted in single figures.

Kurt Gidley and Panther Michael Gordon are next in the market at $11 followed by Todd Carney ($13), Cameron Smith ($15) and Jamie Soward and Corey Parker (both $21).

“Benji scored the most points last season and we can’t see it being any different this time around,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “Not only does he set up plenty of points, he scores plenty himself and is a very good goal kicker.”

“James Maloney had an excellent season in leading the Warriors to the Grand Final last year and is a class goal kicker so we see him as a real contender while not much more needs to be said about Thurston and his point scoring exploits so $5.50 looks to be good value.”

Meanwhile, barnstorming Newcastle winger Akuila Uate is the $6.00 favourite to the take out the crown for the most tries in 2012 however Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba is hot on his heels at $6.50.

The pair are well ahead of Nathan Merritt ($13), Brett Stewart, Brett Morris, Kevin Locke and Manu Vatuvei (all $15) and Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis (all $21).

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au 2012 NRL Leading points scorer $3.25 Benji Marshall $5.00 James Maloney $5.50 Jonathan Thurston $11 Kurt Gidley, Michael Gordon $13 Todd Carney $15 Cameron Smith $21 Jamie Soward, Corey Parker $26 Nathan Merritt Others quoted

2012 NRL Leading try scorer $6.00 Akuila Uate $6.50 Ben Barba $13 Nathan Merritt $15 Brett Stewart, Brett Morris, Kevin Locke, Manu Vatuvei $21 Michael Oldfield, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall, Michael Gordon, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis $26 Lachlan Coote, David Mead $31 Nathan Gardiner $34 Chris Lawrence, Jharal Yow Yeh, Matt Duffie, Josh Hoffman, Kevin Gordon, Kalifa Faifai Loa Others quoted

Aussie Cadel Evans is the $2.50 favourite to win the 2012 Tour de France with leading online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au following the suspension of Alberto Contador overnight.

The 2011 winner is followed in the market by Andy Schleck ($4.33), Brit Brad Wiggins ($6.00) and Russian Denis Menchov ($8.00). The quartet are the only riders priced under $21.

“We are confident Cadel can repeat his performance from last year,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes. “He obviously showed he can cope physically but also mentally so he’s our man.”

“A lot can change between now and then but if his preparation goes to plan we expect him to hold his spot as favourite right up until the start of the race.”

Next in the market is Chris Froome at $21 while a trio of riders – Andre Valverde, Samuel Sanchez and Robert Gesink – are all at $26 with Belgian Jurgen Van Den Broeck next at $31.

Italian Ivan Basso, Frank Schleck and Andreas Kloden are all priced at $41 while Australian Richie Porte is huge outsider at $201.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au 2012 Tour de France winner $2.50 Cadel Evans $4.33 Andy Schleck $6.00 Brad Wiggins $8.00 Denis Menchov $21 Chris Froome $26 Andre Valverde, Samuel Sanchez, Robert Gesink $31 Jurgen Van Den Broeck $34 Vincenzo Nibali, Janez Brajkovic $41 Ivan Basso, Frank Schleck, Andreas Kloden