Adelaide vs. Townsville NBL game of the week betting odds & tips
Adelaide 36ers vs. Townsville Crocs. Saturday, December 12. 7:30pm.
THE Adelaide 36ers will be seeking revenge on the Townsville Crocs after a shocking defeat on Friday night at The Swamp.
The 36ers were leading by 15 points with only minutes remaining, but some clutch three-point shooting from Mirko Djeric and a key turnover with six seconds left on the clock gave them the 101-100 win.
Despite the gut wrenching loss, Adelaide are the firm favourites for the re-match this Saturday and the bookmakers are expecting a better four-quarter display on their home court.
MVP candidate Jerome Randle did everything he could in the loss, scoring a game high 28 points, but it wasn’t enough and it let Adelaide slip to 4-7 on the NBL ladder.
The Crocs need everything to go their way for the rest of the season if they are to make the playoffs, and scoring back-to-back wins again Adelaide will steer them in the right direction.
“You’ve got to give it to these guys because they keep proving they just won’t give up,” Crocs coach Shawn Dennis said.
“We looked down and out, gave up too much possession and fouled too much.
“It’s just rewards for these kids…[the win] says we are doing the right things as a group.”
Bookmakers are giving the Crocs no respect in the market, setting Adelaide as the firm favourite.
36ers vs. Crocs updated betting markets
Adelaide 36ers – $1.26 (-8.5)
Townsville Crocs – $4 (+8.5)
The big question for punters to ask is whether or not Adelaide can rebound from what was a tough loss to take. Losing games like that can either make a team stronger, or deflate them completely and we don’t think the risk is worth taking the $1.26.
That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve seen this NBL season and it seems unwarranted. Adelaide are a much better force at home and the Crocs are extremely inconsistent, but the value appears to be with the side carrying the most momentum.
The $4 in the head-to-head market is generous and we think the points start option is a great bet. It’s tough to see Townsville getting blown out in this, especially after signing American-Egyptian import Omar Samhan who scored 10 points with six rebounds. Samhan’s performance was credible given he had been on a plane for 24 hours on Thursday.
36ers coach Joey Wright was understandably disappointed with their loss on Friday night and lays the blame partly on himself.
“That last play was my fault, it should have been drawn up to get something a little better so our guys could have gotten the ball inbounds,” Wright said.
“Especially where our season’s at, we needed this win to try and continue to push for that fourth spot and we just let it slip away.
“Some days you’re going to eat the bear, some days the bear is going to eat you.”
At Bet365.com.au, punters can choose their own points start lines which makes punting easier and more rewarding. For the bettors that think Adelaide will win by double digits can get a much better price, and for those who think the Crocs can get even closer than the 8.5 line, they will get better odds.
36ers vs. Crocs alternate lines market
Best Adelaide 36ers alternate lines:
-15.5 ($3.40)
-15 ($3.30)
-14.5 ($3.10)
-14 ($2.90)
-13.5 ($2.70)
-7 ($1.71)
-4 ($1.41)
There are some lines for punters who are siding with the Adelaide 36ers. They are capable of a blowout and that’s why we have highlighted to bigger points start lines. The -7 and -4 lines give you lower odds, but much more security – ideal for multi-bet punters.
Townsville Crocs lines:
+5 ($2.50)
+5.5 ($2.30)
+6 ($2.25)
+10 ($1.71)
+12.5 ($1.48) at Bet365.com.au
The odds are smaller around the +12.5, but we can’t see the Crocs losing by 13 or more points in this game. The Crocs have been the comeback team this season and they even put in a rare dominant victory.
They will be confident about winning after last Friday and confidence is a wonderful asset to have in sport.
36ers vs. Crocs prediction
We think the bookmakers might have got this one wrong – were they watching on Friday? We watched a Townsville Crocs team that looked hungry, and even though they don’t have some of the natural talent other NBL teams have, they do possess heart.
The 36ers will need to take a serious look at themselves for blowing a 15-point lead with four minutes to go and being on the quick back-up might not be the best for them.
This game should remain close throughout and the Crocs alternate points start lines look the best betting options. We’re not confident they can win, but the +8.5 ($1.90) at CrownBet.com.au looks the way to go.
Adelaide – 90
Townsville – 86