TAB customers are thinking that Australia will begin their Asian Cup defence in style with a victory against Jordan on Sunday night.
The Socceroos are hot $1.35 favourites despite the fact they go in to the game without a number of their first team squad including Martin Boyle and Aaron Mooy while there are still doubts over the fitness of Tom Rogic.
Nearly 95 percent of the early money in the result market sits with the Aussies who play Jordan at 10pm on Sunday night at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.
“Punters only want to be on the Socceroos for their opening game,” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou said.
“The boys easily handled Jordan in their two most recent clashes and although this Australian team is a fair bit different to those sides that won, there is still a fair bit of confidence about.
“It will be interesting to see who Graham Arnold’s opts for in his starting side.”
Australia are only the fourth most popular team when it comes to Futures betting in the Asian Cup winner market.
Listed as an $8 chance to defend the title they won in 2015, the Socceroos sit well behind tournament favourites Iran and South Korea who are $4.50 respectively while Japan is on the next line of betting at $5.
Iran hold the most money with 41 percent of the hold while South Korea are responsible for 34 percent of the ‘All In’ market.
“Australia aren’t holding any significant money in the winner market,” Georgiou said.
“Our customers are more focused on the likes of Iran and South Korea.
“In fact, what we are holding on Australia is just a fraction of what we have taken on the top two teams in the market.”
BETS OF NOTE – Aus v Jordan
$3,000 @ $1.33 on Australia (to beat Jordan)
$1,000 @ $1.36 on Australia (to beat Jordan)
BETS OF NOTE – Tournament winner
$10,000 @ $5 on Iran (Asian Cup winner)
$3,000 @ $4.50 on Iran (Asian Cup winner)
$2,000 @ $5 on Iran (Asian Cup winner)
$1,500 @ $5.50 on South Korea (Asian Cup winner)
$1,000 @ $5 TWICE on South Korea (Asian Cup winner)
$1,000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES on South Korea (Asian Cup winner)
TAB ODDS – Result
Australia $1.35
Draw $5
Jordan $8.50
WINNER MARKET
Iran $4.50
South Korea $4.50
Japan $5
Australia $8
Saudi Arabia $10
United Arab Emirates $11
Uzbekistan $17
Iraq $21
Others from $26