Aussie Rules Finals Series Odds and Picks: Tigers Top Odds Entering Qualifying/Elimination Round

• Richmond Tigers remain AFL Premiership favorites going into this year’s AFL Final Series
• Tigers face a tough test as they battle Brisbane in qualifying action. Power, Bulldogs, and Eagles also among favorites in the first weekend of Finals Series action
• We’ve got you covered with all the futures and game line odds as the AFL Finals Series kicks off on Thursday morning

As the countdown to the start of this year’s AFL Finals Series begins, the Richmond Tigers have emerged as strong favorites to successfully defend their Premiership title, sporting short +195 odds in the Aussie Rules futures at FanDuel.

The Tigers closed out the regular season in third place on the AFL ladder, six points adrift of both Port Adelaide and Brisbane. However, Richmond rides a six-match win streak into their qualifying final clash with the second favorite Lions, and sport short -136 odds to claim victory in Friday morning’s matchup at the Gabba.

Read on to learn more about how this year’s AFL Finals Series will unfold, along with all the odds and trends going into all four qualifying/elimination round contests.

AFL Premiership Odds

Odds taken Sept 30 at FanDuel 

How the AFL Finals Series Works

For sports bettors enjoying Aussie Rules Football for the first time, here is how the AFL Finals Series works. The top eight clubs on the AFL ladder qualify for the Finals Series, which is broken down into four rounds: the qualifying/elimination finals, semi-finals, preliminary finals, and Grand Final.

One more sleep until the 2020 Toyota #AFLFinals Series 😍 pic.twitter.com/GT9Vy3TnWX

— AFL (@AFL) September 30, 2020

In the qualifying finals, the top seed plays the No. 4 seed, and the No. 2 seed plays No. 3, with the winners earning a bye into the preliminary finals. Losing clubs in the qualifying finals then take on the winners from the two elimination finals in semi-final action, with the winners in those contests earning a berth in the preliminary finals. The winners of the two preliminary finals matches then advance to the Grand Final, with the winner of that contest claiming the Premiership crown.

Aussie Rules Qualifying/Elimination Round Odds

Qualifying Final One – Port Adelaide Favored to Extend Home Dominance

The Port Adelaide Power look to their qualifying clash with Geelong as narrow favorites despite their recent impressive play on home turf, where they have won six straight. First-place finishers on the AFL ladder, the Power have played stingy defense during a five-match win streak, surrendering an average of just 50 points per contest. However, the club compiled a middling 4-3-0 win-loss-draw record against clubs among the top eight and has produced mixed results in recent dates with Geelong, losing two of three, capped by a lopsided 91-31 loss in mid-August.

That's a wrap on 18 home and away rounds! 😆

Prep for the 2020 Toyota #AFLFinals Series here: https://t.co/ctoFHHi13I pic.twitter.com/upOn8p0BoD

— AFL (@AFL) September 22, 2020

The highest-scoring team in the AFL this season, the Cats finished deadlocked in points with the West Coast Eagles but claimed fourth place on the ladder on the strength of a stellar 136.8 points percentage. Geelong struggled to run up the score down the stretch, tallying just 100 total points in their final two outings, but sport a 5-1-0 record in their past six appearances in qualifying/elimination action.

Best Bets: Cats +5.5 (-110); UNDER 115.5

Qualifying Final Two – Tigers Narrow Favorites in Date with Brisbane

The Tigers aim for a fourth straight win in qualifying finals play as they take the Lions on Friday morning at the Gabba. Richmond remains pegged as narrow 3.5-point chalk despite posting dominating wins in each of their past six outings and surrendering an average of just 31 points over their past three.

The Lions ride a league-high seven-match win streak into the postseason but have been outclassed while losing three straight to the Lions, capped by an 82-41 defeat at Metricon Stadium back in Round 10. High scoring has marked Brisbane’s past two home dates, with the total going over 130 in each of those contests, and topping 120 in two of three meetings with Richmond.

Best Bets: Tigers -3.5 (-110); OVER 118.5 (-112)

Elimination Final One – Saints Host Bulldogs as Slim Underdogs

The St. Kilda Saints emerged as one of the surprise stories of the AFL season, compiling a 10-7-0 record to return to Finals Series action for the first time since 2011. The club struggled with consistency down the stretch, going 3-4-0 in their final seven outings, but maintained a steady defense, limiting opponents to 52 or fewer points in five of their final six outings.

THE. SAINTS. ARE. IN. THE. FINALS.

St Kilda has punched their ticket and put the "rudderless" GWS out of their misery | https://t.co/fFac4cOB3U | #AFLSaintsGiants pic.twitter.com/KfkPkK5hum

— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) September 18, 2020

The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the Finals Series with wins in their last three outings. And while they sport the lowest-ranked defense of ant playoff-bound club, Western tightened things up down the stretch, allowing fewer than 44 points per match in their final three contests.

Best Bets: Saints to win +112; UNDER 122.5 (-112)

Elimination Final Two – Eagles, Magpies Look to Regain Scoring Touch

Just two years removed from their last AFL Premiership title win, the Eagles ride a 3-1-0 run into the Finals Series but will be focused on kickstarting an offense that has failed to reach 50 points in two of their past three outings. The club has also been plagued by slow starts, scoring an average of less than 13 points in the first quarter in those contests, but have been dominant as the home club, winning outright in 10 straight.

Collingwood's quarantine restrictions have forced some staff members into campervans in their Perth hub. But the magpies insist confidence is sky high as they plot an elimination final upset against the Eagles. @_AMcCormack7 #7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/heXN9VlHjI

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) September 29, 2020

The Magpies offense has also been subject to streaky play, tallying 50 or fewer points in five of their past eight, a run that began with a crushing 111-45 loss to the Eagles at Optus Stadium back in Round 8. While they are winless in each of their past three against top-flight opponents, Collingwood has been steady performers on defense, allowing just 46.4 points per match over their past five outings.

Best Bets: Magpies +13.5 (-110); UNDER 109.5 (-112)