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Aussie Rules Football Round 7 Odds & Predictions: Surging Cats, Bombers Pegged as Underdogs in Key Matchups

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in News

Updated Mar 24, 2021 · 10:08 AM PDT

The Richmond Tigers
The Richmond Tigers are favored to claim their third Premiership flag in four years when they take on the Geelong Cats on Saturday in this year's AFL Grand Finals. Photo by DustyNail-wikipedia.
  • Four points separating top four clubs on AFL ladder entering Round 7
  • Winners in three straight, Geelong Cats battle Collingwood as 2.5-point underdogs, while the surging Essendon Bombers host the Western Bulldogs as 1-point underdogs
  • Read on to get all the odds and insight into the key matchups on the AFL Round 7 schedule

It remains a tight four-way race atop the AFL ladder as the 2020 campaign enters Round 7, with just four points separating the top four clubs. The Port Adelaide Power will be aiming to maintain their tenuous grasp on first place as they travel to Brisbane to battle to the temporarily relocated Carlton Blues.

The second-place Geelong Cats will be looking to keep pace with Port Adelaide by extending the league’s longest win streak to four matches as they play host to the rejuvenated Collingwood Magpies in their temporary home at Optus Stadium in Perth. The surprising Essendon Bombers vie for their fifth win in six outings as they begin a brief residency on the Gold Coast, where they will battle the Western Bulldogs on Friday morning.

Here’s a look at all the odds for AFL Round 7, and best bets in these three key contests.

Aussie Rules Round 7 Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Geelong Cats +2.5 (-115) -105 O 99.5 (-115)
Collingwood Magpies -2.5 (-115) -130 U 99.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Essendon Bombers +1.0 (-115) -115 O 125.5 (-115)
Western Bulldogs -1.0 (-115) -120 U 125.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Greater Western Sydney Giants -3.5 (-115) -145 O 129.5 (-115)
Brisbane Lions +3.5 (-120) +105 U 129.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Sydney Swans +3.0 (-115) +105 O 123.5 (-115)
Gold Coast Suns -3.5 (-115) -145 U 123.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Richmond Tigers -10.0 (-115) -190 O 124.5 (-115)
North Melbourne Kangaroos +10.0 (-115) +140 U 124.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Carlton Blues +14.5 (-115) +180 O 132.5 (-115)
Port Adelaide Power -14.5 (-120) -250 U 132.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Hawthorn Hawks -5.5 (-115) -145 O 127.5 (-115)
Melbourne Demons +5.5 (-115) +105 U 127.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Fremantle Dockers +17.5 (-115) +205 O 123.5 (-115)
West Coast Eagles -17.5 (-120) -305 U 123.5 (-115)
Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
Adelaide Crows +18.5 (-120) +210 n/a
St. Kilda Saints -18.5 (-115) -300 n/a

Odds taken July 15

Streaking Cats Face Tough Test vs Magpies

The Geelong Cats continued to roll last week with a decisive 73-46 win over the upstart Brisbane Lions, and are poised to make it four in a row when they host the Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium on Thursday morning. However, the Cats’ recent surge has come at a cost, with the club losing midfielders Mitch Duncan and Quinton Narkle to injury.

With the Cats set to make Queensland their home for the rest of the season due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Melbourne area, it remains to be seen whether they can maintain the form that has earned them wins in six of eight outings on home turf. The club showed no signs of slowing down while knocking off Brisbane in a home date at Sydney last week, but have fallen to defeat in their past two home dates with Collingwood.

Those circumstances have contributed to the Magpies’ climb to narrow 2.5-point road favorites in Thursday’s contest. Collingwood’s ferocious defense was back on full display last week as they rebounded from a Round 5 loss to Essendon by knocking off the Hawthorn Hawks 59-27. The club has now surrendered the fewest overall points in the AFL this season, and are well positioned to end Geelong’s surge in what promises to be a low-scoring affair.

Picks: Collingwood Magpies -2.5 (-115); UNDER 99.5 (-115)

Can Blues Keep it Close vs Port Adelaide?

The Port Adelaide Power reclaimed sole possession of top spot on the AFL ladder in impressive fashion last week, topping the Greater Western Sydney Giants 63-46 in a contest played on the Gold Coast. The league leaders will aim to maintain that momentum as they battle the Carlton Blues as heavy 14.5-point chalk in a Saturday clash at the Gabba.

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Apart from their 85-48 loss in Brisbane two weeks ago, the Power have been dominant on defense, limiting opponents to an average of just 38.4 points per match over their five victories. However, Port Adelaide has struggled at times to contain the Blues offense, surrendering over 70 points per match over their four most recent meetings.

The Blues return to action on a high after establishing a season-high in scoring in last week’s 103-51 rout of the Western Bulldogs. That scoring explosion is more of an exception than the rule. Carlton were held to 55 or fewer points in three of their previous four outings, and are likely to revert back to their more familiar form against the stingy Power. However, with three of their six outings this season getting settled by a single score, look for the Blues stay within striking distance of Port Adelaide.

Picks: Carlton Blues +14.5 (-115); UNDER 132.5 (-115)

Essendon Pegged as Attractive Underdogs

After stumbling to just one win in their final five matches of 2019, the Essendon Bombers have emerged as one of the surprises of the 2020 AFL campaign, going 4-1-0 in their first five outings to stay within a victory of the top of the table. Look for the Bombers to continue that trend in Saturday’s date with the Western Bulldogs at their temporary home at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium, while pegged as narrow 1-point underdogs.

Essendon have been an unsung story this season while joining the AFL’s best with the third least points allowed and the third fewest points surrendered from inside 50. And while the argument can be made that the Bombers have racked up wins against inferior opposition, they raised eyebrows with an impressive 63-48 win over the Magpies at the NCG just two weeks ago. However, the club will have to make do without midfielder Dylan Shiel, who will miss this weekend’s matchup after being handed a two-game ban for a high hit in last week’s win.

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Licking their wounds after last week’s crushing loss to Carlton, the Bulldogs have work to do to overcome recent inconsistency that has resulted in three outings with 51 or fewer points scored. The club has also been shaky on the road, with their lone win in their past four outings coming against the bottom-feeding Sydney Swans.

Picks: Essendon Bombers +1.0 (-115); UNDER 125.5 (-115)

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