Essendon vs Western Bulldogs Prediction

Doggies To Bring Down The Bombers This Friday Night

Home • $11.00

Away • $1.04

Friday night • Marvel Stadium • Light rain (0.05mm)

Looking at this Round 20 Friday night clash between Essendon and Western Bulldogs, I’ve got to say – the market’s got this one, way too lopsided.

After diving into the numbers, there’s some serious value hiding in plain sight here.

KRUZEY’S TIPS

I’ll be honest, when I first saw Essendon at $11.00, my instinct was to run a mile. But after crunching these numbers – five straight losses averaging just 57 points per game, Western Bulldogs’ own form wobbles, this line feels massively inflated.

The Bombers getting 52.5 points start at Marvel Stadium? That’s the play that caught my analytical eye.

BEST BET

LINE BETTING

Essendon +52.5

$1.90

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VALUE BET

Under 178.5 Total Points

$1.88

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SMART HEDGE

Western Bulldogs 1-39

$3.25

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All odds from Unibet, correct at time of posting

KRUZEY MODEL VS MARKET

Here’s where it gets interesting. My model’s screaming value on the underdog, and when the numbers disagree this strongly with the bookies, I tend to listen. The market’s giving Essendon virtually no chance, but our data suggests they’re being massively underrated.

Our Data Says: Western Bulldogs 97, Essendon 71 (based on season averages adjusted for recent form)

That gives Western Bulldogs a 62.3% win chance, Essendon 37.7%

Bookmakers have Western Bulldogs at $1.04 (96.2% implied) vs Essendon at $11.00 (9.1% implied)

The Market Edge: Essendon offers extraordinary value – our 37.7% vs market’s 9.1% implied chance. That’s a staggering 28.6% difference. While I’m not suggesting backing them outright at those odds, the line bet becomes incredibly attractive.

Our Prediction

WBD 97 | ESS 71

Win Probability

WBD 62.3% | ESS 37.7%

Market Edge

28.6%

on Essendon

FORM LINE

Look, I won’t sugarcoat it – Essendon’s form is diabolical.

Five straight losses, averaging just 57 points while conceding 104. They’ve been particularly woeful in attack, kicking just 7.14 against GWS and 4.13 against Richmond. That’s not a typo – four goals in an entire game.

The Bulldogs aren’t exactly flying either though.

They’ve dropped their last two, going down to Brisbane by 10 and Adelaide by 11. But here’s the kicker – they’re still averaging 15.6 goals per game for the season, and in their wins, they’ve been putting teams to the sword (134 against North Melbourne, 135 against Richmond).

Essendon Bombers

LLLLL

Five straight losses, averaging just 57 points while conceding 104.
Kicked just 7.14 against GWS and 4.13 against Richmond.

Western Bulldogs

LLWWW

They’ve dropped their last two, going down to Brisbane by 10 and Adelaide by 11.
Still averaging 15.6 goals per game with big wins of 134 vs North Melbourne and 135 vs Richmond.

KEY STATS

The statistical gulf between these sides is stark, but it’s the specifics that matter for our bets.

Western Bulldogs averaging 15.6 goals per game to Essendon’s 9.9 – that’s a 36-point differential right there. The Dogs also dominate territory (56.1 inside-50s to 47.5) and clearances (41 to 35.4).

What really catches my eye for the under though? Essendon’s recent scoring – 56, 37, 74, 63, 56 in their last five.

That’s an average of just 57.2 points. Even if the Bulldogs hit their season average of 94 points, we’re looking at around 151 total points. That’s 27.5 points under the total.

GOALS PER GAME

Western
15.6

Essendon
9.9

INSIDE-50S

Western
56.1

Essendon
47.5

CLEARANCES

Western
41

Essendon
35.4

SELECTION WATCH

Team selections yet to be announced – we’ll update our analysis once the lineups drop.

THE FINAL WORD

Friday night at Marvel Stadium shapes up as a classic case of the market overreacting to recent form. Yes, Essendon have been terrible – no arguments there. But $11.00? That implies they’ve got less than a 10% chance of winning.

In the AFL, with very light rain forecast (0.05mm) and at their home venue, that’s simply too short.

My main play remains Essendon with the 52.5 points start at $1.90. It’s a huge buffer against a Bulldogs side that’s won their recent games by big margins but lost the close ones.

With light rain about and Essendon’s defensive mindset in recent weeks, this could be much tighter than the market suggests.

LOCK IT IN: Essendon +52.5 @ $1.90

My main play remains Essendon with the 52.5 points start at $1.90.

BET NOW