NRL Round 3 Action
The Brisbane Broncos have exceeded expectations with two wins, which is why the sportsbook has them favored to beat the St George Illawarra Dragons with ease.
NRL lines have the points spread at 12½, which is a significant line for an NRL game. It’s beyond two converted tries, so that’s what faces the visitors on Saturday.
Dragons Win Opener
The Dragons had a bye in the opening week before smoking the Gold Coast Titans 32-18 last week, which was a tidy effort.
We were surprised by the victory, especially from a team lacking confidence. However, they should be able to derive plenty of confidence from the 14-point win.
Now, they face the Broncos and get +12½ points. It’s a big line considering their Round 1 performance, so bettors could find value with sport betting markets.
They also defeated the Broncos in their most recent meeting. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that win, but it’s another confidence boost for the visitors, who enter one of the most daunting stadiums in the NRL.
With the likes of Ben Hunt and Moses Mbye in the squad, the Dragons could push the Broncos to their limits.
Having rookie Toby Couchman coming off the bench has also given them a boost. He had a great NRL debut and could set the crowd alight.
Broncos Riding Wave
We loved the pre-season odds for the Broncos and were even happier after their start to the year.
They are unbeaten after beating the Penrith Panthers 13-12 in a big upset, before beating the North Queensland Cowboys 28-16 last week. Those are two of the biggest scalps in the NRL, so they are full of confidence and that’s evident with NRL news.
Reece Walsh was incredible last week, and he’s the spark they have needed.
“It was stunning,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said of Walsh’s Broncos debut. “They are in for a big season, the Broncos, and what a purchase this is going to be.
“(Walsh is) just forever looking for an opportunity, and if he’s doing that and he’s minimising his mistakes in the game, he’s going to be very dangerous.”
Online gambling markets are giving the Broncos a lot of respect, but covering the line could prove difficult.
Broncos vs Dragons Head-to-Head
The Broncos have a 24-20 advantage over the Dragons but were beaten 22-12 in the most recent meeting.
However, they won their last home game against the Dragons 32-18 last year.
Broncos vs Dragons Game Information
- Game: Dragons (1-0) vs Broncos (2-0)
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 18, 4:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD
- Broncos vs Dragons Live Stream: RugbyPass
Broncos vs Dragons Betting Lines
Broncos vs Dragons Picks and Prediction
The Broncos are the better team, but we can’t take them to cover the big spread.
Our NRL picks have the Dragons keeping it close and making a game of it on Saturday. It could be a thriller that comes down to the final 10 minutes.
St George is listed at +300 in our Vegas NRL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Dragons, there’s a chance to win $300. Brisbane is -500, offering a chance to win $20 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives St George a 25.00% chance to win, with the Broncos at 83.33%.
