I know that title may sound confusing, however, we have a weekend of big football games, but it’s not real Football. There’s rugby union, which the Kiwis call football; there’s rugby league, which the Aussies call football; and there’s gridiron, which the Americans call football. Don’t worry, there’s some real football still being played, and we’ll review the weekend’s matches in tomorrow’s post. Let’s look at the other codes of football to see if we can find any winners.

When it comes to rugby union, you can forget Sunday’s World Cup final. The Kiwis play France in what will most likely be a one-sided game. New Zealand are so short in betting you can’t back them. In fact, PaddyPower, well known for making rash judgements, is already paying out on those who backed the Kiwis to win. I know these early payout backfired on him several seasons ago when he paid out on Stoke – they won their last three games and avoided relegation – a costly error for PaddyPower. We’re tipping the Kiwis to win, but we’re not as confident as Paddy.

While the Kiwis do look to be shoe-ins for the final, the battle for third and fourth is played today between Australia and Wales. While bookmakers are favouring Australia, I wouldn’t wipe Wales from contention. The Aussies have been demoralized, and they are suffering through injuries. Wales will do it tough, but they could still steal a victory. Wales are at 7/5 so bookies are treating the game with caution. Australia are favourites at 8/11. We’re tipping Australia, but this could be a very close game.

In rugby league, England take on France in what everyone hopes will be a reversal of the England v France game in the rugby union World Cup – France knocked England out. Bookmakers are very confident about England’s chances, making them 1/100 to win. France are 20/1 and drifting. If you like France’s chances, head to a betting exchange and lay England at 1/100 – you’ll get 100/1.

In American football, the game invades English soil this weekend – more importantly, they invade Wembley Stadium for the clash between Tampa Bay and Chicago. Bookmakers have Tampa at 11/10 narrowly behind Chicago at 13/15. This is a novel event for most Londoners, however, it’d dead serious for fans in the U.S. We’re tipping Tampa, they are slightly better value, and away from the U.S., home ground and other advantages are all shot.

Three codes of football to bet on this weekend, and none of them real football. Come back tomorrow for that.