Canberra may have beaten the Melbourne Storm on their own patch in each of the last two seasons but the punters are giving the Raiders little chance of pulling off a third straight miracle, as the NRL leaders aim for their 16th straight win on Saturday.
The Storm are closing in on the all-time NRL record of 19 straight wins - set by Eastern Suburbs (now the Sydney Roosters) in 1975.
However the Raiders have been a bogey team for the defending NRL premiers in recent times, not only winning in Melbourne in each of the past two seasons but also smashing the Storm 40-8 in a trial game in Geelong in February.
But unfortunately for the Raiders since the regular season began their best form has been at home where they have beaten the Dragons, Roosters and Warriors while on the road they have lost all four encounters against the Panthers, Titans, Knights and Cowboys.
That is hardly the sort of form to inspire confidence in the Raiders against the Storm, even though Melbourne only laboured when beating the New Zealand Warriors 28-18 on Anzac Day.
But with a nine day break leading into Saturday's home game, the Storm have been heavily backed to gain revenge on the Raiders.
At Betfair the money is running nine to one in favour of the Storm, who are $1.15 in head-to-head betting compared to $6.80 for the Raiders.
And at sportsbet.com.au the money is even more pronounced - 12 to one - in favour of the Storm, who are shorter at $1.14 while the Raiders have eased from $4.80 to $6.
The line at sportsbet.com.au has been set at $1.92 with the Raiders getting a 15.5 point start - which looks a good bet considering their recent fine record in Melbourne.
At Betfair you can back the Raiders with a 7.5 point start at $3.10 while at Centrebet the Raiders are $2.10 with a 13.5 point start.
However despite the Raiders' recent record in Melbourne, the Storm are much shorter to win by 13 points plus at Betfair at $1.51 than they are to win by 1-12 points at $3.35.
In the other game on Saturday, there has been little support for Ricky Stuart's struggling Parramatta at home to North Queensland following the Eels disastrous 44-12 loss to the bottom-placed Penrith last Monday night.
After starting the season with high hopes under the former New South Wales Origin coach, the Eels suddenly look no better than the team which last year finished on the bottom for the first time since 1972.
The one consolation for the Eels is this game is at home - where their two wins this season have come against the Warriors and Cronulla - but they are still the $3.15 outsiders against the eight-placed Cowboys at $1.41 with Betfair.
But with the Cowboys having lost their past five matches at Parramatta, dating back to 2007, the Eels look value at the line with a 7.5 points start at odds of $1.90 at the TAB and $1.92 at sportsbet.com.au and Betfair.
*Note prices subject to change
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