<p>Australia’s annual Big Bash League is a yearly highlight for cricket fans and punters alike.</p> <p>As with most T20 tournaments, its action packed, features some of the world’s biggest stars and at times is rather unpredictable.</p> <p>That’s why we are providing everyone with our BBL predictions and betting tips throughout this season, including every finals match.</p> <p>Speaking of the finals, we’ve officially arrived at the pointy end of BBL14. First up we’ve got the Qualifier between this year’s top two sides, the Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Sixers.</p> <p>The winner of this one secures passage straight into the big dance, while the loser gets to live to fight another day and finds themselves in the Challenger, fighting for the other spot in the decider.</p> <p>The other two sides taking part in the Big Bash Finals this year are the Sydney Thunder and the Melbourne Stars.</p> <p>We’ll be bidding fare thee well to one of them on Wednesday night when they do battle in the Knockout, with the winner moving on to the Challenger.</p> <p>Need a tip for your next Big Bash Finals<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/what-is-a-multi-bet"> multi</a>? How about one to share amongst your <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-use-bet-with-mates">friendship group</a> to make you look like some sort of cricketing genius? Whatever the reason, find one below with our BBL Finals predictions and betting tips.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Tuesday, January 21, 7:30pm AEDT – Bellerive Oval</strong></em></p>

<p>Aside from the Final itself, this match – the Qualifier, is often the best of the season. It should come as no surprise really, when the top two teams go at it, there’s guaranteed to be fireworks.</p> <p>Despite being upset by the Stars in their final regular season match, the Hurricanes still finished top of the pops and as a result will have the home ground advantage here.</p> <p>While the Sixers last official game of the season was abandoned due to wild weather, they won their last full game, ending the Adelaide Strikers season in the process.</p> <p>Steve Smith top scored once again for the Sixers in that one, finishing on an unbeaten 52.</p> <p>Unfortunately for the Sydneysiders, there will be no chance of a repeat performance here, as Smith is on international duty with the Test side.</p> <p>No Smith, no party? Not necessarily. The Hurricanes were uncharacteristically poor in their 40-run loss to the Stars last time out, particularly with the bat.</p> <p>If not for Mitchell Owen’s 38, the top order of Jewell, Wakim and McDermott would have combined for a measly seven runs.</p> <p>The Sixers have shown they’ve been able to get it done most of the season without the services of Smith and will look to lean on players like Moises Henriques and Ben Dwarshuis.</p> <p>They’re actually the slight underdogs in the H2H odds here too, so there is value to be had backing them. Playing down in Tassie against the top team won’t be easy, but after the Hurricanes most recent showing, we are hesitant to back them here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong>Sydney Sixers.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>SGM – Sixers to win, both teams to score 160+ runs and Henriques top Sydney runs scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, January 22, 7:30pm AEDT – ENGIE Stadium</strong></em></p>

<p>What a story we have here. Five losses to start the season, five wins to finish it. Ladies and gentlemen, the Melbourne Stars.</p> <p>Seemingly out of nowhere, the Stars started shining bright and wiping all in their way and they carved out an unlikely path to the finals.</p> <p>The return of lethal paceman Mark Steketee to their lineup is a large reason for their recent uptick in form.</p> <p>After fighting his way back from the BBL wilderness, Steketee has accumulative figures of 12/55 in his last three games.</p> <p>He also bowled 5/17 against local rivals the Renegades a few games back, which are the best figures of BBL14 to date.</p> <p>Add to this Glenn Maxwell’s form, which has seen him go simply ballistic with the bat and the Stars are in pole position to do some serious damage this finals’ series.</p> <p>Riding a tsunami of momentum, they’re simply impossible not to pick at the moment and we’re backing them to go six from six and rain on the Thunder’s parade here.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction: </strong>Melbourne Stars.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Win match/top team runs scorer double – Stars/Maxwell.</p>