CPL 2018 Predictions

The fifth season of the Caribbean Premier League will kick start from August 4 and the month-long tournament will run until September 9. The tournament has returned with the same six franchises that featured in the CPL 2016 and the format of the competition will remain the same. The group stage will comprise of 30 matches and the knockout stage is set to have two qualifiers, an eliminator and the final. The CPL 2017 will be hosted by seven countries with four of its first five matches set to be played in the United States of America.

Favorites for the CPL 2017

Jamaica Tallawahs

Champions of the previous season, Jamaica Tallawahs will start the CPL 2017 as red-hot favorites. They are the most successful team of the tournament with two title wins against their name. The first of these wins came in the inaugural edition in 2013 and the second one was secured last year in 2016 where they recorded a convincing nine-wicket victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors in the finals. This year as well, the Tallawahs have come up with a strong-looking squad with the likes of Lendl Simmons, Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan and Kumar Sangakkara. The reigning champions have made it to the playoffs each time and they look set to go the distance again.

Betting odds: Jamaica Tallawahs are 5.9 with Betfair to win the Caribbean Premier League 2017.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

The finalists of the last edition are another strong contender for this year's Caribbean Premier League. Like Jamaica Tallawahs, they too have been very consistent in their performance and have appeared in the finals of the tournament three times out of four. Despite making it to the finals on three occasions, they are yet to get their hands on the trophy and there is a great chance of them getting their maiden title this time around. The Warriors pack a formidable squad, retaining Martin Guptill in addition to bringing in six new faces including the Afghanistani allrounder Rashid Khan and the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton of the West Indies. Guyana Amazon Warriors have never failed to reach the playoffs round and it seems they are very unlikely to be left out of the top four this time as well.

Betting odds: Guyana Amazon Warriors are 7.2 with Betfair to win the Caribbean Premier League 2017.

The Underdogs of CPL 2017

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

The team replaced Antigua Hawksbills and made its first appearance in the tournament in 2015. They have played only two seasons so far and have finished at the bottom of the points table on both occasions. They have been the weakest of all the teams with a very poor win/loss ratio - only six wins from a total of 20 matches. However, with Chris Gayle having made the switch from Jamaica Tallawahs to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the team will look to make amends and hope to turn things around in the CPL 2017. The talisman batsman was among the highest run-scorers last year and the Patriots will feel more optimistic under his leadership.

Betting odds: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are 4.8 with Betfair to win the Caribbean Premier League 2017.

St Lucia Stars

A fourth position is the best they have managed to achieve since the tournament's inception back in 2013. The first season was the most forgettable for the team as they finished sixth at the bottom of the league standings. The following two seasons did not bring them any joy either as they came fifth each time. However, the Stars will take confidence from their improved performance in the previous season where they broke into the top four for the first time, only to get knocked out by Trinbago Knight Riders in the eliminator. The team appears slightly well-rounded than before with the inclusion of New Zealanders Jesse Ryder and Mitchell McClenaghan, but they will still need to play their best game in order to present a strong challenge to the other teams.

Betting odds: St Lucia Stars are 4.8 with Betfair to win the Caribbean Premier League 2017.

CPL 2017 Betting Tips and Odds

Jamaica Tallawahs

Jamaica Tallawahs are the only team to have won the Caribbean Premier League two times. With 26 wins from 42 matches, they have a win percentage of 61.90 which is the highest among all the other teams. Betfair has the two-time champions at 5.9 while Bet365 is offering an even bigger price of 7.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

The Warriors topped the league standings in the previous season with seven wins from ten matches. They were the 'the team to beat' last year and will start this season as serious contenders for the title. Guyana Amazon Warriors are up at 7.2 with Betfair and as high as 8 with Bet365.

Barbados Tridents

They won the tournament in 2014 and came runners-up the very next season. The previous season was very disappointing for them as they finished fifth with just three wins from ten matches. Barbados Tridents are 3.55 with Betfair and 4 with Bet365.

Trinbago Knight Riders

The Knight Riders, after an ordinary first couple of seasons, stunned everyone by winning the tournament in 2015.  They won five and lost as many from the ten matches they played last year and they will look to replicate their performance of 2015. Trinbago Knight Riders are offering the least returns at 2.52 with Betfair. Bet365 has them up at 3.75.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

They have made a few tweaks in their squad for the CPL 2017 and will be looking to improve their record this season. Like the 2015 edition, the team could not lift itself from the bottom of the leaderboard as they managed to muster just two wins. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are 4.8 and 6 with Betfair and Bet365 respectively.

St Lucia Stars

The previous season was the most memorable for the Stars where they finished third on the points table with six wins and four losses. And with the likes of Darren Sammy, Mitchell McClenaghan and Marlon Samuels, they will be hoping for an even better performance this time. St Lucia Stars are 4.8 with Betfair and 6 with Bet365.

CPL 2017 Prediction: Who will win this season?

Guyana Amazon Warriors have never been able to lift the trophy despite their many appearances in the finals and they would want to leave no stone unturned this time around. Trinbago Knight Riders have shown quite an improvement since 2015 and they for sure won't be taken lightly by the other teams. Barbados Tridents, who faltered last time, will look to be their formidable self once again and they are one of the stronger contenders in the race for the title. However, when it comes to being consistent, no other side seems better than the Jamaica Tallawahs. Even though they have lost Chris Gayle to the Patriots, they still have enough ammunition in the side to overcome any opposition, be it at home or away. We thus predict the defending champs to claim their third title this year.

Final Verdict: Back Jamaica Tallawahs to win the Caribbean Premier League 2017 at 5.9 with Betfair and 7 with Bet365.