The latest Goodforthegame newsletter penned by @BrentGraham with best bets for the weekend 9th to 11th October including the United Rugby Championship
Connacht got me off to the perfect start last weekend, but unfortunately it was all downhill from there. The overs play in the Lions game was the most costly, as I had a number of multiples ending on it.
Watching the Lions miss five conversions in a row was heartbreaking stuff, and I just knew it was going to cost me the bet.
On we march, and there is another great weekend of rugby ahead. We have Round 3 of the URC, including two South African derbies, as well as the big Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland tomorrow morning.
New Zealand are double-digit favourites, but the money has been coming for Australia.
Click here for the Bledisloe Preview
Click here for the URC Blog which will be updated on Saturday morning
THE HANDICAP
I was joined by the Oracle on last night’s edition of The Handicap to discuss the Bledisloe Cup and the URC.
Below are shortcuts to some of the key games:
Click here to jump to New Zealand v Australia.
Click here to jump to Bulls v Lions.
Click here to jump to Stormers v Sharks.
WEEKEND PLAYS
Got to have a Friday night interest!
Friday nights have been good to us of late, and I’m once again looking towards Connacht.
I backed them at +9.5 yesterday, and that handicap has since shortened to +7.5. I give them a genuine chance of winning the game, and with most of my interest this weekend likely to come on Saturday, I’m going to throw some smaller change at the outright result for a Friday interest.
Bet: 1 unit (1–5), Connacht to win at 2.90/1 with Betxchange
Can Aussies end All Blacks 53 game streak?
It has been interesting to watch the Bledisloe Cup betting this week. New Zealand were initially backed from -13.5 to -14.5, but the line moved to Australia +12.5 after the teams were announced and is currently sitting at +11.5. The Australians are starting to believe.
I’ve already had a little bit on Australia to win the game at just over 4/1. That was more of an interest bet, although I’ll also be including them in a speculative double further down the page.
The two bets I like tomorrow are Australia on the plus against New Zealand and the Lions to give the Bulls a big game at Loftus.
Oracle was shouting, “The bookies have the wrong favourite!” I’m not convinced of that, but I priced the game at Bulls -5.5, so I’m certainly seeing some value in the Lions at the current handicap.
I’m going to take two doubles: one on the handicaps and another on the two teams to win outright.
Handicap double
Australia +11.5 at 19/20
Lions +10.5 at 17/20
Bet: 2 units (1–5), the handicap double with Betxchange
Australia and Lions win double
Australia to win at 4/1
Lions to win at 3/1
Bet: 0.5 units (1–5), Australia and Lions to win at 20/1 with World Sports Betting
Weekend rugby accumulator at 12.58/1
Under 58.5 points in New Zealand v Australia at 10/11
Stormers -8.5 at 19/20
Saracens -7.5 at 0.87/1 – following The Admiral on this one
Ulster -4.5 at 19/20
Bet: 0.5 units (1–5), the accumulator at 12.58/1 with World Sports Betting
The Lions +10.5 is, at this point, my best bet of the weekend. However, I’m waiting for the points lines in that game, which will only be available tomorrow morning, and my final thoughts will be posted in the blog.
Rest assured, though, that if Australia let me down tomorrow morning, I’ll be climbing into the Lions game in no uncertain terms.
Other highlights on Goodforthegame
Kimi Antonelli appears to have a firm grip on the Formula One Drivers’ Championship, but there is still plenty to play for in the minor placings. This weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix preview is powered by World Sports Betting.
English Premier League action returns after a break, and Chris takes a look at Sunday’s matches including the top of the table clash between Liverpool and Man City.
The MTN8 final takes place in Durban on Saturday, with Pirates and Sundowns going head-to-head in what is surely a battle between the top two teams in the country. Click here for Chris’s preview.
That’s all from me for this week.
Be gentle with the bookies!
BG