Thursday Night Rugby League

By The Man

Featherstone Rovers v Toulouse Olympique



6th May 19:30 GMT
Sky Sports 4 (19:30-21:30)

Our latest Championship Thursday night Sky offering sees the leaders Featherstone pitched against the French. As expected the handicap lines on offer are on the high side but I contend that they are a touch too high.

It is true that Featherstone have beaten all before them on the march to the top of the division and the last time I opposed them I was on the wrong end of a hammering against Keighley. However, Toulouse are a far tougher outfit than Keighley. The starts on offer by the bookmakers that day was in the mid twenties and a lot of money went Featherstone's way. I feel they are now being overly cautious after that painful experience but hopefully there is a chance to profit in the opposite direction.

The start today is in the mid thirties and it is true that Featherstone are capable of running up a big score. However, last time on their travels Toulouse had a fantastic away victory at Widnes whilst Featherstone needed a late drop goal to overcome the same opponents last weekend. That form-line suggests there is nothing between the teams though obviously we can't just take those games in isolation. Toulouse backed that Widnes win up with a defeat of Batley and last season they came away from Featherstone with a win.

So there are reasons to suggest that Toulouse can be competitive. The Widnes game will have taken some juice out of the Featherstone players as it was a bruiser and they may not hit their straps. I fully accept that my betting slip could be consigned to the dustbin early doors if Featherstone fire but I've got to trust my judgement and tissue making and hopefully I will be collecting more times than not. I had Featherstone by 26pts.
 
Pick:  Sell Featherstone -34.5 handicap index at 16.5 for 0.3pts with Sporting Index (25pts if they beat handicap, 10pts if they win but don't cover and 0pts if they don't win)

To add to this bet I have spotted another spread price that I like the look of. I can see limited downside in the sell of Featherstone pts @ 51 with sporting index. There is a very high potential of a win and the downside looks limited to me
 
Pick: Sell Featherstone Points for 0.3pts @ 50pts with Sporting Index
 
The Man