What is rugby handicap betting?
When it comes to handicap betting, that means the team that has a lower rating gets a virtual advantage. The role of a handicap bet is to help ensure the playing field is leveled. What that means is the team that’s better than their opposition will receive a handicap. The bet you’re placing will have a handicap, so the team that’s known to be better not only do they have to win the match and also accumulate a certain number of points that were set as a handicap.
The idea of having a system to level things out is very helpful, and it certainly adds a better way for you to win even if you’re not betting on the favorites. That’s because the favorites will start behind at the beginning of the match, with a number of points selected by the bookie. The system does work very well, and it certainly offers a more comprehensive way of betting without picking just a single side.
Is it a good idea to opt for handicap bets?
In many ways, rugby handicap betting can offer a unique way to bet, because you’re not just focusing on who wins. Instead, the playing field is leveled. And even if the favorites win, you can still lose your bet on them if they didn’t get enough points to surpass the starting handicap. It’s a very distinctive and powerful betting experience, and it’s one of those unique experiences that set you apart more than expected.
However, that doesn’t mean betting on the weaker team that starts with an advantage is always going to give you the best results. You truly need to study the chances, see exactly how this affects the bet, and then figure out if the team starting with a disadvantage might actually surpass even those challenging odds and still win the game.
How does rugby handicap betting work in practice?
A good example would be the New Zealand and Namibia Rugby World Cup match from 2023. For that event, there was a -73 handicap for New Zealand, so that means Namibia ended up getting 73 points as a starting advantage. By comparison, if you were backing the all blacks without any handicap, the odds were 1/500. But here you had (-73) 10/11 for New Zealand, in case of a win the chances were (-73) 33/1, and if Namibia won, the chances were (+73) 10/11.
The example clearly show how much different things are when you add handicap betting into the mix for any game of rugby. The oddsmakers do a lot of research though, and even if 73 points might seem like a huge disadvantage, that still means the favorite can still have good chances of winning. And that’s why we said that the team at a disadvantage won’t always be the winner with handicap betting. Yes, sometimes that can happen, even if the favorites win, you might still win by betting on the team that loses. However, you always want to study every match and perform your due diligence, to ensure you know exactly what you are getting into.
What handicap betting markets are available for rugby matches?
The important thing to note is that you can opt for a variety of handicap betting options. These include:
- Handicap accumulators appear when you combine multiple handicap bets into a single accumulator. In this case, the outcome of multiple matches is predicted with the handicap being applied.
- Margin of victory handicap betting usually involves the idea of predicting the victory margin and the winning team. You’ll notice that bookmakers will offer different margin options, which does make the betting experience more engaging.
- Asian handicap bets in rugby appear when the draw is eliminated as an outcome. These handicaps will always end in .5, so they are not using fixed numbers. It’s a very different market because you just have 2 options instead of 3.
- Half time handicap is also an interesting option because you focus on the half time score and not the end. You need to predict which team will lead at half time, with the handicap applied to the score at that time.
- Alternative handicap betting can be an option because bookmakers will allow bettors to choose the handicap they are ok with. Instead of having just a single handicap, you can actually select the one that’s better for you.
Things to consider when engaging in rugby handicap betting
If you’re serious about handicap betting, it’s very important to perform your due diligence. Studying the teams and their previous track record can help prevent a lot of potential issues. Additionally, look at the replacement bench, because the favorites might run the bench early. Using the handicap to predict the winning margin is an excellent idea as well.
And then, we also have to think about seeking value in competitors that have less exposure and popularity. There are many times when a team without as much popularity can generate a major surprise.
Conclusion
Handicap betting offers an excellent way for you to bet on the teams you want, while also eliminating some of the risks. Of course, betting on rugby will always come with its inherent risks. But unlike other types of bets, handicap betting tries to level the playing field. You can still bet on the team that might lose, if you think the favorites won’t score enough points to surpass the handicap. It’s certainly one of the most interesting betting options, because it adds an extra layer of challenge. That’s why it’s a great idea to try out handicap betting for rugby matches, if you have the opportunity!
