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Saracens head Exeter Chiefs in Premiership betting
By Paul Smith
Despite their one-season hiatus in the Championship, Saracens have been installed as bookies’ favourites to immediately regain the Gallagher Premiership title.
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Mark McCall’s team, who are available at a best price of 9/4 with Betway, are generally considered a 2/1 shot to top the pile at Twickenham next spring.
Following their salary cap breach, the ‘Men in Black’ have offloaded some big-name players including Will Skelton, Liam Williams, George Kruis and Ben Spencer.
They also face being without Lions stars Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Elliot Daly and Owen Farrell until their mandatory rest periods finish in mid-October.
But despite this – and the inevitability that their squad will be depleted during the autumn internationals and Six Nations – Mark McCall’s team are just ahead of the Exeter Chiefs at the head of the market.
Last season’s Premiership runners-up are available at 5/2 in a number of places – although Betway make Rob Baxter’s team joint favourites with Sarries.
The markets are also viewing Harlequins’ 2020/21 title win with some scepticism since they are no higher than fifth favourites in most books.
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Bet 365 have the defending champions priced as high as 14/1 to retain their crown.
This means beaten semi-finalists Bristol Bears (5/1) and Sale Sharks (13/2) are both available at a considerably shorter price.
Leicester’s progress to sixth place under new boss Steve Borthwick has cut little ice with the market makers who price the Tigers between 18 and 25/1 to lift the trophy.
The full market is shown below:
| Saracens | 2/1 |
| Exeter | 5/2 |
| Bristol | 9/2 |
| Sale | 13/2 |
| Harlequins | 14/1 |
| Wasps | 20/1 |
| Leicester | 20/1 |
| Northampton | 20/1 |
| Bath | 25/1 |
| Gloucester | 50/1 |
| London Irish | 100/1 |
| Newcastle | 100/1 |
| Worcester | 100/1 |
