Anyone for live games?

We are still short of live sport here in South Africa but sports punters can take heart that a lot of leagues around the world are getting going again.

The EPL is on the verge of starting and that will come as a relief to Liverpool fans, who can bank on claiming that first title in 30 years.

We don’t have to wait until the EPL kicks off for a bet, though, as New Zealand Super Rugby starts this weekend with two matches.

Even more exciting and great news for New Zealanders is that spectators will be allowed in the grounds as the country appears to be totally in control of the Covid-19 situation.

Saturday’s game pits the Highlanders against the Chiefs and the Chiefs are firm favourites at (-9.5) points, despite playing away from home. My bet for the weekend comes in the second game, though, where the well-backed Blues have shortened from 7/10 to 6/10 to beat the Hurricanes at home.

All the talk this past week has been of Dan Carter joining up with Beauden Barrett at the Blues, but I like the look of the rest of their squad as well and the Hurricanes could be there for the taking.

Enjoy the rugby and, hopefully, we will have some South African teams in action before too long.

More good news is that the PGA Tour returns this week with the Charles Schwab Classic in which Rory Mcilroy lines up as a favourite at 15/2.

One value bet I am going to throw out is a 200/1 shot on Mackenzie Hughes, who finished in the top 10 last year and hit some form just before the PGA Tour halted for the pandemic.

There is also plenty of South African interest in this event and looking at the top South African betting, Louis Oosthuizen is 18/10 with Christiaan Bezuidenhout 28/10. Branden Grace is 9/2 and my personal fancy, Erik van Rooyen is also trading at 9/2. Dylan Frittelli is 13/2 and a man I haven’t heard of in a long while, David Frost, is 33/1.

Brent Graham is a sports betting blogger at

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