The Gallagher Prem’s Derby Weekend concludes on Sunday with a mouth-watering showdown at the Twickenham Stoop, as Harlequins host rivals Saracens in the capital.
It has been a nightmare start to the season for Quins, with the Quarters sat rock-bottom of the Prem standings after the first three rounds.
Winless, with only two bonus points to show for their efforts, Quins already found themselves 10 points behind frontrunners Gloucester going into the Derby Weekend.
Taking on a Saracens side who will be licking their wounds following a narrow European Champions Cup defeat at Connacht at the weekend, Quins might well find themselves on the end of a Sarries backlash at The Stoop on Sunday.
Harlequins v Saracens Tips Summary
Best Bet - Saracens -6.5 handicap @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Lead After 20:00 - Saracens @ 4/5
Bet Builder - Saracens to win both halves, Highest Scoring Half - First Half & Match Winning Margin: Saracens by 13+ points @ 23/4
Harlequins v Saracens Prediction
Best Bet: Saracens -6.5 handicap @ 10/11
Winning two of their opening three games, while narrowly losing to Sale Sharks, it has been a solid start to the domestic season for Saracens.
Sarries’ success in this early stage of the campaign has been down to some solid defensive displays.
Conceding just 66 points, only early frontrunners Gloucester had conceded fewer points after the first three rounds of the Prem season.
Coming up against that Sarries’ defence on Sunday is a Harlequins side who have scored the fewest points in the competition so far this season, despite having the creative fly-half Marcus Smith in their ranks.
Scoring just 41 points in their opening three matches, Quins have not been able to get their attack, something they are famed for, going.
There has been talk for many seasons of making Quins more practical in their approach and toning down the sometimes risky, maverick, attacking rugby that has traditionally made them the entertainers of the English top flight.
However, scoring so few points and sitting rock bottom of the standings, the new approach does not appear to be working for Quins and Saracens are backed to claim the bragging rights and cover the handicap.
Alternative Bet: Lead After 20:00 - Saracens @ 4/5
Saracens have been making a good habit of making fast starts in the Prem this season and the visitors are backed to be leading at the 20-minute mark at The Stoop.
Scoring tries in the first and ninth minute in their impressive 40-38 win at Leicester Tigers last month, Saracens also scored in the fifth minute in their last home game against Bristol Bears.
Considering how Sarries have been hitting the ground running in games, the Men in Black are fancied to be leading at the quarter-way mark in this match.
Harlequins v Saracens Bet Builder Tip
Saracens to win both halves
Highest Scoring Half - First Half
Match Winning Margin: Saracens by 13+ points
Pays 23/4
Given how Saracens have been starting games in the Prem, backing the visitors to win both halves appeals in this three-fold Bet Builder.
As mentioned, Sarries have been putting teams on the back foot in the early stages of games and the first-half on Sunday is fancied to be the highest scoring, with the visitors expected to manage the match more if they hold a healthy lead in the second half.
Given how Quins have been struggling to score this season in the league, going for Saracens to win by 13 or more points boosts this Bet Builder to odds of 23/4.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Harlequins have lost all of their three Gallagher Prem games so far this season
No team scored fewer points than Harlequins’ 41 after the first three rounds of Prem fixtures
Saracens won two of their opening three games in the Prem, with only Gloucester conceding fewer points after the first three rounds
Sarries won 26-12 at StoneX Stadium the last time these sides met in the Prem back in May
Saracens have won three of their last five away games in the league against Quins
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
