Profits are down, but spirits are high as THE MONEY MAN looks to bounce back from a tough weekend.

Well, I couldn’t pick my nose last week, as my banker (Blues) fell short by a single point, while the Bulls decided to play like Dr Jekyll instead of Mr Hyde. Such are the fine margins in rugby betting.

The good news is the week is over, the bad news is it ain’t getting any easier this week. The 6-0 Hurricanes host the 4-2 Stormers, the 2-4 Rebels play the 1-5 Reds, the 0-6 Blues visit the 5-2 Chiefs, the 4-2 Brumbies play host to the 2-4 Cheetahs, the 4-3 Sharks come up against the 3-3 Crusaders and finally, fresh off a 3-1 road show, the 3-4 Lions take on the 4-2 Bulls at Ellis Park.

I don’t have back-to-back bad weeks and here is what I think the handicaps should be. This is an exercise I do weekly before the bookies price up their odds. I then look for any discrepancies.

Hurricanes (-9.5) vs Stormers (+9.5)

Rebels (-5.5) vs Reds (+6.5)

Chiefs (-10.5) vs Blues (+10.5)

Brumbies (-13.5) vs Cheetahs (+13.5)

Sharks (-1.5) vs Crusaders (+1.5)

Lions (+2.5) vs Bulls (-2.5)

These are what I believe the spreads should be and most bookies including the one I use will have prices out tomorrow and I will start analysing from that time.

It should be another interesting week and please keep the comments coming – this is the week we get back on track.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix