Benetton vs Ospreys Prediction: Visitors’ chances are high despite huge odds

Benetton and Ospreys are scheduled to compete in this eighth round matchup of the United Rugby Championship at Stadio Comunale Monigo. The odds favor Benetton at home, positioning them as the likely winners, while Ospreys enter the match as underdogs.

Benetton secured their third victory in the last five matches last weekend with a close 22-24 win over Edinburgh on the road. In previous fixtures, they recorded surprising wins against Lions and Stormers with scores of 15-10 and 20-17, respectively, but also faced a defeat against Glasgow Warriors. Notably, Benetton battled to a draw with Munster in a 13-13 contest. With 18 points from 6 matches, Benetton currently holds the 7th spot in the league standings.

Ospreys returned to the winning column last weekend with a convincing 31-9 victory over Scarlets, putting an end to their consecutive losses. In the preceding defeats, Ospreys faced Glasgow Warriors and Dragons, with scores of 23-31 and 20-5, respectively. However, in their recent five matches, Ospreys secured wins against Sharks and Zebre. As per the league standings, Ospreys currently occupy the 9th spot with a total of 15 points.

Ospreys are not playing particularly poorly, and Benetton has not been a particularly powerful team that can get away with it even when they are playing at home. Therefore, in what may be a surprising outcome, I am fairly confident that the visiting Ospreys have what it takes to win here; yet, in order to proceed with caution, I need to see them cover the spread.