Sky Bet's Jordan Fiddes tells us where the smart money will be going on this weekend's action
Sky Bet's Jordan Fiddes predicts an upset in this weekend's Challenge Cup fixtures
The Challenge Cup Final of 1998 will go down as the biggest shock ever to hit British Rugby League and this Friday, that same side could cause another upset against Super League opposition.
Lying top of the Championship, Sheffield Eagles will be feeling confident ahead of their Challenge Cup Quarter Final fixture with the London Broncos.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides in the Cup which could work in the Championship side's favour.
Their only ever encounter came in a Super League game in 1999 which the Eagles edged 20-16, however much has changed since then.
There was the ill-fated merger with Huddersfield for Sheffield and numerous name changes for London and, in 2013, both sides have contrasting form in their respective divisions.
The Broncos have won just one game in seven and lie bottom of the Super League with only three wins all season.
Sheffield, however, are riding high in the division below and have won 16 of their 18 games this season.
With a
+14 handicap - cut from
+16 - in the Eagles favour, the Sky Bet punters have been rubbing their hands and expecting an upset - or a close encounter at least.
A Jamie Soward inspired Broncos may have other ideas, however, as the former State of Origin star has scored 22 points in two games already and is
6/4 to score a try on Friday night.
The South Yorkshire outfit have not lost by a margin of more than 14 points in 2013 - albeit against Championship opposition - but their coach and former captain Mark Aston knows all about upsets having led the side to that unforgettable day in 1998.
A Giant leap
In contrast to this, holders Warrington take on Super League's form side in the pick of the Quarter Finals on Sunday afternoon.
The Wolves defeated Leeds 35-18 in last year's Final at Wembley and were the early favourites to repeat that feat in 2013.
However, they have been dealt a tough draw at home to a Huddersfield side who have lost just once in their last seven Super League games and who knocked out last year's beaten finalists - the Rhinos - in the last round.
The Giants have an
8/1 outside chance to go all the way in this year's competition and have been given a
+6 start at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.
While Huddersfield have revelled in this year's Super League, they have a woeful record against Warrington in the Cup.
The West Yorkshire outfit have not beaten the holders in the Challenge Cup since 1933 and have never beaten them away in this competition.
They do, however, seem to have produced the goods in this year's run to the Quarter Finals.
As mentioned earlier, they beat the current Super League Champions Leeds in the last round - with a man sent off - and produced a gritty performance to overcome a battling Batley side.
With Warrington winning their previous three games by narrow margins, I'm expecting Huddersfield to put up a fight at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
They are
7/4 to win the game but it may be safer to go for the +6 handicap offered by Sky Bet at
even money.
Senior Says...
"I have got to go for Sheffield
+14 this week, I really want them to win this game and, with London struggling in Super League, they could cause an upset like they did in my day!
"I'm adding Warrington
-6 to my double and betting with my head rather than my heart.
"The Giants are the form team at the moment but Warrington are the cup kings of late."
