Sky Sports' Alex Payne looks for value in the European Champions Cup pools
Sky Sports rugby union presenter Alex Payne casts an eye over the European Champions Cup pools and highlights his best bets from club rugby's biggest competition.
Pool 1 (Glasgow,Leicester, Munster, Racing)
To make the quarters: Racing 92 (8/11) as pool winners, Glasgow as a best runner-up
Last year's losing finalists have the taste for European rugby and should be too strong in this pool and are unsurprisingly odds-on with Sky Bet.
The battle for a best runners-up spot looks to be between Glasgow and Leicester. The fall of the fixtures looks tough for the Tigers who have Glasgow away, Racing at home and Munster away in the first three. By then the Warriors will hope to be up and running, and hard to catch.
Pool 2 (Connacht, Toulouse, Wasps, Zebre)
To make the quarters: Wasps (4/7) as pool winners, Connacht as a best runner-up
With Kurtley Beale and Willie le Roux to arrive and James Haskell to return to fitness, twice European winners Wasps have star additions on the way and should sparkle in this group.
Guinness PRO12 champions Connacht had a slow start but are picking up speed just in time, and will certainly rise to this opportunity.
Ugo Mola, the Toulouse head coach, admitted last year he didn't think his side could compete on a domestic and European front anymore, and if you're looking for an upset keep an eye on Zebre beating the four-time winners in round three. The Italians at home should provide more of a threat than in recent years.
Pool 3 (Toulon, Sale, Saracens, Scarlets)
To make the quarters: Saracens (8/13) as pool winners, Toulon as a best runner-up
Having completed the double last year, Saracens look set to push on. They now know what it takes, they have the squad to cover injuries and the game plan to beat anyone. The bigger the challenge, the better they play and I fancy them for another unbeaten pool campaign.
Toulon don't appear to be the force of old but should be too strong for Sale and the Scarlets.
Pool 4 (Castres, Leinster, Montpellier, Northampton Saints)
To make the quarters: Montpellier (6/4)
Last year's Challenge Cup champions look the big beast in this pool, and although there is some disruption with Jake White already on his way out of the door at the end of the season, he is a proven winner who should be able to steer them into the quarters - at 6/4 with Sky Bet.
Castres don't lose many at home, but don't win many away and are currently struggling in the Top 14. Leinster, with Stuart Lancaster on board, are on their way back but might find the going heavy in France while Saints are spluttering.
Pool 5 (Clermont Auvergne, Bordeaux Begles, Exeter, Ulster)
To make the quarters: Clermont Auvergne (evens)
Clermont, Bordeaux and Exeter produced the greatest finale to a European pool last year - we had flames coming out of the calculators in the studio trying to work out who had gone through.
In the end, the Chiefs stole it - but the heavyweights of the Massif Central are unlikely to make the same mistake twice. They lead the way in the Top 14, and should clear up this pool.
The other three will all be lively but are likely to take chunks out of each other, cancelling out their chances in the process.
Champions - Saracens
With the monkey off their back last season, Saracens look well set for a period of European dominance that Toulon and formerly Leinster have enjoyed in recent years.
Mark McCall's men were the complete package last season, and look even better this term - reflected in their price of 5/2 for the title.
Top try scorer - Christian Wade
The Wasps wing is worth investigation, Tommy Seymour has been in scorching form for Glasgow and Sarries' Chris Wyles (in the absence of Chris Ashton) should be considered too.
But given the pool Wasps are in and their potential to make the sharp end, I'm going for Wade. He has scored four tries in six Premiership games so far this season, and hopefully there is more to follow in the Champions Cup.
Top points scorer - Owen Farrell
Farrell scored 127 points in the Champions Cup last season, 54 more than his nearest rival. His world-class goal-kicking is one of the corner stones of Sarries' game, and he should be good for a repeat.
