Glasgow Warriors vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Tigers can push Warriors all the way

The European Rugby Champions Cup is hotting up and an intriguing battle awaits in the round-of-16 clash between Glasgow Warriors and Leicester Tigers at Scotstoun on Saturday (20:00, Premier Sports 1). 

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Glasgow Warriors vs Leicester Tigers prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in the East Midlands. 

Rugby Union Odds

Team News 

Glasgow go with Nathan McBeth, Jonny Matthews and Zander Fagerson in the front row, with locks Gregor Brown and JP Du Preez in the engine room. 

Matt Fagerson joins Sione Vailanu and Henco Venter in the back row, with George Horne and Adam Hastings in the half-backs. 

Tom Jordan and Stafford McDowell combine in the centres, with skipper Kyle Steyn, Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe completing the backline for the Warriors. 

As for Leicester, they have gone with Nicky Smith, Finn Theobald-Thomas and Dan Cole in the front row, with Cameron Henderson and Harry Wells in the second row. 

Hanro Liebenberg will captain the side from the back row, where he’s joined by Emeka Ilione and Olly Cracknell. 

Jack van Poortvliet and Handre Pollard start in the half-backs, with Solomone Kata and Dan Kelly in the centres, along with a back three of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward. 

Glasgow Warriors vs Leicester Tigers Odds

Glasgow are favourites at 1/4 to claim the victory at Scotstoun, while Leicester are 3/1 to head back over the border with the win after the 80 minutes. 

A draw is available at 22/1, while Glasgow to be leading at both the half-time and full-time whistles is currently 4/6.

Leicester Tigers +6 handicap @ 11/8

Glasgow are missing some key personnel ahead of this one with the likes of Scott Cummings (arm), Jack Dempsey (hamstring), Huw Jones (ankle), Josh McKay (ankle), Rory Sutherland (shoulder), Sione Tuipulotu (pectoral), Duncan Weir (shoulder) and Max Williamson (hand) all unavailable. 

Those names missing out are a blow for head coach Franco Smith and the Warriors would be heavier favourites if they were available for Saturday. 

This is still a strong Glasgow side and the reigning United Rugby Championship side will take some stopping to be denied a place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. 

However, Leicester are a quality outfit too and they can make this game much tighter than many might envisage before kick-off at Scotstoun. 

The Tigers were underdogs before their 33-0 win at reigning Premiership champions and arch-rivals Northampton Saints a couple of games ago, showing just what this side are capable of on the road. 

Leicester might fall short in their efforts to beat the Warriors on their own patch but the Tigers with a +6 handicap at odds of 11/8 looks too good to pass up.