The Varsity cup regular season matches concludes on Monday and we take a look at all 4 games from a betting angle.
The business end of Varsity Cup rugby is fast approaching and as things stand the NWU Eagles are the ruling favourites at 12/10 ahead of Maties at 22/10. You can get 4/1 Wits, 17/2 Shimlas and 10/1 and better the balance.
Click here for the latest Varsity Cup Outright Betting
CUT v Ikeys – Click here to bet
Both of these teams are still in playoff contention with CUT currently sitting 6th on the table behind the Ikeys who are sitting 5th on points difference.
CUT started their season really quickly, but they have wobbled a bit over recent weeks and last week were beaten 68-36 away at Shimlas in the Free State Derby. You would have to go back to early March to find their last home game when they beat Tuks 41-39.
The Ikeys went down 26-42 at home to the Eagles last week, having beaten Wits 46-19 at home the week before that. Their last away game was a 43-24 loss to UJ in the first week of March.
Handicap: CUT +3.5
Looking at the log, both sides will be targeting a bonus point win here and I think that means we will be getting plenty of points.
Suggested Bet: Over 66.5 points at 17/20
Wits v NWU Eagles – Click here to bet
Wits are currently 4th on the log, but they know that they need to win this game if they are to progress to the playoff.
They beat Tuks 33-21 at home last week and prior to that they had gone down 46-19 on the road to Ikeys.
The Eagles are guaranteed to finish top of the table with just 1 defeat in their opening 6 games. They were too strong for the Ikeys away last week winning 42-26 and I suspect with the semi-finals looming they are going to rest some of their key players for this fixture.
Handicap: Wits -6.5
The bookies agree and are giving the Eagles a 6.5 point start, but I suspect that won’t be enough against a fired up and motivated Wits team.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Wits at -6.5 at 9/10
Tuks v UJ – Click here to bet
Both of these sides are out of playoff contention with UJ in 7th and Tuks bottom of the log in 8th and unfortunately guaranteed to be relegated.
Last week Tuks saw their remaining hope of staying in the Varsity Cup disappear when they went down 33-21 at Wits while UJ pulled out an impressive 49-42 home win over Maties.
Handicap: Tuks -2.5
The disappointment in the Tuks camp was clear for all to see at the end of last week’s game against Wits and I am going to back them to give their supporters something to cheer about in their final match.
Suggested Bet: Tuks -2.5 at 9/10
Maties v Shimlas – Click here to bet
Maties are 2nd on the log and a victory here will see them finish 2nd, but a defeat will see Shimlas move from 3rd to 2nd and a home semi-final. In other words there is plenty to play for in this game especially given the loser could yet fail to make the playoffs.
Shimlas were in great form last week beating CUT 68-36 at home while Maties went down 49-42 at UJ.
Handicap: Maties -6.5
I think these sides are going to be treating this as a virtual quarter-final and while this goes against trends in their recent matches I am going to go for 66 points or less in this one.
Suggested Bet: Under 66.5 points at 17/20
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
