Rugby punters have 4 matches to get stuck into on Monday when the Varsity Cup 3rd Round takes place and we suggest a bet in each game.
The NWU Eagles remain favourites at 1/1 to win the Varsity Cup ahead of the UCT Ikeys at 5/2. Maties who opened their account last week last week are 3/1 and you can get 17/2 Shimlas and Wits and 100/1 and better the balance.
Click here for all the Varsity Cup long-term betting markets
UWC v CUT – Click here to bet
UWC have found the going tough in their return to the Varsity Cup top flight and they lost by 56 points at home to Wits in Week 1 before losing by 34 points away to the Eagles last week.
CUT opened their campaign with a hard fought 23-19 victory over UJ, but despite leading early they found Wits away too strong last week, going down 34-32.
Handicap: UWC +20.5
With 3 matches in I am expecting this UWC squad to start taking some strain and will back CUT to beat this handicap.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, CUT -20.5 at 17/20
UCT IKEYS v UJ – Click here to bet
Ikeys opened their account with a 38-32 away win at Shimlas and they started favourites to beat Maties in Cape Town last week, but went down 15-10 in windy conditions.
UJ were beaten 23-19 by CUT in their opener and they went down 34-31 to Shimlas at home last week in an entertaining game. While they have been competitive in both matches they will know they need a victory here to get their season on track.
Handicap: UCT Ikeys -7.5
UJ are well capable of giving Ikeys a run for their money, but I think the home team are going to prove too strong here.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Ikeys -7.5 at 17/20
MATIES v WITS – Click here to bet
Maties were beaten 23-12 at home by the defending Champions, the Eagles in Week 1, but they bounced back nicely with a 15-10 win away to the Ikeys last week.
Wits currently sit top of the table after a convincing 66-10 away win over UWC in Week 1 and this was followed by a come-from-behind 34-17 win over CUT at home last week.
Handicap: Maties -4.5
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the Maties win over UCT last week as the television coverage was cancelled at the last minute, but with the fact that they won that game as underdog suggests to me they have turned the corner and are going to be a tough nut to crack at home.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Maties -4.5 at 17/20
SHIMLAS v NWU EAGLES – Click here to bet
The Shimlas went down by 6 points in a high scoring encounter to the Ikeys in Week 1, but they bounced back strongly with a 34-31 win over UJ in Johannesburg last week.
The defending Champions, the Eagles beat the Maties by 11 points in Stellenbosch to get their campaign started and although they beat UWC by 34 points last week, it was well-short of the 55 point handicap the bookies were giving UWC.
Handicap: Shimlas +12.5
Shimlas are a team who play attacking rugby and I am going to leave the handicaps and look to go high on Total Points, probably in the early to mid-60’s.
Suggested Bet: Overs on Total Points if the quote is under 65 (Total Points quotes will be out closer to kick-off).
Click here for betting on all of this weekend’s rugby, including the 4th round of the Six Nations
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
