We take a look at the Week 6 Varsity Cup matches and suggest a bet in each game.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where the NWU Eagles remain favourites at 15/10 ahead of Maties at 22/10, Shimlas are 12/5, Ikeys 4/1 and you can get 33/1 and better the balance.
Click here for the long-term Varsity Cup Markets
UWC v UCT IKEYS – Click here to bet
UWC are currently bottom of the table having lost all 5 of their matches. Their 3 home matches have seen them lose to Wits by 55, CUT by 17 and last week to Maties by 49 points.
The Ikeys are currently sitting 4th on the log with 3 victories, a draw and 1 loss in their 5 games. That draw came last time out, 33-33 away to Wits and their other away game this season was a 38-32 victory over Shimlas.
Handicap: UWC +35.5
UWC have reached the point of the season where they start to battle with depth and I am expecting a comfortable win for the visitors.
Suggested Bet: Handicap: UCT Ikeys -35.5 at 17/20
CUT v NWU Eagles – Click here to bet
CUT are currently 6th on the log with 2 victories and 3 losses, 1 of those losses came at home last week against the Shimlas where they lost 59-40 in a high scoring match. Their only other home game this season was in Week 1 against UJ where they won 23-19.
Pukke are currently 2nd on the log with 4 victories and 1 loss. They beat UJ 49-12 on the road last week and they also beat Maties away in Week 1 and lost by 9 points away to Shimlas in Week 3.
Pukke hosted CUT last season winning 45-28
Handicap: CUT +25.5
The points line of 68.5 looks high, but I am not sure it is high enough given there were 99 points in the match between CUT and Shimlas last week and 73 points in this fixture last season.
Suggested Bet: Over 68.5 points at 17/20
UFS SHIMLAS v MATIES – Click here to bet
Shimlas are currently top of the log with 4 victories and 1 loss in 5 matches. They built up a big early lead last week away at CUT before having to hold on for a 59-40 victory. Looking at their home form this season they have beaten UWC by 22, Pukke by 9 and lost by 6 points to UCT in Week 1.
Maties are 3rd on the log and have also had 4 victories and 1 defeat, they were too strong for UWC on the road last week winning 63-14 and they also played UCT away winning a low scoring fixture by 5 points.
Shimlas beat Maties 44-12 in Stellenbosch last season and they won 50-28 the last time the sides met in Bloemfontein.
Handicap: Shimlas +1.5
The last time Shimlas hosted Maties in 2022, there were 78 points and the year before that an incredible 105 and I am more than happy to take over 65.5 in this one.
Suggested Bet: Over 65.5 points at 17/20 (Bet of the round)
UJ v WITS – Click here to bet
UJ are currently 7th on the log and they have lost all 5 of their matches to-date. Last week they went down by 37 points at home to Pukke and their other home game was a narrow 31-34 loss to the Shimlas.
Wits are 5th on the log with 2 victories, 2 defeats and a draw and last week they played out a thrilling 33-33 draw to UCT. Looking at Wits away form this season, they lost by 29 points to Pukke, 9 points in Stellenbosch and hammered UWC by 55 points in their opening match of the season.
Wits edged UJ 35-33 at home last season and there has not been more than 5 points between the sides in their last 4 meetings.
Handicap: UJ +8.5
As mentioned above, these matches are often close so I am leaning towards UJ +8.5 on the handicap and I am going to take it 1 step further and back them to win the game as I think they have been a bit unlucky this season.
Suggested Bet: UJ win at 12/5
Click here for betting on all of the Varsity Cup fixtures
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
