The Varsity Cup is fast approaching the business end and we look at the 4 matches taking place on Monday the 24th of March and offer up a number of betting suggestions.
UCT v SHIMLAS – Click here to bet
UCT currently sit 3rd on the log with 3 victories and 2 defeats. They were away to Maties last week where they lost 31-24 and at home they have beaten Wits by 56 points, Tuks by 8 points and the Eagles by 9.
Shimlas currently occupy 4th spot and have also had 3 victories and 2 defeats. They were at home to CUT last week where they battled to a 16-9 victory, a game where they started 18 point favourites. On the road they lost to the Eagles by 45 points and Maties by 4 points.
Head-to-Head
Shimlas beat UCT 45-42 in last year’s Final, that game was played in Bloemfontein.
Handicap: UCT [-12.5]
CUT v WITS – Click here to bet
I am disappointed that this game won’t be televised as it is probably the most important game of the week. CUT currently sit 7th on the table on 6 points, 3 points ahead of Wits who are 8th and last with both sides having two games to play. Given both are likely to lose next week’s fixtures, this is effectively a clash where the loser will most certainly be relegated.
CUT have actually had two wins this season, but they were deducted points for fielding an ineligible player and have now lost three in a row. They took big defeats away to Maties and at home to Tuks, but last week showed some fight in going down by 7 points to Shimlas, getting what could be a vital bonus point.
WITS have lost all 5 matches and last week were beaten 32-24 at home by UJ. The week before they were beaten 73-17 on the road at UCT and their other away game was a 30 point defeat to the Shimlas.
Head-to-Head
Wits beat CUT 34-17 at home last season and they have won the last 3 head-to-head fixtures.
Handicap: CUT [-8.5]
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NWU EAGLES v UJ – Click here to bet
The Eagles currently sit 5th on the log and still very much in playoff contention, however, a victory here will be essential. They have won 2 and lost 3 of their matches and last week found Tuks too good up in Pretoria going down 26-17. At home they have beaten the Shimlas 59-14 and lost 27-29 to Maties.
UJ are 6th on the log and are not certain of avoiding relegation. They got a crucial win last week at Wits, winning by 8 points on the road and that was their first win of the season. In other away games they lost by 4 points to the Shimlas and 8 points to Tuks.
Head-to-Head
The Eagles won this fixture 49-12 in Johannesburg last season.
Handicap: NWU Eagles [-16.5]
MATIES v TUKS – Click here to bet
This is a top of the table clash with Maties currently on 25 points with a 100% record and Tuks 4 points behind them in 2nd with 4 victories and 1 loss.
Maties beat UCT 31-24 at home last week and their other home games were a 54-0 demolition of CUT and a 41-7 victory over Shimlas.
Tuks beat the Eagles 27-17 at home last week and on the road, they beat CUT 63-26, lost 26-29 to UCT and beat Wits 35-8.
Head-to-Head
These sides last met in the 2023 season with Maties winning 46-35 at home.
Handicap: Maties [-5.5]
Note: My bets will be added to this preview during the day
Bet 1: Over 69.5 points UCT v Shimlas at 1.90
Last weeks low scoring match between Shimlas and CUT was an anomaly and Shimlas games have been very high scoring with their 4 previous matches all sailing over 70 points and there were over 80 points in UCTs last home game against Wits.
Bet 2: Tuks/Maties HT/FT at 6.00
I am sticking to the 2 televised matches*. This is more of an interest bet as I don’t have any firm views on this one and have been impressed with what I have seen of Tuks and am hoping they come out firing.
Bet 3: CUT 1st half winning margin 8-14 points at 3.40
*Delighted to see that the big relegation battle is televised and feel compelled to have a bet. CUT look the stronger team and I will back them to lead by 8-14 points inclusive at the break.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
