The 3rd Round of Varsity Cup matches takes place later today and we take a look at all 4 games from a betting angle.
There has been quite a shake-up in the Outright Betting markets with the North West Eagles now 5/2 favourites ahead of Maties at 28/10. Ikeys are priced at 7/2 and you can get defending Champions, Tuks at 5/1 and 13/2 and better the balance.
Click here for Varsity Cup Outright Betting
UJ v UCT Ikeys – Click here to bet
UJ have suffered back-to-back defeats going down 41-28 to the Eagles in week 1 and then last week somehow failing to get over the line despite running up a 30-0 half-time lead way at Wits.
The Ikeys were narrowly beaten by Maties in their opening game going down by 2 points in Stellenbosch, but they bounced back strongly at home last week beating defending Champions, Tuks 42-19.
Last season Ikeys hosted UJ in Round 2 and beat them 26-24.
Ikeys look one of the better sides in the competition and they should be able to put this UJ team away.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Ikeys -12.5 at 9/10
NWU Eagles v Maties – Click here to bet
The Eagles opened their campaign with a 41-28 home win over UJ and they then turned it on at home against the Shimlas starting as 5 point underdogs, but comfortably running out 63-16 victors.
Maties edged Ikeys by 2 points in a low scoring encounter at home in Week 1 and they were 31 point favourites at home to CUT last week, but lost the game 19-23, one of the biggest Varsity upsets of all times.
Last season Maties hosted the Eagles winning 20-12 in Stellenbosch.
I get the feeling that bookmakers are nervous to take on Maties given their history, but based on current form it has to say the Eagles should cover this handicap.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Eagles -4.5 at 9/10
Shimlas v Wits – Click here to bet
Shimlas got their campaign off to an excellent start when they beat defending Champions, Tuks 26-25 on the road in Week 1. They were then favourites away to the Eagles, but were absolutely smashed going down by 47 points in Potch.
Wits beat CUT by 10 points on the road in a high scoring encounter in Week 1 winning 59-49 and they then backed that up with an incredible comeback from 30 points down at the break to beat UJ 35-33 at home last week.
Wits hosted Shimlas last season winning 53-31.
While Wits comeback against UJ was excellent, the fact that they were 30-0 down at half-time suggests to me that Shimlas should be able to win this one. They were awful last week, but did beat Tuks on the road and I am going to snap up the 15/20 that they win the match.
Suggested Bet: Shimlas Win at 15/20
CUT v TUKS – Click here to bet
CUT went down by 10 points at home to Wits in Week 1 in a high scoring encounter, but they then caused a massive upset when they beat Maties 23-19 on the road last week.
They face the defending Champions, Tuks who have lost both their opening games by 1 point at home to Shimlas and they went down by 23 points away at Ikeys last week.
Last season Tuks hosted CUT and beat them 61-12.
This game appears to be priced on reputation rather than current form and if CUT can produce what they did last week against Maties they must have every chance of getting a win here and I am going to back them to beat the handicap.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, CUT +8.5 at 9/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
