The Varsity Cup semi-finals take place on Monday and we take a look at both games from a betting angle.
We are down to the final 4 teams in the Varsity Cup and the NWU Eagles are currently priced at 15/20 favourites to take the Title with the Shimlas 2/1, the Ikeys 7/2 and Maties, the outsiders of the quartet at 13/2.
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Shimlas v Ikeys – Click here to bet
The Shimlas finished 2nd on the log with 5 victories and 2 losses. They finished the season strong with a convincing 43-12 win away at Maties and the week before that they beat CUT 68-36 at home. Shimlas were unbeaten at home this season although 2 of their victories were by just a single point.
Shimlas hosted a semi-final last season, but went down 21-29 to Tuks, the eventual winners.
Ikeys were 3rd on the table with 4 wins and 3 losses and they finished their season with a high scoring 79-31 win over CUT on the road last week. The week before they were beaten by Tournament favourites, the Eagles. All 3 of Ikeys defeats came on the road. They also went down to UJ and Maties away from home this season.
Ikeys hosted the Shimlas in the League stages earlier in the season and won 29-12.
Ikeys were also beaten semi-finalists last year when they hosted the Maties and went down 19-58.
Handicap: Shimlas -4.5
The Shimlas appear to be running into form at exactly the right time and I think that at home they are going to be far too strong for the Ikeys.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Shimlas -4.5 at 9/10
NWU Eagles v Maties – Click here to bet
The Eagles topped the table with 6 victories and 1 loss in their 7 matches. They were too strong for Wits last week, winning 36-3 on the road and they won all of their home matches this season except against their semi-final opponents, the Maties, when they went down 28-31 in early March.
The Maties scraped in to the semi-finals by virtue of their 4th place finish with 4 victories and 3 losses. They were well beaten at home to Shimlas last week going down 46-12 and on the road this season they lost to UJ, beat Wits and beat the Eagles.
Maties beat Ikeys 58-19 on the road in last year’s semi-final before going down to Tuks in the final.
Handicap: Eagles -11.5
Maties have a massive reputation, but the reality is that the class of 2023 just hasn’t been as strong as we are used to seeing it. The Eagles on the other hand have looked brilliant at times and I am taking them to get revenge for their defeat at home to the Maties in the regular season.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Eagles -11.5 at 9/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
