Nedbank Cup Betting Preview by Opta Jabu

Opta Jabu has crunched the numbers and provides the best bets for Nedbank Cup weekend action. Check out our betting preview below.

Friday

Stellenbosch v Baroka

It would be more of a disappointment for Stellenbosch to exit the Nedbank Cup this weekend than it would be for Baroka. Steve Barker’s men are at home this Friday evening, and arguably safe from relegation (1 point from the magical 30-point mark), but they have a better chance of winning a knockout competition than the league. Baroka, meanwhile, is in the relegation zone, separated from the very bottom of the table by just goal difference. Having said that, Stellenbosch has not been a Cup side – knocked out at the first hurdle in all three Cup competitions they have been involved in since their promotion.

The odds favour Stellenbosch though, and a look at the head-to-head history may indicate why:

4 – Since their promotion to the top-flight in 2019, Stellenbosch has won more matches against Baroka than against any other side (4).

You can bet on Stellenbosch to win

You can bet on less than 2.5 goals

Saturday

Platinum City v Sekhukhune United

Two teams in different divisions but with the same record meet on Saturday afternoon. Platinum City is in the Gladafrica Championship, with seven wins, four draws, and six losses that have brought them 25 points. Oddly, Sekhukhune is in the Premier Division, also with 25 points from seven wins, four draws, and six losses. Yet, if recent form is anything to go by, City has been the better side – one loss in four in December, compared to Sekhukhune:

1 – Sekhukhune won just one of their five matches before the season break (D2 L2 since the start of December).

Expect to see rusty football from both sides.

You can bet on a draw

You can bet on less than 1.5 goals

Royal AM v Cape Town City

The bookies expect a close encounter here, with the odds of a home win, draw, and away win all evenly matched. You can’t grumble about that when you consider that the sides are separated by just two places on the table, with the visitors (1,5 ppg) averaging a better points-per-game ratio than the hosts (1.4 ppg). Royal AM was still Bloemfontein Celtic when the two sides met a year ago this week, with City romping to a 4-0 win to progress. A year later, John Maduka’s side is more organised and more potent and could get their revenge.

8 – Royal AM is unbeaten in eight home league matches (W6 D2), with only Sundowns winning more points at home in the league than them.

Note, City was the last team to beat them at home.

You can bet on over 1.5 goals

You can bet on Royal AM to win/ draw

Kaizer Chiefs v TS Galaxy

It was a meeting between these teams three years ago that has essentially shaped the narrative around recent Kaizer Chiefs sides. TS Galaxy was a non-top-flight team then, so the pain may still be felt in the Naturena camp. 2014/15 was the last time Chiefs won a trophy, and that last-minute defeat in the 2019 Nedbank Cup final was the closest they have come since. With Pirates and Sundowns having progressed already in this edition and playing continental Cup competition on the same weekend, such subplots probably make this the game of the weekend. Be that as it may, the odds make Chief’s overwhelming favourites here:

0 – TS Galaxy is yet to win an away game this season (P8 W1 D7), and has one away win in the last 12 months.

You can bet on Chiefs to win

You can bet on over 1.5 goals

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