Betting Guide: PSL Matchday 1

This weekend sees the 30th PSL season kickoff with eight games scheduled across the country. It is a norm that every week, we bring you a Betting Guide to help you make sense of the Premier League football tournament on the land.

Three games are the focus for today – Chippa vs. defending champions Sundowns, Pirates vs. Sekhukhune and Stellenbosch vs. Kaizer Chiefs. Enjoy!

Chippa (12/1 to win) v Sundowns (13/10)

Sundowns travel to Chippa on Saturday and the bookies have made the defending champions clear favourites (with a 77% implied probability of victory). The 4-0 win over Richards Bay last weekend showed just how sharp the Brazilians can be despite a limited pre-season. Downs usually start the season well, and one has to go back to 2007 for the last time they lost a game on the opening day. Now they open their campaign against a side they enjoy playing against. Last season, Downs beat Chippa 3-0 both home and away, and wil be looking for their 20th win over them.

26 – Downs have never lost a league game v Chippa since the Chilli Boys’ 2012 promotion (P26 W19 D7 L0), the longest any team has gone before winning a league game v the Brazilians.

Primary bet: Sundowns win

Value bet: Sundowns to score in both halves

Pirates (15/10 to win) v Sekhukhune (65/10)

Both teams were impressive in their MTN8 quarter-finals, albeit in contrasting ways. While Sekhukhune needed character to come from 2 goals down, Pirates cruised to an easy 2-0 win in their quarter-final clash. The odds favour the hosts (66% implied for the home win), despite their home form being ropy starting towards the end of last season. Three wins from 8 home games (D4 L1) doesn’t exactly scream “Fortess”, and more importantly that one defeat came against Sekhukhune.

1 – Sekhukhune have won just one of four opening day games in the top-flight (D1 L2).

Primary bet: Pirates win or draw

Value bet: Both teams to score

Stellenbosch (2/1 to win) v Kaizer Chiefs (4/1)

On Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch open their league campaigns at a sold out Athlone Stadium. The odds are much closer on this one, although Stellenbosch (50% implied probability) are favoured overed their visitors (25%). It’s a bit surprising given how Stellies often struggle against Chiefs. For example, Chiefs won all three games across competitions between the teams last season. Going further back, Chiefs have won six of the seven games between the sides over three years. If you want to go against the market, this could be the game.

1 – Stellies are into their seventh top-flight season, but they have only won the season opener just once before (D4 L1)                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Primary bet: You can bet on a draw

Value bet: Chiefs to win