ABSA Premiership Week 12 Preview

Written by The Caretaker Coach for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!  

After a bumper weekend of club football, the PSL hosts a handful of league matches in midweek to try and compensate for the looming Christmas break traditionally taken by the league. Kaizer Chiefs continue streets ahead of the competition, however a heavily congested mid-table sees all of the top ten with an opportunity to move up to second spot should results be favourable. Six games can make for a profitable multiple, let’s see if we can find success in all six of them this gameweek.

Polokwane City vs Kaizer Chiefs | Tuesday 25 November | Peter Mokaba Stadium | 19:30

Three wins and two draws in five games would be an above par yield for most league sides, but after the way that Chiefs started the season, this would be seen as a stutter. Interestingly those first two draws of the season came at home, so they maintain their 100% away win record. Polokwane City boast three wins on the trot and while only sitting in eleventh spot, they’ll feel they’ve hit their straps and will want to push on to more victories. It’s their first encounter this season against high-flying Chiefs and it’s sure to be a tough one. In six previous encounters, Chiefs have won all bar one draw and I’d expect the same thing on Tuesday night. Take the AmaKhosi win at 6/10, end of story.

University of Pretoria vs Orlando Pirates | Wednesday 26 November | Tuks Stadium | 19:30

Pirates return to a more respectable fourth after a good away win at Supersport United on the weekend. They sit clumped among eight teams separated by three points, such is the nature of this competitive league. AmaTuks fall slightly short of this cluster, despite two impressive wins on the trot. Pirates are back to scoring ways, but they’re going to have to watch out for a Tuks side that’s scored six goals in their last two games. The Bucs may not come away with full points here and I fancy a pretty even contest. Both Teams To Score is tempting at 11/10; we could well see a stalemate with both sides getting on the scoresheet.

Ajax Cape Town vs Bloemfontein Celtic | Wednesday 26 November | Cape Town Stadium | 19:30

A recent stutter in form has seen Ajax pick up just two wins from their last five league outings. A barely acceptable draw against an in-form Maritzburg United side would’ve been much sweeter for the Urban Warriors had they got back on track with three points. Celtic will be content with their three wins from the last five in the league and come into this one with the confidence gained from those wins. Granted the level of the opposition wasn’t quite up to Ajax’s standards, and this may be the determining factor in this one. Ajax boast pretty solid home form and bar one or two blips, should be enough to see off Celtic. Get them to win at home at 9/10.

Mpumalanga Black Aces vs Bidvest Wits | Wednesday 26 November | Mbombela Stadium | 19:30

Both sides find themselves in similar veins of form, sitting just a point apart in mid-table. Aces boast the better results recently with wins over Pirates, Swallows and Ajax in the league, and the home advantage will add further fuel to the brightly burning blaze at the club. Wits will be a little disappointed that they haven’t been more competitive; upsets at the hands of Chippa and Polokwane to name a few so far. On pedigree I’d fancy Wits, but Aces have proved worthy of their recent successes, putting this one in the balance. The tight nature means goals could be hard to come by and Under 2.5 Goals at 6/10 looks to be the right way to go.

Maritzburg United v Moroka Swallows | Wednesday 26 November | Harry Gwala Stadium | 19:30

Maritzburg United would be forgiven for still being on Cloud 9 after their start to the season, picking up valuable away points and staying strong at home. Sitting in second, they’ll barely notice the heap of trouble Swallows find themselves in. Second from bottom is serious business, and Swallows can’t seem get a break. Travelling to Pietermaritzburg at the moment is harder than it’s ever been, so the Dube Birds’ chances seem bleak. The bookies seem to have priced up on form here, something I hoped for our sake that they wouldn’t do. 7/10 a home win isn’t bad, but for the same odds I’d prefer the Under 2.5 Goals market based on Swallows’ previous record against the home side.

Chippa United vs Free State Stars | Wednesday 26 November | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | 19:30

Stars have never really shot the lights out of this league and their putrid run seems set to continue. Scraping past relegation looks on the card again, unlike Chippa, who seem to have grabbed the opportunity of top flight football with both hands. There is little history between these sides, with Stars having won both previous encounters. Chippa are priced at 9/10 a home win and I think that’s where we should be headed, although I’ll be going a little safer on the Draw No Bet at 4/10. You can never been too certain in this league.

6-Leg PSL Multiple Price: 23/1

The man knows his football, but even he gets it wrong from time to time. Feel free to share your PSL tips and multiples below.