PSL Betting Guide and Stats by OptaJabu

A truncated weekend of football sees just this weekend, every week, we preview top-flight action by looking at the historic and present stats. Even for short game weeks, that is no different. So here goes…

Golden Arrows v Stellenbosch

Both teams have scored in seven of Stellies’ 10 matches this season, and that’s the most and the
highest proportion (70%) across the division. It’s a hill we’re willing to die on this weekend. Based on
goals conceded, Stellies have the league’s second-worst defence. Based on goals scored, Stellies
have the league’s third-best attack. Having said that, two of the last three matches between these
teams have been goalless, so one may want to exercise caution. The eventful Chiefs defeat lends
itself better to recency bias, but it’s easy to forget how Stellenbosch were mesmerising in their win
over Maritzburg a few days before, racking up both a season-high shot total (17) and xG tally
(1.83xG).

1 – Stellies have won just one of 10 matches away to KZN based opposition (D5 L4).

But that win was against Arrows. And at 3.75/1, some may deem that a worthy risk.

Orlando Pirates v AmaZulu

After three games without a win or a goal, Orlando Pirates are slowly making their way to being the
crisis club of the moment. Any more dropped points this weekend will take them there. While the goal
issue is bare for everyone to see (6 goals from 10 is their lowest ever at this stage), a look under the
bonnet shows they aren’t creating much. No wonder the bookies are offering a 3-fold return for Pirates
to score Over 1.5 goals. Sure they took 14 shots against Richards Bay in the last match, but only half
of these were from open play. Luckily, they host an out of sorts AmaZulu who are winless in five (one
goal in that time) and against whom they enjoy a favourable history. Usuthu have won one of their last
22 games against Pirates and new coach Roman Folz could immediately win trust with a result here.

18 – Pirates have drawn 18 league matches against AmaZulu in PSL history. Only against Chiefs (24)
have they drawn more.

Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United

The penalty of hat-tricks has stolen the limelight, but with a target man, Arthur Zwane’s attack may be
starting to find the right outlet. Chiefs have taken a whopping 50 shots in the last three games, which
is more than they managed in the five games before then (49). On top of that, these shots are hitting
the right tone. Seven shots on target per game in the last three games are more than double the 2,9 per
game in the seven games before. That’s good reading coming into a tie they traditionally do well in.

Not only have Chiefs won five of the last six encounters, they’ve done so at a canter, most notably a
7-1 aggregate victory on the way to a double last season.

3 – Chippa have won back-to-back games for only the second time post-pandemic. The last time they
won three in a row in February 2016.