PSL: Our pick of the pile

Cape Town - The Kaizer Chiefs “mean machine” will safely protect their 100 percent record by beating so-so visitors University of Pretoria on Saturday, say a group of pundits unanimously.

Every PSL round, a Sport24 panel made up of compiler Rob Houwing plus Garrin Lambley, Raymond Silinga, Earl Haupt, Wade Pretorius, Tashreeq Vardien and Maano Nekhavhambe will attempt to hit the right buttons in forecasting a trio of the most attractive games.

We will keep a season-long leaderboard showing who is prospering and which wretched souls are floundering: three points for wholly correct scoreline, one for right result.

Our latest three ...

1. Kaizer Chiefs v University of Pretoria, Saturday 15:00, FNB Stadium

They boast the official manager of the month for August in Stuart Baxter and equivalent player in Mandla Masango ... and why wouldn’t the Amakhosi collectively be feeling pretty chuffed with life? At their home fortress on Saturday, they’ll be aiming to make it 18 points out of 18 in the league, and possibly thus stretch further their four-point cushion over anyone else. Perhaps AmaTuks’ best hope is that the international window period has stunted Chiefs’ rhythm and they can try to cash in. But given that the side from Pretoria have only won one from five games thus far and lie a humdrum 11^th, it seems unlikely and that sentiment is only echoed by our tipsters. I have a feeling it won’t be a goal-fest, mind ...

Rob’s tip: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 1-0

2. Orlando Pirates v Wits, Saturday 20:15, Orlando Stadium

It will be worrisome to the Buccaneers’ faithful that arch-rivals Chiefs already sport a seven-point lead just in the battle for Big Two bragging rights in Soweto. So a run of wins is what’s ideally required in the next few weeks for the fifth-placed men in black. Central stopper Siyabonga Sangweni will supposedly be fit to lead the troops after his vehicular mishap, and that’s good news as they try to lower the colours of a Wits team riding third and coming off a 3-0 thumping of Moroka Swallows to rather disprove the theory that they’re a little goal-shy. Tough clash to call, and our panel hardly help the situation with their mixed bag of predictions!

Rob’s tip: 2-0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
Earl: 2-1
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 2-1

3. Bloemfontein Celtic v Mamelodi Sundowns, Sunday 15:00, Free State Stadium

As this writer is just a little partial to Phunya Sele Sele and their extrovert, loyal bunch of supporters, you are entitled to take my optimistic prediction in their favour with a pinch of salt if you wish. Then again, Celtic are always difficult to beat at home anyway, and haven’t yet suffered a reverse in their Free State stronghold this season. Defending champions ‘Downs haven’t had the brightest of starts, but in their favour is that they did show signs of awakening when they beat ailing AmaZulu 2-0 in their last league obligation. Maybe that explains why all of Ray, Wade and Tashreeq tip an away victory in the Sunday televised spectacle ...

Rob’s tip: 1-0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-1

Leaderboard:

14 - Raymond
13 - Wade
11 - Tashreeq
10 - Rob
9 - Earl & Maano
4 - Garrin

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing