Bath vs Bristol Bears
8th May 1630hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Bristol -9 handicap
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: Even money odds taken 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021
These two west country rivals will go head to head on the weekend for perhaps the highlight of Premiership rugby betting for the weekend.
Bath have had an improved second half of the season, but will they be able to take down the Bears?
Bristol continue to lead the way at the top of the standings in an outstanding season for them. Will they leave the Rec successful on Saturday evening?
Table of Contents
Bath Preview – Can Bath return to winning ways?
Bath have lost their last two fixtures, one in the Premiership and one in the European Challenge Cup.
Can they return to winning ways?
On the weekend they are the current 11/4 underdogs for this rivalry match against Bristol Bears so it is not going to be easy* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
In the Premiership, it has been two defeats for Bath in their last three league games, but both were away at London Irish and Wasps.
Their home form has been doing a lot better.
Bath have suffered one home league defeat since February, and that was an excusable defeat against reigning champions Exeter.
The overall home form for Bath now is at W3 L4 for the campaign, the wins happening against Worcester, Gloucester and Leicester.
Two of those are the current bottom three in the standings.
Only in three of their seven home fixtures have Bath managed to score more than 16 points in a home game.
Turning things around and looking at their defeats, all four have been by a margin of at least seven points.
A Bath +9 handicap can be looked at for rugby betting at a quote of even money* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
That’s a reasonable enough looking punt for the weekend.
In terms of Bath coming up with the match victory, that doesn’t look immediately apparent.
They have won only one of their last six against Bristol.
Bath suffered a 13-19 loss the last time that they hosted Bristol Bears at the Rec, which was their first loss there against them since 2006.
Bristol Bears Preview – Bears to return to winning ways?
Premiership leaders Bristol Bears had a long winning streak snapped last time out in league action.
They had been on a six-match winning streak in the top flight.
But that ended with a home loss against Exeter.
That saw Bristol’s lead over Exeter cut to seven points, so still not a bad position for the Bears to be in at all.
It is only the second loss of Bristol’s excellent Premiership campaign.
In the match outright for Saturday’s fixture, the win for Bristol is at a quote of 2/7 odds-on* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
The away form of Bristol Bears this season in the top flight is W6 D1 L1 with the one defeat happening at Wasps.
That defeat was on the opening weekend of the new season.
Bristol have scored at least 20 points in all but one of their away games in the campaign.
The last time that they lost a back to back league fixture was in August last year.
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Bristol Bears do, therefore, look a pretty good option to come away with maximum points in this clash.
The margins of victory for Bristol Bears in their away successes haven’t been huge.
Only two of their six away victories have been by a margin of double figures.
So for Premiership rugby betting, it may not be worth exploiting a huge margin of success for the visitors, even though they are strong favourites.
A Bristol -9 handicap is at a quote of 10/11 for the fixture* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
Bath vs Bristol Bears Betting Advice
We think that Bristol can get the job done on the weekend at the Rec. If Exeter wins earlier in the day that will just give Bristol even more incentive.
But we don’t think they run up a big margin of success against Bath at all.
We think that the Bath +9 handicap option is the way to go for rugby betting* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
Key Facts – Bath vs Bristol Bears Betting Tip
- Bath have won one of their last six fixtures against Bath
- Bristol have suffered just one away defeat in this Premiership campaign
- Bristol Bears have won 6 of their last 7 league games
Just two of Bristol’s away wins have been by margins of more than eight points.
The Bears have had such a good season that they are strong enough to respond to their defeat against Exeter.
A Bristol 1-10 winning margin is at a quote of 23/10 as a rugby betting tip* (odds recorded 23:12 GMT on May 6th, 2021).
The best betting odds for Bath vs Bristol Bears
Bath to win: 12/5 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Bristol Bears to win: 1/3 at Bet365
