Harlequins vs Bristol Bears Betting Tip Bristol – 4 Handicap – 26th December 2020

Bears can raid The Stoop on Boxing Day against Harlequins

Ben Tapuai / Harlequin ©imago images / Inpho Photography December 20, 2020

England Harlequins vs Bristol Bears England
26th December 1400hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Bristol -4 handicap
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: Even money taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December

Bristol Bears head off to The Stoop on Boxing Day as the narrow favourites to get the win on the board.

They have won three of their last four games in all competitions but face a Harlequin side who have started well on the domestic front.

Quins have followed the same path as Bristol this season having lost their opening Premiership match of the season before responding with back to back wins. This should be very interesting.

Bet at Betfair

 

Harlequins Preview – Can Quins make it three in a row?

It has been back to back league wins that Harlequins have posted this season. Those were in away fixtures as well.

Those successes came at Northampton and Gloucester.

The last time that Harlequins managed to win three league games on the bounce back in March last year.

But it’s the home form of Quins which is really going to raise some questions in this fixture.

That’s because they have lost their last three league home games.

It’s not since the 2009/10 season that they have lost four such games in a row.

For Saturday’s game Harlequins are the 8/5 underdogs to claim the match win* (odds taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December).

This has been a really positive start by Harlequins. The only other team to have scored more league points that they have done after three rounds is Exeter.

On the flip side of that, Quins have conceded the most points out of all teams currently in the top eight in the table.

Our betting prediction:
Bristol 1-10 Winning Margin
23/10

Bet at Betfair

(odds taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December)

 

Harlequins do have some home from going over Bristol which may make them an intriguing proposition.

The last time that they lost at The Stoop against the Bears was back in 2007. They haven’t lost a home game against Bristol in the league since 2001.

Queens didn’t have a great time of things during the European break, losing their two matches there against Munster and Racing 92.

That was a pretty rough draw of matches for them. So they will probably be relieved to get back into action on the domestic front on Saturday.

 

Bristol Bears Preview – Can the Bears bank an away win?

The Bears have followed the same path as Harlequins this season in the Premiership in terms of results sequence.

They opened with a defeat (against Wasps) and then responded to post back to back home victories over Worcester and Northampton.

It has been back to back away losses for the Bears in the Premiership, however (both against Wasps).

The last time that they faced Harlequins league action was back in March this year and they collected a 28-15 home win over them.

That last time that they won back to back league games against Quins was in 2006.

For Saturday’s Premiership match Bristol Bears are the 8/15 favourites for rugby betting* (odds taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December)

One notable piece of team news for the Bears is that Semi Radrada comes back into the starting line-up.

This will be his first game of the new season.

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Bristol Bears earned six away wins last season and will be looking to give themselves a bit of an away boost here.

They come back into action after taking a win and loss from their two European Champions Cup fixtures.

Bristol had lost at home to Clermont before claiming an away win at Connacht.

The Bears have won two of the last five matches against Harlequins in all competitions. Each Oof the last five meetings have all gone the way of the home side.

 

Harlequins vs Bristol Bears Betting Advice

This is an interesting clash as both hold the same record this season and the recent head to head leans towards a home win.

But Harlequins, who have already given up a lot of points in the league this season, are the underdogs on home soil.

Until their form is turned around at The Stoop we just can’t find enough to support them pulling off a win.

They are staring down the barrel of four straight home losses.

 

Key Facts – Harlequins vs Bristol Bears Betting Tip

  • Harlequins haven’t lost at home in the league to Bristol since 2001
  • Harlequins and Bristol have both earned a W2 L1 league record this season
  • Bristol Bears are winless in their last two away games (both against Wasps)

 

But we do think they stay in touch quite well and therefore a Bristol -4 handicap stands out to us at even money quote* (odds taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December).

None of Bristol’s three league games this season have been settled by more than a margin of seven points.

But we think that they get the victory here and the returning Radrada could make a telling difference in a tight match.

Bristol Bears to win at 8/15 in the match outright* (odds taken 03:09 GMT Friday, 24th December).

 

The best betting odds for Harlequins vs Bristol Bears

Harlequins to win: 8/5 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Bristol Bears to win: 8/15 at Bet365