Wasps vs Bristol Bears
13th September 1230hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Wasps -17 handicap
Bookmaker 888Sport
Odds:10/11 odds taken 04:19 GMT, Saturday, 12th September
This should be one of the big highlights of the weekend as the fixture has huge importance in the race for a top four finish.
In fact, it could be a defining moment of the season for that, as it features 4th placed Wasps taking on Bristol, who are two points ahead of them.
With Bath breath down their necks in the chase for a post-season place, the pressure not to slip up in this game is going to be absolutely immense.
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Wasps Preview – Wasps keep rolling on
There was another impressive performance from Wasps in midweek as they romped to a 54-7 home win over the struggling Leicester in the Premiership.
That is a three-match winning streak that they are currently on and they have dropped just one fixture since the season’s restart.
They are just looking very powerful at the moment and their win over Leicester moved them onto a W11 L8 record for the season.
They are comfortable the second-highest scoring team in the Premiership at the moment.
But there is great pressure on this game in a tight race for a top-four finish.
However, Wasps have been handling themselves brilliantly as they have suffered only one defeat in their last nine league games.
Their only loss at the Ricoh Arena since January this year happened against Sale in round sixteen of this campaign.
So it’s impressive stuff and Wasps are the 1/16 odds-on favourites to collect the victory on Sunday in a huge clash* (odds taken 04:19 GMT, Saturday, 12th September).
If they do then it will have completed a season double over the Bears.
It was a 26-21 win that Wasps collected over Bristol earlier this season and that is a five-match winning streak in current meetings that they have put together over the west country unit.
Looking back a little further though it is an eight-match winning streak that Wasps are on against Bristol in the Premiership.
With Wasps such strong favourites in the match outright, for better value a Wasps -19 handicap is at 10/11* (odds taken 04:19 GMT, Saturday, 12th September).
Bristol Bears Preview – Can Bears take an important away win?
Bristol aren’t in bad shape, having posted back to back wins and in midweek they produced a line performance.
They destroyed Northampton 47-10 at Ashton Gate, who means that they have tallied over 80 points in their last two fixtures.
Defeat in this one by the regular four points, would see the Bears fall two points behind Wasps with just two games to play to cement a top-four finish.
The Bears are on a W12 D1 L6 record at the moment and in their last five have taken a W3 L2 record.
In their last away game against a top-four contender, Bristol suffered a huge defeat, going down 40-17 at Sale just back at the end of August.
So there are question markets about them at the moment as they look for a big performance. They are 15/2 to take the away win* (odds taken 04:19 GMT, Saturday, 12th September).
However, their head to head record against Wasps doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture for the Bears.
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Bristol Bears have taken one previous victory only at the Ricoh Arena. That didn’t happen in the league, it was a Premiership Cup win in November 2018.
Home and away combined it is worth noting that Bristol haven’t managed to beat Wasps in any of their last ten league meetings.
They have only beaten Wasps once in the Premiership since 2001 as well.
However while it all seems negative for the Bears heading into this fixture, they have a positive from their current away form.
Bristol have suffered just one loss in their last six games away from home in all competitions.
That was that aforementioned hammering at Sale recently.
The Bears do boast a better defensive record in this season’s league than Wasps, but look a bit short of matching them for firepower at the moment.
Wasps vs Bristol Bears Betting Advice
Wasps have just been flying and they have to be backed to get the win on the board. They are running rampant at the moment.
Only league leaders Exeter have scored more tries in this campaign than Wasps have done, and you put home advantage on top, then a Wasps 11-20 winning margin at 11/4 isn’t totally out of the picture here* (odds taken 04:19 GMT, Saturday, 12th September).
Key Facts – Wasps vs Bristol Bears Betting Tip
- Wasps are unbeaten in 10 games against the Bears in the league
- Wasps are 2 points behind Bristol in the top four
- Bristol Bears have won one league game against Waps since 2001
Bristol failed miserably on their recent big away game against Sale and we feel, in such a busy month, that they may find the going too tough at the Ricoh.
A defeat wouldn’t be the end of the road for the top four hopes of the Bears at all, it would just make life a little more stressful.
The best betting odds for Wasps vs Bristol Bears
Wasps to win: 1/8 at Bet365
Draw: 40/1 at Bet365
Bristol Bears to win: 8/1 at Bet365
