County Championship: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The 2025 County Championship season starts on Friday with Surrey targeting a fourth straight Division One title and Lancashire heading the betting for Division Two honours.

County Championship betting tips and predictions

Somerset to win Division One (each-way) - 13/2

Surrey have been a class apart in Division One of the County Championship in recent years and they are 11/10 favourites to claim a fourth title on the spin in 2025.

The men from The Oval certainly set a high standard with a batting unit featuring Rory Burns, Dom Sibley and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes as well as a top-class pace attack.

Yorkshire's Matthew Fisher has been signed to support title-winning quicks Jordan Clark and Dan Worrall, who was born in Melbourne but now qualifies to play for England.

Worrall's outstanding performances have prompted talk that he might join county colleagues Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson in England's Test team, but Surrey have the squad depth to cover for international call-ups.

The ante-post market understandably revolves around Surrey, although Somerset could be the each-way value despite their painful end to the 2024 summer.

September's 111-run victory over Surrey at Taunton kept alive their title hopes in the Championship but they faded to finish third, also losing in the finals of the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup.

A Somerset bowling attack including New Zealand paceman Matt Henry and England spinner Jack Leach is formidable, while stalwart all-rounders Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton balance the side nicely.

Archie Vaughan and James Rew are terrific young talents and the hard-hitting Will Smeed is hoping to force his way into a batting unit featuring Tom Lammonby, Tom Banton and Tom Abell.

Last season's runners-up Hampshire will miss James Vince's runs and leadership in the Championship while promoted Yorkshire are interesting outsiders after appointing Jonny Bairstow as captain. 

Leicestershire to win Division Two (each-way) - 10/1

Lancashire were relegated from the top flight last season but they are favourites to bounce back as Division Two champions.

England's record Test wicket-taker James Anderson will miss the start of the season with a calf injury but Australian opener Marcus Harris looks a rock-solid overseas signing.

However, the Red Rose may not have things all their own way in the second tier, with Middlesex bolstered by the signing of New Zealand legend Kane Williamson and Northamptonshire led by former Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Gloucestershire are potential improvers given their lively bowling attack and skipper Cameron Bancroft will be joined by fellow Aussie Cameron Green for the early weeks of the season.

But Leicestershire look the best each-way bet to kick on after a frustrating 2024 campaign in which they finished mid-table with 10 draws in 14 matches.

Like Gloucestershire, they have an Australian captain in Peter Handscomb while Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood is a great signing after spending the last three years with Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

Leicestershire won the One-Day Cup in 2023, raising morale at the club after a tough few seasons, and wicketkeeper Ben Cox and Dutch all-rounder Logan van Beek add plenty of experience to the side.

Youngsters Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull have already been capped by England and teenage fast bowler Alex Green is tipped to have a big season in 2025. 

Read more cricket betting tips and predictions on site

County Championship odds

Division One

Surrey - 11/10
Essex - 13/2
Somerset - 13/2
Hampshire - 10/1
Durham - 10/1

Division Two

Lancashire - 7/4
Middlesex - 7/2
Kent - 9/2
Northamptonshire - 6/1
Leicestershire - 10/1

View the full market and more odds for the County Championship on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

Remember to set your marketing preferences on the bet365 website to continue receiving marketing from the bet365 team.