Falling just short of reaching the Grand Final last season, Bath will look to hit the ground running for the new campaign on Friday evening when they head to the Twickenham Stoop to take on Harlequins.
The Blue, Black and Whites were stunned by a 27-26 defeat at home to Exeter Chiefs in the Prem Rugby play-off semi-finals and it will have felt like a long summer without rugby for the West Country outfit.
Facing a Quins side who really had a season to forget, Bath look capable of leaving the capital with the spoils on Friday night.
Harlequins v Bath Tips Summary
Best Bet - Bath -11.5 handicap @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Over 63.5 total points @ 5/6
Bet Builder - Santiago Carreras & Josh Bayliss anytime tryscorers @ 6/1
Harlequins v Bath Prediction
Best Bet: Bath -11.5 handicap @ 5/6
With just six wins from their 18 games, last season was really one to forget for Harlequins, as they look like a shadow of the side that last won the Prem title in 2021.
Only Newcastle Red Bulls finished below Quins in the standings and now the London outfit have a tough opener for the new campaign against Bath.
The Blue, Black & Whites have a great recent record in this fixture, having won the last five games against Harlequins.
Winning at almost a canter in their two meetings with Quins last term, expect Bath to win and cover the handicap against a side who will sorely miss their injured England star Marcus Smith for this opener.
Alternative Bet: Over 63.5 total points @ 5/6
Friday's meeting at The Stoop has all the ingredients for another entertaining Prem clash, with recent meetings between these teams regularly producing plenty of points.
The last three encounters have seen 216 points scored, with these sides averaging 72 points per game across that run.
That scoring trend makes the over 63.5 total points appealing, and another free-flowing affair could see this line surpassed.
Harlequins v Bath Bet Builder Tip
Santiago Carreras anytime tryscorer
Josh Bayliss anytime tryscorer
Pays 6/1
Focusing on the anytime tryscorer market for this two-leg Bet Builder, Santiago Carreras and Josh Bayliss are both fancied to score.
Argentina international Carreras bagged himself a brace the last time Bath and Harlequins crossed paths, while Scotland back-rower Bayliss was also on the scoresheet.
Coming off the bench in the second-half to score just a couple of minutes later, Bayliss starting Friday’s game makes him an appealing proposition in the anytime tryscorer market.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Bath have won all of their last five games against Harlequins in all competitions
Quins' last home win over Bath was back in March 2024 with a 40-36 victory at The Stoop in the Prem
Bath won 48-15 the last time they faced Harlequins back in April at The Recreation Ground
Bath won 47-31 on their last visit to The Stoop
No team had a better points difference than Bath at the end of the regular season last term (+222)
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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.
