Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears are both in the Premiership play-off places and meet at Welford Road on Saturday.

Both sides have won five of their seven matches, but Bristol sit five points ahead due to their knack for picking up bonus points.

The Tigers lost their last Premiership game 39-25 at Sale and, after losing their Champions Cup opener 42-28 in Bordeaux, bounced back to outclass Sharks 56-17.

In contrast, Bristol beat Harlequins 48-24, their record-tying ninth straight Premiership away win, but lost 35-12 to Leinster and 35-7 in La Rochelle.

Fly-half AJ MacGinty came off early against Leinster and missed out in France, but his return from injury improved the Bears' attack.

The visitors have won their last nine away league games, equalling Saracens' record set in 2011. However, while they may not grab a victory, a 10th bonus point of the campaign could be adequate consolation.  

Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears betting tips and predictions

Bristol +7 - 1/1

Bristol are a win away from a Premiership record and securing it at Welford Road would add to suggestions that they are the real deal again, having been caught up in a crisis of confidence since squandering a 28-0 lead against Harlequins in the 2020/21 semi-finals.

Pat Lam has rebuilt the side and they are now the most exciting in the division, scoring more points than any other team but also conceding only three points fewer than bottom club Exeter Chiefs.

They have lost only one of their last four meetings with the Tigers, who are growing under Michael Cheika and who start the eighth round of fixtures third in the table, five points behind Bath and Bristol.

Bath won at Welford Road in September and with the Somerset club away at Newcastle later in the day, Bristol could go top on their own, while Leicester would also join them on 29 points with a bonus point victory if they manage to avoid conceding a bonus point to the Bears.

However, Lam's side have collected nine bonus points from their seven league matches.

Leicester have more bite but Bristol are extremely dangerous on the break and could, at the very least, lose by less than a converted score.

Gabriel Ibitoye anytime tryscorer - 13/8

An England cap surely beckons for Gabriel Ibitoye.

He missed out on a score in La Rochelle but went over against Leinster and has six Premiership tries for the season, running in four in his team's last two away league matches, including a hat-trick at Exeter.

A former England youth international, he came through at Harlequins but has done the round since, with spells elsewhere in England, France and, even, Israel.

Ibitoye is a smooth and stylish runner but with the physicality to bundle over defenders.

The 26-year-old scored a try at Welford Road in 2023 and is worth a look to repeat the feat.

Ollie Hassell-Collins anytime tryscorer - 10/11

Another in-form wing and someone who may also feel they deserve a shot with England is Leicester's Ollie Hassell-Collins, who has scored in his last two home appearances.

The 25-year-old won two international caps in 2023 but seems to be out of favour currently, with Steve Borthwick preferring Tommy Freeman, Ollie Sleightholme and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the wide berths.

Defensive worries linger over Hassell-Collins, but he is another fluent runner and is recapturing his best form.

He scored twice in last season's meeting and could be dangerous again.

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Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears odds

Leicester - 4/11
Tie - 22/1
Bristol - 11/5 

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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.