Bristol vs Sale Predictions - Sale backed in handicap market against Bears

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 27 Dec 2024

Simon Lewis 27 Dec 2024

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Bristol are favorites but Sale's away win last season casts doubt on home advantage.
Bristol boasts 6 wins from 8 Premiership games; they're second in the standings.
Sale, fifth in the league, comes in with 2 wins, enhancing their confidence.

Expired

Sale can cover handicap against Bears (Getty images)

Bristol vs Sale Predictions

Bristol are favourites at home but both sides have similar form coming into his fixture. Sale beat Bristol away last season, so the home ground advantage isn’t insurmountable.

Bristol vs Sale Predictions
Head to Head
Bristol Form
Bristol Injuries & Team News
Sale Form
Sale Injuries & Team News

While I believe the Bears will win, I do see the Sharks getting within the 10.5 handicap.

Bristol have won 6 of their last 8 Premiership matches.
Sale have won their last 2 matches.
Sale have won 5 of their last 8 Premiership matches.

Head to Head

Last season, strangely, both teams won game each against the other. However, on both occasions, it was the away team that won.

Bristol Form

Bristol are enjoying a very good season to date with six wins in eight Premiership games. They are currently second on the table, level on points with Bath at the top.

While the Bears have performed brilliantly in the Premiership, that form didn’t translate into the Champions Cup where they lost convincing at home to Leinster and at La Rochelle. Last weekend, the Bears did manage to bounce back in the Premiership, beating Leicester Tigers 54-24 away.

Bristol Injuries & Team News

Expect a full-strength lineup from Bristol as they may look to rotate in the Champions Cup where they have struggled for results.

Sale Form

Sale Sharks are fifth in the Premiership after eight matches with five wins and three defeats. They could have been higher, but a couple of poor results have cost them dearly.

However, coming into this fixture, Sale have won their last two, so confidence will be high. Last weekend, Sale had little trouble at home against Exeter Chiefs, winning 28-10.

The week prior, Sale beat Racing 92 29-7 at home, although they lost their Champions Cup opener to Glasgow away from home.