Bet365 Premier League Season Handicap Tips: 4 Selections For 2025/26 Campaign

Excitement is building for the start of the Premier League season and ahead of the big kick-off, Bet365 has launched its handicap market for the 2025/26 campaign. 

Similar to horses being weighted for a photo finish in handicap races, all clubs are assigned a points total before the start of the season and are uniformly priced at 15/1.

At the end of the campaign, each team’s handicap is added to their actual points total and whoever finishes with the most points wins.

Last season, Nottingham Forest blew their rivals away with 67 points which, added to their handicap of 47, gave them a 112 total – 14 points clear of nearest rivals Brentford.

As you can see, it’s worth looking at some of the lesser-fancied clubs to win the handicap market, not just the heavyweights, and it’s a great way of making a bet last the whole season.

There are also four each-way places available at 1/4 odds, so you don’t just need to pick the overall winner to guarantee a return.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: "Forget world-class players, wage bills and profit and sustainability, history has shown us that any of the 20 clubs can win the Premier League handicap, which why it’s so popular.

"Forest were the latest side to win with a significant head start, following in the footsteps of Aston Villa +32, Brentford +46, West Ham +44 and Sheffield United +52 over the last six years with Liverpool +7 sandwiched in between them in 2022 and Manchester City being the last side to win off scratch in 2018."

Bet365 Premier League Season Handicap Market 2025/26:

* Odds correct at time of publication 12:15pm, 15/8/25

Sunderland looked a great pick with 52 starting points at 15/1 despite selling Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund, but the additions of Granit Xhaka, Simon Adingra and several other players have seen their odds slashed to 8/1 off the same mark.

The book closes on August 15 at 20:00, so make sure you get on in time as we take a look at Bet365’s latest odds and our top-four predictions for the 2025/26 campaign.

Premier League Season Handicap Tips 2025/26

• Brighton (27pts) - 15/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)
• Crystal Palace (33pts) - 15/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)
• Chelsea (12pts) - 12/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)
• Tottenham (22pts) - 16/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)

* Odds correct at time of publication 12:30pm, 7/8/25

Premier League Handicap Season Winner: Brighton (27pts) 15/1

Six of the last seven handicap winners scored at least 100 points, and Liverpool topped the table with 99 in the 2021/22 season, so it’s pretty clear there needs to be some serious improvement from some teams looking at the handicaps.

Brighton finished last season with 61 points and start the new campaign with a reasonably generous 27, so they only need to find an extra 12 for a potential winning bet.

One major advantage for the Seagulls is that they won’t be distracted by European football, which means manager Fabian Hurzeler can focus all his energy on the domestic campaign.

Joao Pedro, Adingra and Pervis Estupinan have all headed for pastures new, but, as usual, canny Brighton have brought in another handful of unknowns that are sure to light up the Premier League.

The loss of Joao Pedro is a major blow, so much will rest on the shoulders of Georginio Rutter, Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh unless they can unearth another gem up front.

Premier League Season Handicap Winner: Brighton (27pts) - 15/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)

Premier League Handicap Season Runner-Up: Crystal Palace (33pts) 15/1

Crystal Palace won their first ever major trophy last season when Eberechi Eze’s goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Palace finished a respectable 12th in the Premier League, but have been very quiet in the transfer market during the summer.

On the plus side, they have managed to keep hold of their midfield magician Eze (for now) and serial winner Oliver Glasner remains in charge.

Eagles fans will be counting every second until the transfer window shuts on September 1 in the hope that Eze remains with Palace, who beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield in the Premier League curtain-raiser.

The England international formed a formidable partnership with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, scoring a combined 22 goals between them.

True, Palace are in the Europa Conference League this season, but with a few additions they can be a force in the Premier League once again and have a generous head start.

Premier League Season Handicap Runner-Up: Crystal Palace (33pts) - 15/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)

Premier League Handicap Season: Chelsea (12pts) 12/1

At the upper end of the market, Chelsea look the pick of the bunch with a 12-point head start.

The Blues absolutely destroyed European champions PSG in the Club World Cup final and are certainly starting to look like the real deal under Enzo Maresca.

As ever, there have been plenty of comings and goings at Stamford Bridge, but Joao Pedro could prove to be a steal up front this season, with Liam Delap possibly acting as back-up, although as things stand Nicolas Jackson remains a Blues player.

England winger Noni Madueke has joined London rivals Arsenal, but Jamie Gittens and Estevao could prove a real handful for Premier League defences.

The Blues were 15/1 when the market first opened and although those odds have been trimmed to 12/1, they still look a major threat to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.

They took 69 points last season, so with a 12-point start it’s asking a lot for them to reach the magical three-figure mark, but you never know.

Premier League Season Handicap Third Place: Chelsea (12pts) - 12/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)

Premier League Handicap Season: Tottenham (22pts) 16/1

Tottenham had their worst ever Premier League season under Ange Postecoglou, who at least won the Europa League before sailing off into the sunset. 

Thomas Frank has a big season ahead of him juggling the Champions League and Premier League following his move from Brentford.

Son Heung-min has ended his 10-year stay in north London and attacking midfielder James Maddison will miss most of the season after rupturing his ACL in a friendly, but Frank is a man who clearly knows what he’s doing.

The Dane led the unfashionable Bees to a top-half finish for the second time in three seasons and more will be expected of him at a much bigger club.

Spurs took just 38 points last season to finish one place above the relegation zone, so starting with 22 means they will have the onerous task of finding more than double that number to hit the hundred mark. 

Winger Mohammed Kudus has signed from West Ham and ball-winner Joao Palhinha has joined on loan from Bayern Munich, so if they can bring in extra quality it could be a decent season under the new manager.

Spurs were much the better side against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup, despite losing on penalties, and if they can consistently produce performances like that, a good season looks on the cards.

Premier League Season Handicap Fourth Place: Tottenham (22pts) - 16/1 With Bet365 (Each-Way 1/4 Top Four)

Who do you think will top the Premier League handicap table at the end of the season? Leave your comments below!