Bath vs Northampton Saints Prediction: Fully-loaded Bath should end 2025 in style

PREM Champions Bath were top at Christmas and next face the side that beat them in the 2024 Grand Final, Northampton Saints.

Below you can find my Bath vs Northampton Saints predictions for Saturday's match at the Recreation Ground (17:30 GMT, TNT Sports 1).

Rugby Union Odds

The Saints showed up Sale 47-21 last weekend, backing up Champions Cup victories against Pau and the Bulls and have won at Gloucester and Newcastle on the road this season.

A trip to the Rec is a step up, though, especially with Bath fully loaded. Fly-half Finn Russell is among the returnees after being rested for last Sunday's 50-14 win at Newcastle.

By contrast, Saints have chosen this game as a chance to rotate and may look stronger for Harlequins' visit next Saturday.

The home side has won the last eight head-to-heads between these teams, and with Bath unbeaten at home in the PREM since October 2024, they are tipped to succeed again, and with plenty to spare.

Team News

Bath have made 10 changes and there are milestones for number eight Miles Reid and scrum-half Ben Spencer, who both make their 100th PREM appearances for the club.

England pair Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence are named in the centres and a stacked bench features Ted Hill, Guy Pepper and Santi Carreras.

Northampton have also made 10 changes from the win over Sale, with Henry Pollock starting at number eight and a new-look half-back partnership of scrum-half Archie McParland and fly-half Anthony Belleau, who started October's win at Gloucester.

Tommy Freeman is included at outside centre, while George Hendy switches from the wing to full-back.

On the bench, prop Oliver Scola is set for his league debut.

Bath vs Northampton Saints Odds

Bath are the 1/12 favourites for success on Saturday, with Northampton 7/1 and a tie 22/1.

The three-way handicap mark is set at 17 points, with Bath -17 available at 20/21.

Bath -20 @ 5/4

Unbeaten at home in the league in 15 months, Bath will be looking to round off 2025 in style and should do so.

Johann van Graan demonstrated the depth available to him during the win at Newcastle and has selected another quality-laden line-up on Saturday, with Spencer and Russell among the premier half-back combinations in club rugby.

Northampton's three-match winning run suggests they are closing in on the form that saw them become champions in 2024.

However, Phil Dowson has used this game as a chance to give England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith a rest, while big-carrying forwards JJ van der Mescht and Josh Kemeny are also not included.

That's not to say the visitors don't pose a threat, with Hendy's switch to the 15 shirt worth noting.

Tall and rangy, Hendy has been likened to France's Damian Penaud.

He has proven a thorn in Bath's side in recent seasons, with his break making the difference in the 2024 Grand Final, while last season, he also crossed against the Blue, Black and White at Franklin's Gardens.

The 23-year-old has scored five tries in Northampton's last three matches and plays with the type of unpredictability that gives Northampton a chance.

Bath are a winning machine, though, and are favourites to defend their Prem title.

Top at Christmas, they can show their class with a statement victory.

Rugby Union betting tips from Betfred Insights.