Bet365 have released their Premier League season handicap odds for 2026/27, with Nottingham Forest the market favourites at 8/1. The season handicap is one of the most popular ante-post markets of the year, giving every club a realistic chance of finishing top of the pile. Here is a full breakdown of the latest odds, an explanation of how the market works and a team-by-team guide ahead of the new campaign.
Premier League season handicap odds 2026/27
Below are the latest bet365 odds for the 2026/27 Premier League season handicap market. Each-way terms are 1/4 odds for places one to four, and the book closes on 21st August at 20:00 BST.
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| Team | Handicap | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | +0 | 15/1 |
| Manchester City | +3 | 15/1 |
| Liverpool | +7 | 18/1 |
| Manchester United | +8 | 15/1 |
| Chelsea | +10 | 15/1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | +16 | 10/1 |
| Aston Villa | +18 | 18/1 |
| Newcastle United | +23 | 18/1 |
| Brighton and Hove Albion | +23 | 15/1 |
| Bournemouth | +28 | 18/1 |
| Everton | +28 | 15/1 |
| Brentford | +29 | 18/1 |
| Nottingham Forest | +30 | 8/1 |
| Leeds United | +31 | 15/1 |
| Crystal Palace | +31 | 18/1 |
| Fulham | +32 | 15/1 |
| Sunderland | +34 | 15/1 |
| Ipswich Town | +44 | 18/1 |
| Coventry City | +44 | 15/1 |
| Hull City | +52 | 15/1 |
How does the Premier League season handicap work?
The Premier League season handicap market gives every team a head start in the form of bonus points before the campaign begins. Bookmakers award fewer or no bonus points to the strongest teams, while clubs expected to finish lower in the table receive a bigger advantage to level the playing field.
Once the 38-game season ends, bookmakers add each team’s handicap to their final points tally. The team with the highest combined total wins the market. Arsenal, for example, start on zero points as defending champions, while Hull City receive a +52 handicap after bookmakers rated them as the favourites to finish bottom.
This market gives every club a realistic chance of winning. Teams that exceed expectations relative to their handicap often come out on top, and recent history supports that trend. Since Manchester City won from scratch in 2017-18, only Liverpool have claimed the market after starting with a single-digit handicap.
Who won the Premier League season handicap in 2025/26?
Sunderland were the winners of last season’s Premier League handicap after receiving a hefty +52 head start. The Black Cats finished with 54 points in the actual table, giving them a combined total of 106 to top the handicap standings.
Manchester United were runners-up on 92 combined points after an impressive campaign yielded 71 actual points from a +21 start. Brentford finished third on 91, while Leeds United came fourth on 90. At the other end, Liverpool finished bottom of the handicap on just 60 points despite starting without a handicap, and Wolverhampton Wanderers finished second from bottom on 59.
| Team | Handicap | Points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | +52 | 54 | 106 |
| Manchester United | +21 | 71 | 92 |
| Brentford | +38 | 53 | 91 |
| Leeds United | +43 | 47 | 90 |
| Bournemouth | +32 | 57 | 89 |
| Arsenal | +3 | 85 | 88 |
| Aston Villa | +22 | 65 | 87 |
| Fulham | +33 | 52 | 85 |
| Everton | +33 | 49 | 82 |
| Manchester City | +3 | 78 | 81 |
| Brighton | +27 | 53 | 80 |
| Crystal Palace | +33 | 45 | 78 |
| Nottingham Forest | +32 | 44 | 76 |
| West Ham United | +35 | 39 | 74 |
| Burnley | +51 | 22 | 73 |
| Chelsea | +12 | 52 | 64 |
| Newcastle United | +15 | 49 | 64 |
| Tottenham | +22 | 41 | 63 |
| Liverpool | 0 | 60 | 60 |
| Wolves | +39 | 20 | 59 |
The trend of teams with large head starts winning the handicap has been a prominent feature in recent years. Below is a list of the previous winners.
| Season | Winner | Total points |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Sunderland +52 | 106 |
| 2024/25 | Nottingham Forest +47 | 112 |
| 2023/24 | Aston Villa +32 | 100 |
| 2022/23 | Brentford +46 | 105 |
| 2021/22 | Liverpool +7 | 99 |
| 2020/21 | West Ham +44 | 109 |
| 2019/20 | Sheffield United +52 | 106 |
| 2018/19 | Liverpool +6 | 103 |
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New customers can sign up using bonus code SQUAWKA365, bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration Required. This code is for marketing and tracking purposes only. #Ad.
Premier League season handicap 2026/27 team-by-team guide
Arsenal +0 (15/1)
Arsenal head into the new season as defending Premier League champions but receive no head start in the handicap. No team has won this market off scratch since Man City in 2017/18, and the Gunners would likely need close to 90 points to be competitive. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were pushed to the limit last season as the club also reached the Champions League final, and sustaining that level will be a tall order.
Manchester City +3 (15/1)
Pep Guardiola’s departure marks the end of an era at the Etihad Stadium, with Enzo Maresca stepping into the dugout. A +3 start barely separates Man City from Arsenal, and an identical handicap last season saw them finish just 10th in the standings with a combined 81 points.
Liverpool +7 (18/1)
Liverpool finished bottom of last season’s handicap with just 60 combined points, making them the market’s poorest performers. Andoni Iraola replaces Arne Slot in the dugout and a +7 start offers a slight improvement, but the Reds still look overpriced relative to their handicap.
Manchester United +8 (15/1)
Man Utd were the surprise package of last season’s handicap, finishing second with 92 combined points from a +21 start. Their handicap has been slashed to +8 off the back of that 71-point campaign, making them far less attractive in a market that favours bigger starts.
Chelsea +10 (15/1)
Chelsea were among the poorest handicap performers in 2025/26, managing just 64 combined points from a +12 start. Xabi Alonso’s arrival as head coach brings fresh optimism, and the absence of European football means the Blues can focus entirely on domestic matters.
Tottenham Hotspur +16 (10/1)
Spurs are the second favourites in the market at 10/1 following Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment and a significant summer of investment. Tottenham finished near the bottom of last year’s handicap on just 63 combined points, however, and bettors may want to consider whether that short price is truly justified.
Aston Villa +18 (18/1)
Unai Emery’s side face the challenge of Champions League football for a second consecutive season, which stretched resources last time around. Villa finished a respectable seventh in the 2025/26 handicap with 87 combined points, and a +18 start gives them a solid foundation.
Newcastle United +23 (18/1)
The departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali weaken the squad considerably, though the absence of European football should work in Newcastle’s favour. A +23 head start puts the Magpies firmly in the range where previous handicap winners have tended to emerge.
Brighton and Hove Albion +23 (15/1)
Brighton return to European competition this season following an impressive domestic campaign under Fabian Hurzeler. Their +23 start matches Newcastle’s, and the key question is whether Hurzeler’s side can juggle continental commitments with their Premier League efforts.
Bournemouth +28 (18/1)
Bournemouth were one of the strongest handicap performers last season, finishing fifth with 89 combined points. The loss of Andoni Iraola to Liverpool is softened by Marco Rose’s arrival, and a +28 head start keeps the Cherries firmly in the mix.
Everton +28 (15/1)
David Moyes has brought stability to Goodison Park, with the Toffees finishing on exactly 49 points in each of the last two seasons. That consistency allied with a +28 start makes Everton a dependable handicap contender at 15/1.
Brentford +29 (18/1)
Brentford won the season handicap in 2022/23 and have consistently punched above their weight in this market. Keith Andrews’ side narrowly missed out on European qualification on the final day last season, and a +29 head start makes the Bees a proven threat once again.
Nottingham Forest +30 (8/1)
Forest are the clear market favourites at 8/1 and previous winners of the handicap as recently as 2024/25. Oliver Glasner’s side have no European football to contend with this season after their Europa League run, and a +30 start positions them perfectly to go well.
Leeds United +31 (15/1)
Leeds were fourth in last season’s handicap with 90 combined points from a +43 start after an impressive return to the top flight. Daniel Farke’s side have had their handicap trimmed to +31 in recognition of that campaign, but they remain competitively priced.
Crystal Palace +31 (18/1)
Managerial change has been a theme at Selhurst Park, with Pierre Sage stepping into the hotseat following Oliver Glasner’s departure to Nottingham Forest. Palace carry a +31 start, though the early months could be bumpy as the squad adjusts to new methods.
Fulham +32 (15/1)
Fulham were an impressive eighth in the handicap last season with 85 combined points but face a summer of upheaval. The departures of Marco Silva, Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson leave Alvaro Arbeloa with a significant rebuilding job at Craven Cottage.
Sunderland +34 (15/1)
The defending handicap champions see their start trimmed from +52 to +34, reflecting the Black Cats’ outstanding debut season back in the Premier League. Sunderland must now balance top-flight survival with Europa League commitments, making a repeat triumph considerably trickier.
Ipswich Town +44 (18/1)
Ipswich return to the Premier League at the first time of asking after being relegated two seasons ago. A +44 head start is generous, but the Tractor Boys were found wanting at this level before and must improve significantly without former manager Kieran McKenna.
Coventry City +44 (15/1)
As Championship winners, Coventry arrive in the Premier League with momentum and belief behind them. History suggests promoted clubs with sizeable handicap starts have a genuine chance in this market, and the Sky Blues’ +44 start makes them a lively outsider.
Hull City +52 (15/1)
Hull receive the biggest head start of any team at +52, the same advantage that both Sunderland and Sheffield United rode to handicap glory in previous seasons. The Tigers need only survive in the division to give themselves a fighting chance, and even modest points hauls have proved enough with starts of this size.
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