2025 Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race Preview, Prediction & Odds

Oxford to win the men’s race - 7/4 William Hill

The 2025 Boat Race takes place on Sunday and once again all the talk in the build-up has been about the water quality rather than the quality of the teams.

Following Oxford’s defeat in the men’s race 12 months ago, they complained about sewage levels, and organisers say that the water quality is an "ongoing concern” with levels of E. coli bacteria almost three times above the Environment Agency's threshold.

Last year, three members of the Oxford team went down with illness before the race, which they blamed on the water quality, but everyone would much rather be talking about the race itself this time around.

This year’s men’s race (2.21pm, BBC One) will be the 170th, after first being held in 1829 and becoming an annual fixture in 1856, while it’s only been 10 years since the women’s race was switched ton the same day and course as their male counterparts.

Cambridge has won seven consecutive women’s titles but their chances this year were dealt a blow last month when the selection rules changed, stopping PGCE students from competing, ruling out two of their original women’s team, as well as one from the men’s boat.

Betting sites are still backing Cambridge in the women’s race (1.21pm, BBC One), at odds of 2/9 over the 4.2 miles between Putney and Mortlake, while Oxford are a 3/1 chance.

Cambridge have also dominated the men’s race in recent years, winning five of the last six encounters and this year they are going for the hat trick.

But if you like statistics, you might want to back an Oxford win because the dark blues have the edge in post-Olympic races, having won the last five.

Their last defeat after an Olympics was back in 2001, a year after Steve Redgrave won his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Sydney.

Oxford’s men are a 7/4 shout on some betting apps, and the value may lie with them to win what will be a hotly contested race, given the recent wranglings over selection.

Boat Race Tip: Oxford to win the men’s race - 7/4 William Hill

Sports betting can be enjoyable, but it’s important to stay in control and gamble responsibly.

Whether you are using the best online casino, slot sites, poker sites, or online bookmakers, responsible gambling should always be a priority.

All licensed gambling sites in the UK are required to provide tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, and self-assessment questionnaires. These are designed to help you manage your activity and protect your wellbeing.

Many operators, including online bookmakers and new casino sites, will offer free bets and or a casino bonus. While these can be tempting, it is vital to read the terms and conditions of any offer before taking part.

Gambling should be treated as entertainment—not a source of income. If you are concerned about your gambling behaviour, support is available from:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.