Higgins nearly always finds a way to beat Bingham, but this pair rarely part quickly. Each of their last five head-to-head meetings ended 3:2, with John winning four of them. That matters more for a bet on his win + Over 9.5 than the bare difference in their rankings.
John Higgins
Higgins is currently fifth in the world and looks more convincing. At the Shanghai Masters, he edged out Jack Lisowski (6:5), while in the spring he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan (13:12) and Neil Robertson (13:10) at the World Championship. He then lost 0:6 to Judd Trump, but one poor showing does not change the overall picture: Higgins remains very strong in long, tense matches.
Stuart Bingham
Bingham also does not look like an opponent Higgins is certain to dispatch 6:1 or 6:2. In China Open qualifying, he beat Ian Burns (6:4) before thrashing Luca Brecel (6:0). His level fluctuates, but he has enough experience to take a few frames even from a more consistent opponent.
John Higgins vs Stuart Bingham Prediction
A narrower scenario is more appealing here than a straightforward Higgins win. For the Higgins win + Over 9.5 combination to land, the score must be 6:4 or 6:5. Given their head-to-head history and John's current level, such a prolonged match looks more logical than a rout.
