Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester
20th March 1430hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Leicester +18 handicap
Bookmaker Ladbrokes
Odds: Even money odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021
Exeter battled to a narrow home win over the in-form Harlequins last weekend at Sandy Park to make it back to back success in the league.
They get what on paper looks like a bit of an easier game on the weekend as they play host to Leicester.
The Tigers have won three of their last four fixtures, however, but they head to Sandy Park as the big underdogs.
Table of Contents
Exeter Chiefs Preview – Will Exeter make it three in a row?
Twice this season Exeter have lost consecutive matches in the Premiership. On both occasions, they have responded well.
It is back to back wins for the Chiefs in the top flight now after losing to Northampton and Sale in consecutive games.
Their rival has come with success over Bath and then against Harlequins last weekend. They only squeezed past Quins 21-20 last weekend.
In the match outright for Rugby betting in his game, the Chiefs are 1/16 odds-on to get the victory* (odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
The Chiefs are now W9 L4 for this season and are trailing Bristol Bears only in the race for the top spot in the Premiership.
From their home fixtures in the top flight this season, Exeter are W4 L2 for this campaign, the reverses happening against Northampton and Bristol.
Looking at their margins of victory at Sandy Park, two have been by 8-points or fewer the other two by at least 23 points.
So they have been a little bit hit and miss.
An Exeter -18 handicap is at 10/11 odds and that looks to be on the risky side of things at the moment for the Chiefs.
That’s because in their last two at home, they have lost and they have won by a single point margin.
But overall it has been two defeats only for Exeter in their last seven games in the top flight.
They do have home form rolling along against Leicester as well as Exeter are on a six-match winning streak against them.
The Chiefs have not lost a home game in the league at Sandy Park against Leicester since 2014.
So that looks like a strong indicator ahead of this game.
It is interesting that to earn their last two league wins, Exeter have had to fight back from a -13 point deficit in both of them.
But they have still managed to dig out those points.
Leicester Preview – Tigers make changes
Leicester have made eight changes to their starting lineup which won away at Gloucester last weekend.
That was the first away win in the Premiership for around two years for the Tigers.
The last time that they have managed to pick up consecutive road wins was in May 2018 and this is a tough game in which to try and emulate that.
The last time that Leicester beat Exter was in September 2017 and that was at Welford Road.
Looking at the current form of Leicester they have only lost one of their last four games now (W3).
So they aren’t doing too badly, but that has to be put into context.
The victories were against Gloucester, London Irish and Wasps who are all having difficult seasons.
From their eleven matches completed this season in the Premiership, Leicester are W6 L5.
Out on their Premiership travels for this campaign the Tigers are W1 L3, that long win happening at Gloucester
In the match, tonight for Premiership rugby betting the win for Leicester is at 15/2* (odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
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Leicester have averaged 23 points per league game this season, so that hasn’t been a bad return.
But there has been a big drop off in that output away from home for them.
The Tigers are averaging only 14 points per Premiership away game this season.
Each of their losses on the road have been by a margin of at least 13 points.
A Leicester +18 handicap line is at even money and that would have covered each of their away defeats this season* (odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Betting Advice
Exeter have made things difficult for themselves in the first half of matches recently. So we think this is tighter than it may look.
But we don’t see anything other than a home win turning up. But we think a Leicester +18 handicap may be the safer option* (odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
Exeter have been a little shaky, having found themselves under pressure on the scoreboard recently.
Key Facts – Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Betting Tip
- Exeter Chiefs have won their last six games against Leicester
- Exeter Chiefs have overcome a 13-point deficit in their last two league games to win
- Leicester have won once away from home in the last two years
We don’t see Leicester getting totally rolled over, but the chances of them making it back to back road wins for the campaign looks unlikely.
One away win in the last two years pretty much tears that down.
For some extended odds we are going with the Exeter 8-14 winning margin at 4/1* (odds taken 03:51 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
The best betting odds for Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester
Exeter Chiefs to win: 1/16 at Bet365
Draw: 40/1 at Bet365
Leicester to win: 10/11 at Bet365
