Bath vs Exeter Chiefs Prediction: Bath to leave Chiefs out in the cold

There are points and bragging rights at stake in a West Country derby on Saturday (15:05, live on TNT Sports 1) as rivals Bath and Exeter Chiefs renew hostilities at The Recreation Ground in the Gallagher Prem.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Bath vs Exeter Chiefs prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Somerset.

Bath vs Exeter Chiefs Odds

Bath are the 2/11 favourites for the win and bragging rights on Saturday afternoon, while Exeter are 4/1 to cause an upset and win at The Rec.

A draw in this West Country showdown is available at odds of 22/1.

Team News

Hosts Bath go with Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Vilikesa Sela in the front row, while debutant Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi is partnered by Ross Molony in the second row.

Ted Hill, Guy Pepper and Alfie Barbeary complete the pack, while skipper Ben Spencer and Finn Russell combine once again in the half-backs.

Cameron Redpath and Ollie Lawrence start in the centres, with Bath going for a back three of Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Santi Carreras.

As for the visitors, Exeter have gone for a front row of Scott Sio, Joseph Dweba and Bachuki Tchumbadze.

Skipper Dafydd Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin are in the second row, with Tom Hooper, Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau completing the pack.

Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner are the half-backs, Will Rigg and Henry Slade start in the centres, while Exeter have a back three of Campbell Ridl, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Olly Woodburn.

Bath -12 @ 20/21

Winning all of their last five games against Exeter in the Gallagher Prem, Bath have been the dominant force in this West Country rivalry in recent years.

The Chiefs do deserve great credit as they have made significant progress this season and sit one place and one point better off than Bath going into this encounter after the first eight rounds of fixtures.

However, Exeter's poor away record over the last year, with just two wins in their last 11 road games in all competitions, makes the Chiefs tough to back in this one.

Add to that Bath's excellent home record, which has seen the Blue, Black and Whites win nine of their last 10 home games in the Gallagher Prem, the hosts are backed to claim the spoils in this one.

With the likes of Redpath, Lawrence and Arundell playing outside playmaker Russell, Bath can rack up the scoreline and the hosts are good value to cover the -12 handicap available here at 20/21.

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