Cardiff City FC
Football England - EFL League One Cardiff City Stadium Fri 26 Dec 10:00
Exeter City FC
  1. Prediction
  2. Odds
  3. Stats
  4. Team News
  5. Lineups
  6. Squads
  7. Table

League One Betting Preview: Cardiff vs Exeter

League One leaders Cardiff go head-to-head with Exeter at Cardiff City Stadium, with kick-off set for 10:00 on Friday 26 December.

Expect Goals in Bluebirds vs Grecians

We think there’s a good angle when it comes to Over 2.5 for the clash between Cardiff and Exeter. Our opinion is that the Total Goals market affords great value and we will snap up the -132 on offer.

Expecting a few goals in this one? Pick up the newest BetMGM promo code and read our full site review before getting in on the action.

Exeter Won Big Last Time Out

Cardiff City have won five straight league matches at home. In their last appearance, Brian Barry-Murphy's side suffered a 2-1 away loss against Lincoln City at LNER Stadium.

Exeter City have lost four consecutive League One away games. In their previous appearance, the Grecians recorded a 3-0 home triumph over Barnsley at St. James Park, Exeter.

League One G W D L GF GA GD GD P
1 Cardiff logo Cardiff 20 13 2 5 37 22 15 37:22 41
20 Exeter logo Exeter 20 7 2 11 21 20 1 21:20 23
View Full Table

Cardiff vs Exeter Prediction & Betting Tips

Dive into our full Cardiff vs Exeter betting preview, featuring an expert match prediction, a projected scoreline, top player prop bets and a bet builder designed for value.

Match Prediction

We expect the net to bulge plenty of times when it comes to this League One showdown. Looking at the available stats, we will bet on Over 2.5 Goals and feel bullish with the -132 that is currently available.

The League One experts at Sportsgambler.com always keep close tabs on team news. We also use a form guide for our football betting tips along with checking out the stats that are going to help inform our final decision.

Key Cardiff vs Exeter league stats:

  • The 2.5 line has been covered in the last 5 Cardiff games at home.
  • The 2.5 line has been covered in 9 of the last 10 Cardiff games at home.
  • The 2.5 line has been covered in 12 of the last 20 Cardiff games.
  • The 2.5 line has been covered in 3 of the last 5 Exeter games.
  • The 2.5 line has been covered in the last 2 Exeter games.
Over 2.5 Probability

The latest odds at the best betting sites suggest our pick carries a 56.8% chance of winning. However, we think that the probability sits between 60-65% taking all factors into consideration. It is therefore regarded as a value wager.

Looking for Bigger Odds?

There are alternatives to this betting selection including Over 3.5 Goals where bettors can land bigger odds. You need four or more to be scored in order to trigger a pay out with this pick.

Don’t place a bet without checking our guide full of top-tier betting offers, from free bets to welcome bonus incentives.

Our Match Prediction
Over 2.5 Goals @ -132 Bet Now BetMGM logo
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Published 16:08, 24 December 2025

Correct Score Prediction

Cardiff Cardiff logo 2 - 1 Exeter logo Exeter

There’s the option to wager on Cardiff to win by a 2-1 scoreline. Odds of +550 are on offer and this is a correct score bet that should provide plenty of entertainment.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Yousef Salech to Score +150 BetMGM logo

Yousef Salech (Cardiff) has scored at least one goal in five consecutive League One games on home soil. We believe that there is merit in backing him for an Anytime Goalscorer prop wager at +150 which means we need to him to be on the scoresheet.

Latest Yousef Salech Player Prop Odds

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Bet Builder Tips

Total Goals Over 2.5 -132
Full-Time Result Cardiff -185
Anytime Goalscorer Yousef Salech +150

Try out our bet builder picks which include three or more goals, Cardiff to claim a victory combined with Yousef Salech (Cardiff) to score.

It’s now the case that you can wager a bet builder on a specific football match. Should a bettor get all selections correct, then they can achieve a good return from a small stake.

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Cardiff vs Exeter Odds

The odds are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the above betting predictions.

Latest Odds Suggest Cardiff Win

Cardiff City are the skinniest price to succeed in this League One clash, with the favourites afforded a 65% probability based on their -185 betting odds with the bookies. Exeter City are the outsiders at +460 which suggests a lower likelihood of winning.

If Cardiff beat Exeter by two or more goals, then the -114 about them on the Asian Handicap -1 pays out. A one-goal win and you have the insurance of getting a full refund.

The Total Goals market reveals that Over 2.5 Goals is the current betting favourite. When it comes to Both Teams to Score wagering, you’re able to land -119 for the BTTS Yes pick and the same applies to the BTTS No outcome.

If you’re betting on League One matches, we recommend heading to the top football betting sites and scanning through the hundreds of markets. There’s a chance to bet pre-match and In-Play.

Yousef Salech Heads First Goalscorer Market

There is +150 available that Yousef Salech finds the net at any stage. He is available at +340 to register the first goal which makes him favourite.

Player Goals
Yousef Salech (Cardiff)
First
+150
Anytime
+340
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Callum Robinson (Cardiff)
First
+210
Anytime
+500
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Omari Kellyman (Cardiff)
First
+235
Anytime
+550
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Cian Ashford (Cardiff)
First
+265
Anytime
+600
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Best Betting Offers
Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff Bidding to Stay Strong at Home

Cardiff have clocked up seven wins and three losses in the past 10 home games, recording an average of 2.50 goals per match and conceding 1.60.

Exeter are on a four game losing streak on the road. The Devon team have eight defeats and two wins in the last 10 away games, scoring an average of 0.50 goals per match and conceding 1.20.

Last 10 League Games W-D-L G GF GA O2.5 U2.5 B-Y B-No
Cardiff logo Cardiff Home Stats 7-0-3 4.10 2.50 1.60 9 1 6 4
Exeter logo Exeter Away Stats 2-0-8 1.70 0.50 1.20 3 7 3 7
  • W-D-L = Wins-Draws-Losses
  • G = Avg. Goals
  • GF = Avg. Goals For
  • GA = Avg. Goals Against
  • O2.5 = Matches Over 2.5 Goals
  • U2.5 = Matches Under 2.5 Goals
  • B-Y = Matches BTTS Yes
  • B-No = Matches BTTS No
Team Stats
Cardiff logo Cardiff League Stats
Exeter logo Exeter League Stats
Full-Time Result
  • 7 wins and 3 defeats in the previous 10 matches
  • 8 wins and 2 defeats in the previous 10 home matches
Full-Time Result
  • 4 wins, 4 defeats and 2 draws in the previous 10 matches
  • 2 wins and 8 defeats in the previous 10 away matches
Goals
Goals
Top Scorers & Assists
Top Scorers & Assists

Cardiff vs Exeter Lineups & Team News

Be smart with your bets — check the Cardiff vs Exeter team news beforehand. Stay in the know with our predicted and confirmed League One lineups and the latest on injuries.

Previous Cardiff Lineups

20 Dec League One
Lincoln 2-1 Cardiff
16 Dec EFL Cup
Cardiff 1-3 Chelsea
13 Dec League One
Cardiff 4-3 Doncaster
09 Dec League One
Stevenage 0-1 Cardiff
06 Dec League One
Cardiff 3-2 Huddersfield
29 Nov League One
Cardiff 3-0 Mansfield

Previous Exeter Lineups

20 Dec League One
Exeter 3-0 Barnsley
13 Dec League One
Bolton 2-1 Exeter
09 Dec League One
Exeter 1-0 Wimbledon
06 Dec FA Cup
Exeter 4-0 Wycombe
29 Nov League One
Bradford 1-0 Exeter
15 Nov League One
Leyton Orient 2-1 Exeter
Team Squads

Cardiff Player Stats & Squad

Manager: Brian Barry-Murphy

Player # Pos GP MIN ST BE G A Y R
Joel Bagan 3 D 20 1698 19 1 1 2 4 0
Nathan Trott 13 G 18 1620 18 0 0 0 1 0
Yousef Salech 22 F 20 1507 17 3 10 4 2 0
Ryan Wintle 6 M 18 1430 17 3 1 3 2 0
William Fish 2 D 18 1372 15 5 1 0 1 0

Exeter Player Stats & Squad

Manager: Gary Caldwell

Player # Pos GP MIN ST BE G A Y R
Ilmari Niskanen 14 D 20 1800 20 0 1 5 3 0
Joe Whitworth 1 - 20 1800 20 0 0 0 1 0
Jack McMillan 2 D 20 1722 20 0 1 0 2 0
Jack Fitzwater 5 D 19 1710 19 0 1 1 5 0
Ethan Brierley 6 M 20 1705 19 1 0 1 2 0
England FlagLeague One Table
2025/2026 Season
# Team G W D L +/- P
1 Cardiff 20 13 2 5 37:22 41
2 Lincoln 21 11 5 5 30:22 38
3 Bradford 20 10 7 3 29:20 37
4 Stevenage 19 10 5 4 24:15 35
5 Stockport 20 10 5 5 28:25 35
6 Bolton 20 9 7 4 28:19 34
7 Huddersfield 21 9 4 8 35:31 31
8 Luton 21 8 5 8 26:28 29
9 Wycombe 21 7 7 7 28:22 28
10 Barnsley 18 8 4 6 30:27 28
11 Leyton Orient 21 8 4 9 34:34 28
12 Northampton 20 8 3 9 21:21 27
13 Wimbledon 20 8 3 9 24:29 27
14 Wigan 20 6 8 6 22:23 26
15 Reading 20 6 7 7 24:26 25
16 Peterborough 20 8 1 11 24:27 25
17 Plymouth 21 8 1 12 26:33 25
18 Rotherham 21 6 6 9 21:27 24
19 Burton 20 6 6 8 18:26 24
20 Exeter 20 7 2 11 21:20 23
21 Mansfield 20 6 5 9 24:26 23
22 Blackpool 21 6 5 10 24:30 23
23 Doncaster 21 6 4 11 21:35 22
24 Port Vale 20 3 6 11 13:24 15
# Team G W D L +/- P
1 Lincoln 11 8 2 1 20:10 26
2 Bolton 10 7 3 0 20:5 24
3 Cardiff 10 8 0 2 26:14 24
4 Bradford 10 7 2 1 17:9 23
5 Wycombe 11 6 2 3 21:12 20
6 Leyton Orient 11 5 4 2 18:11 19
7 Huddersfield 10 5 3 2 18:11 18
8 Stevenage 9 5 3 1 11:5 18
9 Reading 11 5 3 3 13:12 18
10 Exeter 10 5 2 3 16:8 17
11 Wigan 10 5 2 3 11:7 17
12 Northampton 11 5 2 4 13:10 17
13 Barnsley 8 5 1 2 18:11 16
14 Rotherham 11 4 4 3 15:15 16
15 Luton 10 4 3 3 10:10 15
16 Stockport 10 4 3 3 11:12 15
17 Mansfield 10 4 2 4 15:12 14
18 Wimbledon 9 4 2 3 10:7 14
19 Doncaster 11 4 2 5 13:17 14
20 Peterborough 10 4 1 5 14:12 13
21 Blackpool 10 3 4 3 15:17 13
22 Burton 10 3 2 5 6:14 11
23 Plymouth 10 3 1 6 9:14 10
24 Port Vale 10 1 3 6 5:12 6