Live on ESPN & Skysports 2: Sat 12.30 & Sun 12.30: It’s the first Old Firm of the season and Steven Naismith is 2/1 (Stan James) to net.
Despite Rangers leading the SPL by a point, the bookies make it advantage Celtic in the title betting via Sportingbet’s 8/13 quote, though that may all change following this season’s first Old Firm clash at Ibrox on Sunday.
Seven meetings between the pair last term produced three Celtic wins, two Gers’ victories, and two stalemates, so it is anyone’s guess as how to this one will shape. Ladbrokes do stick their necks out in making the hosts their 6/4 jollies, however, with the Bhoys on 2/1 (Boylesports), and a draw 12/5 (Skybet).
One interesting angle shows that Steven Naismith struck in five of his last 11 outings at Ibrox, adding appeal to him netting the first at 7/1, while Stan James go a respectful 2/1 for him to deliver at any stage.
Dunfermline host Hibernian (9/4, Totesport) in the lunchtime kick-off 24 hours earlier, where Paddy Power make the home side their 6/4 favourites. The fact both sides leaked heavily could see backers steaming into a goalfest where 2.5 goals or more shines at Sportingbet’s evens.
A hard-fought draw at Hibernian provides Aberdeen with a platform to build upon ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Kilmarnock – a fixture the Dons won 5-0 back in February.
While a repeat of that at 275/1 (Paddy Power) may be expecting too much, Craig Brown’s troops are capable of winning ‘to nil’ via Partybets’ 11/5, where the same firm chalk 11/5 for a 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 home win.
The men in red will need to start a lot sharper than previously where they scored the first goal just once in seven outings, pointing up the possibility of a level first half (evens, Betfred), where a goalless first 45 minutes weighs-in at Boylesports’ 7/4.
Four points from the last six available makes good reading for Inverness who take on the side directly above them in the league, Dundee United, at Tannadice, a venue they left unbeaten from in two of their last three visits.
shout 10/11 about Caley going unbeaten once more, but more confident punters may want the same firm’s 15/4 for three points, an achievement they managed here just over a year ago when 4-0 winners.
The fact St Johnstone have not lost on the road suggests they can pick up at least another point this weekend at third-placed Motherwell in a fixture they are surprisingly as big as 4.0 (3/1) with Betdaq to land a maximum haul.
Further confidence in Saints coming away from Fir Park with something comes via the fact they have not even conceded a goal in 270 minutes of football away from McDiarmid Park, pointing up bet365’s 11/4 for them keeping another clean sheet.
The final say goes to Hearts (4/5, Ladbrokes), who will be looking to stretch their three-game unbeaten run at home to St Mirren, a side that average under a goal per game. The Jambos look good value to win this ‘to nil’ at Skybet’s 7/4.
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