Live on ESPN: Sat 12.30: A 9/2 double at Coral, a victory ‘to nil’ for a favourite and a tasty draw are Peter Sharkey’s SPL picks this week.
Although Kilmarnock registered a shock 2-0 win at Parkhead when they played Celtic in October, William Hill’s lengthy 9/1 odds for them to secure a second consecutive victory over the champions at lunchtime on Saturday suggests punters should be looking for Celtic to avenge that defeat.
Neil Lennon’s buoyant squad are 2/5 at Paddy Power to secure three points and as the last eight league meetings of the pair have ended with a solitary home win, backing the Hoops to win 2-0 (13/2, Ladbrokes) or 3-0 (9/1, Stan James) appears to make good sense. Ladbrokes cover both results, pricing the visitors at 6/4 to prevail ‘to nil’.
Aberdeen have not scored against Hearts in their last eight duels, while in their previous three league meetings at Tynecastle, the Edinburgh side has notched 11 goals. Little wonder that Hearts kick off as bet365’s 5/4 jollies.
The Dons have been level at half time in 11 of their 16 league fixtures to date, although they’ve won only three. Backers expecting that trend to continue can get evens (BetVictor.com) about it being all square at half time, while a Hearts victory following a drawn first period is priced at 9/2 by Skybet.
Matters are expected to be very close when third-placed Inverness host second-placed Hibs. Home advantage accounts for Thistle’s 6/5 favouritism (Stan James) and bet365 make them 10/3 to win by a one goal margin.
Motherwell’s elevated league position is hardly a result of their home form – they’ve won only once and scored 7 goals in eight matches – which means Ross County’s 3/1 odds to win (Paddy Power) look a little too frothy. More likely is a repeat of the draw (5/2, Stan James) the two played out in August.
St Mirren have not beaten a side occupying a place in the SPL’s top half this season, despite having eight attempts. Accordingly, they welcome St Johnstone tomorrow priced as Skybet’s marginal 7/4 outsiders, although bookies remain mindful that the visitors have managed only one clean sheet all term. The pair have drawn six of their last dozen league encounters and another, offered at 12/5 by BetVictor.com, looks one of the day’s most inviting wagers.
Finally, bottom-placed Dundee host neighbours United on Sunday having lost more home fixtures (5) than any other SPL side. They’ve also allowed their opponents to score first on nine occasions to date (in 15 matches), adding appeal to Paddy Power’s 4/6 price for United to open the scoring and to bet365’s 7/1 for the away team to register a 2-0 victory.
Recommended Bets:
Celtic to beat Kilmarnock ‘to nil’ – 6/4 (Ladbrokes)
Double on Hearts and Inverness – 9/2 (Coral)
St Mirren and St Johnstone to draw – 12/5 (BetVictor)
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