Sat & Sun 15.00: Peter Sharkey has four picks on the Scottish Premiership’s opening day including a 9/2 double (Hills).
Observant punters will note that Saturday’s opening Premiership fixtures feature home teams that finished either first or second in their respective league tables last term. Backers who fancy this trio, comprising Motherwell (4/5), Dundee (6/4) and Hamilton (23/10) to start their campaigns with victories could see a profit of £138.50 for a £10 treble in which all three were backed to win. These odds are available at bet365.
Though they’re not in action this weekend, we can expect Celtic to be heavily backed in combination wagers this term as they’re 3/1 with Paddy Power to win the league by a margin of between 21-25 points,
Motherwell, who kick off their campaign at Fir Park, suffered an unexpected 3-2 defeat by St Mirren when the pair met in April, but they’re 7/4 (BetVictor.com) to lead at the end of both halves on Saturday and 9/4 (Stan James) to win without conceding.
Newly-promoted Dundee host Kilmarnock after a season outside of Scotland’s top flight. Installed as Ladbrokes’ 6/4 favourites to start their campaign with a win, Dundee look decent value, especially as they conceded just nine goals at home last term. Killie, Betway’s 2/1 outsiders, won 3-2 on their last visit to Dens Park and are 8/1 (Winner.com) to register a 1-0 victory.
Hamilton, also promoted from the Championship, face a tough opener against Inverness, the latter priced at 7/5 (bet365) to secure maximum points. Punters expect Thistle to dominate on Saturday and Skybet post 5/6 against them opening the scoring, while BetVictor.com chalk 3/1 against them enjoying a one-goal margin of victory.
Aberdeen, 9/1 with Stan James to win the Premiership when handed a 25-point start, open with a winnable fixture against Dundee United. The Dons beat United three times last term (drawing another) and are 5/4 (William Hill) to secure three points.
Finally, there’s hope at McDiarmid Park that St Johnstone can build upon last season’s often impressive performances. BetVictor.com offer 8/13 against them securing a top six finish next May, although they must first negotiate a tricky-looking contest against Ross County, a fixture they kick off as favourites (6/4, bet365).
Matches involving the pair have been tight since Ross arrived in the Premiership in 2012: all but one of their seven league meetings have ended either as draws or been settled by a single goal. A 1-0 away win is priced at 8/1 by Stan James.
Recommended Bets:
Aberdeen (+25 points) to win the Premiership – 9/1 (Stan James)
Motherwell to beat St Mirren ‘to nil’ – 9/4 (Stan James)
Inverness & Motherwell double – 13/4 (bet365)
Aberdeen and Dundee double – 9/2 (William Hill)
Compare all Scottish Premiership odds and bet at the best price.
