Sat 15.00 & Live on BBC Scot: Sun 13.30: A 10/1 double (BetVictor) is one of Peter Sharkey’s Scottish Premiership & League Cup picks.
An impressive midweek performance against in-form Aberdeen resulted in St Johnstone recording their first home draw of the season, but they’ll be looking to improve upon that when they visit Fir Park on Saturday against a Motherwell side that has lost each of its last five matches.
The Saints kick off priced as Stan James’s clear 6/5 favourites to secure three points and overhaul a Motherwell side (15/8, Betway) they’ve beaten twice in the league already this term.
Few backers are anticipating a feast of goals however. No top flight side has scored fewer at home (6) than Motherwell and no team has managed fewer away goals (7) than the Saints. Accordingly, punters may feel comfortable taking on Ladbrokes’ 6/5 for Saturday’s contest to yield fewer than 2.5 goals.
Hamilton (2/1, Winner.com) have lost their last four league matches while Dundee (5/4, Paddy Power) will be looking to prolong an unbeaten run which they extended to five matches at St Mirren last week.
Punters looking to hedge their bets might be tempted by bet365’s 23/10 odds posted about the stalemate. BetVictor’s 7/2 for it to finish as a score draw has proved understandably popular – in fact, this fixture’s most heavily-backed result is a 1-1 draw, priced at 13/2 by Skybet.
While the unexpected is part of sport’s wonderful appeal, it would be a major surprise if Inverness (1/2, Ladbrokes) failed to overhaul Ross County (11/2, Betway) on Saturday, though Dundee United’s League Cup semi final against Aberdeen is a different matter.
Unbeaten in five January duels, the Terrors hammered the Dons 3-0 at Pittodrie earlier in the season. Despite this, they’re installed as Skybet’s 15/8 underdogs to get the better of Aberdeen, rated a 6/4 shot to secure victory with bet365.
Punters can get 11/10 (Winner.com) against both teams scoring, while BetVictor.com post 12/5 against it finishing all-square
The first Old Firm fixture since April 2012 takes place on Sunday with Celtic priced at 2/5 (Ladbrokes) to register victory; Rangers travel to Parkhead as Stan James’s massive 7/1 underdogs. In other markets, Paddy Power chalk 11/10 about the champions winning without conceding and William Hill offer just 8/1 against them winning 3-0 – the score by which they defeated their old rivals when they last met.
It could be worth supplementing bet365’s 7/1 for Celtic to win 2-1 with Stan James’s 6/1 for them to secure a 1-0 victory, while for the brave a 1-1 draw is rated at 21/2 by BetVictor.com.
Recommended Bets:
Draw double in Dundee v Hamilton & Dundee Utd v Aberdeen – 10/1 (BetVictor)
Celtic, Inverness and St Johnstone treble – 7/2 (Stan James)
Under 2.5 goals in St Johnstone v Motherwell – 6/5 (Ladbrokes)
Compare all Scottish Premiership odds and bet at the best price.
