Live on ESPN: Sat 12.30: In the SPL, Celtic are 5/4 with Coral to win to nil at St Johnstone while Motherwell are 6/5 to beat Dundee.
Motherwell might have been ousted from their position at the top of the SPL by the time they kick off against Dundee on Saturday afternoon (Celtic face St Johnstone at 12.30), but another win at Dens Park for Motherwell would be enough for them to secure top spot by Saturday teatime.
Stan James price Stuart McCall’s men at 6/5 to register maximum points against a Dundee team yet to score at home. Punters who suspect the Fir Park side are capable of winning with something to spare can get 13/5 (BetVictor.com) about them being in front at 45 and at 90 minutes, while bet365 chalk 6/1 in favour of a 1-0 away success.
Only twice in the last nine meetings of Hibs and Kilmarnock have both teams failed to score, while half a dozen of those encounters have ended either drawn or been settled by a single goal. It’s a record which adds appeal to the 5/2 price Stan James mark about the stalemate.
Not surprisingly, home advantage ensures the Edinburgh side start as BetVictor’s 6/5 jollies, but the pair’s recent record suggests that Skybet’s 5/2 odds for Killie to win look a little on the frothy side.
Nonetheless, bet365’s 10/3 price marked in favour of Hibs enjoying a one goal margin of victory has attracted steady support, while the 8/1 offered by Stan James against a 2-1 home win has also caught punters’ attention.
The recent record of duels involving the Highland pairing of Aberdeen and Inverness is also worthy of note. Not one of their last fourteen league fixtures have finished in stalemate, an astonishing record considering that five of their previous six encounters each ended with honours even.
Given their respective league positions, however, there could be great merit in grabbing the 23/10 chalked by Skybet against it finishing all square, particularly as both teams are priced at 7/4 (by BetVictor.com and Ladbrokes respectively) to win the match.
A 1-1 result is priced at 11/2 by Paddy Power, but punters inclined to hedge their bets may also fancy the look of bet365’s 11/2 for Inverness to win following a drawn opening half.
Considering the reigning league champions have won nine of their last ten SPL meetings against St Johnstone, it’s easy to understand why they arrive at McDiarmid Park priced as bet365’s overwhelming 4/9 favourites.
St Johnstone managed to beat the Glaswegian giants once last term, but they kick off as Stan James’s massive 15/2 underdogs to register maximum points. BetVictor.com rates the likelihood of a draw at 3/1.
Only once in the pair’s last seven league encounters have both found the net and bet365 offer 10/11 about them each scoring on Saturday. Contrarian punters could be in for a profitable afternoon, particularly if they take advantage of Skybet’s 10/1 about it finishing goalless, or Stan James’s enormous 18/1, chalked in favour of a 1-0 home win.
Hearts have won six and drawn two of their last eight encounters with St Mirren, though they’re marginal (2/1, William Hill) outsiders to record three points when the pair meet on Saturday. St Mirren (15/8, BetVictor.com) have not emerged successful from this fixture since October 2009, but at 13/2 (Paddy Power) to win 1-0, they look decent value.
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