FOOTBALL BETTING::
Betrescue Director David Russell gives his weekly preview of all the weekend’s top flight action in Scotland.
Rangers are now a best-priced 2/5 favourite with Betfred to retain the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title after their 2-0 win at St Mirren on Wednesday night.
The Gers victory coupled with Celtic’s suprise 2-1 reverse at home to Hibs means they have a ten point lead at the top of the table. The Bhoys are now out to a 2/1 at Victor Chandler.
Celtic have defeated Hamilton on the last five occasions the sides have met in the SPL and there’s little to suggest that trend will come to an end at New Douglas Park tomorrow. Betfred price the Hoops at 4/11 to make it six out of six, whereas the Accies are an 8/1 shot according to 888Sport; bet365 offers the draw at 7/2.
Tony Mowbray’s men have been indifferent of late, but against the side that has scored fewer home goals than any other in the SPL, they should return to winning ways. Paddy Power posts 6/1 against a 1-0 and 2-0 Celtic victories; prudent punters may fancy backing both.
Hibs and St Mirren drew 1-1 when they met in November and the sides have now drawn three of their last five duels. Jaxx.com offers another draw at 13/5 and Betfred posts 6/1 about another 1-1 result.
Betdaq make Hibs their understandable 4/6 favourites, whereas Ladbrokes price St Mirren at 5/1. That looks about right, but Partybets’ 4/7 for the fixture to yield fewer than three goals has the look of a nap about it.
Undefeated at home, Rangers are Totesport’s 2/11 favourites to beat bottom club Falkirk (16/1, Betfred) at Ibrox tomorrow.
Elsewhere, Stan James’s 6/4 for Rangers to win when kicking off with a two goal deficit has, not surprisingly, attracted steady support.
St Johnstone secured a 2-1 victory at Tynecastle when they last met Hearts in November, but the record books show that this fixture has a history of ending in stalemate. Exactly half of their last 16 duels have finished level, adding appeal to Ladbrokes’ 12/5 odds for tomorrow’s encounter to finish as a draw.
Hearts arrive at McDiarmid Park as Stan James’s 13/8 favourites and despite enjoying home advantage, the Saints kick off as 7/4 underdogs according to online bookie Jaxx.com.
Finally, Aberdeen (evens, Victor Chandler) and Dundee United (11/8, William Hill) should overcome Motherwell and Kilmarnock respectively to top off a satisfactory week for both teams.
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