Live on Sky Sports 1: Sat 12.45: Peter Sharkey has three picks including an 11/1 double (Stan James) in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic open the new Premiership campaign against Ross County on Saturday lunchtime, their season already under way following a trio of Champions League qualifiers. At 1/6 (Winner.com) to win this weekend, the Hoops actually look a tad overpriced, despite the fact that two of their last four encounters with Ross have finished all-square. Nevertheless taking on Paddy Power’s 7/1 for Saturday’s fixture to end with honours even is surely a bet only for the reckless.
Hamilton and Partick were well matched last term, two of their duels ending level and both teams recording one league win apiece, although Partick also registered a Scottish Cup victory over the Accies. Those five matches yielded 18 goals and punters expecting more of the same can get even money (Ladbrokes) against Saturday’s contest producing more than 2.5 goals. Hamilton are Skybet’s marginal 13/8 favourites to claim maximum points, but the draw (5/2, William Hill) cannot be discounted.
Inverness finished 29 league points ahead of Motherwell last season, yet the pair’s recent encounters have been considerably closer than that statistic would imply. Motherwell have won four of their last seven contests, although they head to the Highlands as bet365’s 4/1 outsiders to make it five from eight; Inverness are offered at 3/4 to win by Stan James, odds that have attracted understandable support.
Home advantage ensures that Kilmarnock are installed as BetVictor’s marginal 13/8 favourites to overhaul Dundee this weekend, whereas their visitors, unbeaten in three duels with Killie last term, kick off as 7/4 underdogs (Winner.com).
Newly-promoted Hearts return to the big time priced as Skybet’s 11/10 favourites to get their campaign off to a winning start against St Johnstone, the latter heading to the capital as bet365’s 13/5 underdogs. Hearts lost only one home league match last term, but St Johnstone’s impressive fourth-place finish in a higher division suggests that Stan James’s 5/2 for it to end with honours even is worth considering.
Finally, league title dark horses Aberdeen start their campaign at Tannadice on Sunday priced as Paddy Power’s even money jollies to claim three points, even though Dundee United beat them three times last season, a run which included a League Cup success. United’s 3/1 odds (bet365) has attracted punters’ attention, particularly as only Celtic won more home league matches last term – a 1-0 home win is priced at 21/2 by BetVictor.com.
Recommended Bets:
Dundee Utd to beat Aberdeen – 3/1 (bet365)
Draw double in the games at Hearts and Hamilton – 11/1 (Stan James)
Dundee and Inverness double – 19/5 (Winner.com)
Compare all Scottish Premiership odds and bet at the best price.
