Live on Skysports 4: Sat 12.45: In the SPL, Ross County and Dundee are 11/2 (BetVictor) to notch one each while Celtic are 13/10 to win to nil.
Dundee’s derby day defeat at neighbours United last Sunday was widely forecast, but they have an opportunity to redeem themselves when they host the other newly-promoted team, Ross County, on Saturday.
County, who beat Dundee twice last term (their other two matches finished 1-1) were desperately unlucky not to take maximum points off Celtic last weekend, a performance which ensures they’re installed as BetVictor’s 6/4 favourites, whereas Dundee open as bet365’s 2/1 outsiders.
Yet many of the most popular wagers have centred on it finishing with honours even, not least because Coral post 12/5 about it concluding with the points shared. In other markets, Skybet chalk 16/1 against a 2-2 outcome, while BetVictor.com mark 11/2 against a 1-1 draw.
Aberdeen have not scored against Hearts in their last seven league encounters. The last time the Dons found their way through the Hearts defence was in January 2010. Punters anticipating another one-sided affair can get 10/3 (bet365) against the Edinburgh team enjoying a one goal margin of victory, while Stan James offer 6/5 about the match yielding more than 2.5 goals. Betfred’s 21/10 for Hearts to retain an eighth consecutive clean sheet against Aberdeen has appealed to punters who expect the trend to continue.
Stan James price Aberdeen at 6/4 to secure three points as BetVictor.com post 11/5 about the draw.
Recent fixtures involving Motherwell and St Mirren have a tendency to be close. Three of the last five have ended all square, with the other two settled by a single strike. However, bet365’s even money price for Motherwell to register maximum points when they face-off at Fir Park suggests that bookies anticipate a comfortable home win. Indeed, with St Mirren offered at 10/3 (William Hill), Skybet’s 21/10 for Motherwell to win when kicking off with a one goal deficit cannot be ignored.
Elsewhere, BetVictor.com price a 2-0 home triumph at 8/1; a 1-0 success is priced at 6/1 by Ladbrokes.
Hibs got off the mark at St Mirren last weekend and this result, coupled with home advantage, ensures they start priced as William Hill’s 8/5 favourites to secure maximum points when they host St Johnstone.
The Saints head to the capital as Stan James’s 2/1underdogs while BetVictor.com chalk an attractive 9/4 about the stalemate.
The pair met three times in the SPL last season, matches which yielded an aggregate of 14 goals. Punters anticipating more of the same may fancy wagers such as Boylesports’ 7/1 for the opening period to finish 1-1, or bet365’s 6/5 for the game’s total goal minutes to be exceed 130.
Four of the last six encounters involving Kilmarnock and Dundee United have ended 1-1, a statistic which means that in the correct score markets, the most popular outcome is a 1-1 draw, offered at 6/1 by Coral.
Yet United, priced at even money (Stan James) to win, have started their campaign in fine form and while six of the pair’s last nine meetings have finished with honours even, there’s every reason to suggest that the 6/1 (Paddy Power) chalk about a 1-0 away triumph represents decent value.
In four matches last season, Caley Thistle failed to trouble Celtic’s defence and although the champions have looked sluggish this term, it’s difficult to see them conceding on Saturday.
Celtic, who scored a fine away win in their midweek Champions League qualifier, kick off as Ladbrokes’ 4/7 jollies and priced at 13/10 (Stan James) to win while not conceding a goal. Despite being the home team, the Jags, available at 6/1 (Boylesports) to win, are 14/1 (bet365) to win 1-0.
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