FOOTBALL BETTING:: David Russell previews the weekend’s SPL action. With title all but decided, focus turns to the battle to avoid relegation with Falkirk, St Mirren and Kilmarnock all in the mix.
Paddy Power make bottom club Falkirk who are on 28 points, their 11/8 favourites for the drop. St Mirren are on the same number of points but have a better goal difference come next in the betting at 7/4 with Coral and Stan James make Kilmarnock, on 29 points, 3/1 to be playing in the first division next season.
On to the weekend’s games and we start at Parkhead. Celtic slumped to a 2-1 defeat when they last hosted Hibs at Parkhead in January and though they gained revenge at Easter Road earlier this month in the form of a 1-0 win, tomorrow’s duel between the pair is tough to call.
888Sport make Celtic their 2/5 favourites, but such has been their disappointing form that another win for Hibs, priced at 8/1 by Stan James, cannot be discounted.
Cautious souls may prefer bet365’s 7/2, posted against the draw, or William Hill’s 8/1 chalked about a 1-1 outcome; either way, it promises to be close.
According to Betfred, who make them their 11/10 favourites, Hamilton are not expected to encounter too many problems when they entertain Kilmarnock. The visitors, who have managed just four away goals all season, are an 11/4 shot with Betdaq, but the 8/1 chalked by Jaxx.com about a 2-0 home victory has obvious appeal.
Rangers should take a step closer to confirming their status as champions on Sunday when they host Hearts at Ibrox. Ladbrokes chalk 1/3 against them securing maximum points and while Paddy Power marks the draw at 9/2, this has the look of a home banker.
Motherwell appear less likely to enjoy a home success when they welcome Dundee United who boast the SPL’s second-best away record. Recognising this, Partybets make ‘Well their 17/10 underdogs whereas Totesport install United as their understandable 13/8 favourites; Victor Chandler prices a 1-0 away win at 7/1.
Betdaq install St Johnstone as their 10/11 favourites to overhaul St Mirren, though as six of their last nine league encounters have ended in stalemate, punters ignore the draw (5/2, Betfred) at their peril.
The most popular score in the correct score markets is 1-1, rated a 6/1 shot by Jaxx.com, while Totesport post 9/1 against it finishing goalless.
Finally, Aberdeen’s recent record against bottom club Falkirk hardly inspires confidence in their ability to secure a much-needed three points. The Dons have managed just one goal against the Bairns in their last four meetings and are 11/4 (bet365) to enjoy a one goal margin of victory tomorrow.
The home side, now looking nervously over the shoulders following just one win in 13 league outings are nonetheless 11/10 with William Hill to beat Falkirk and Betdaq’s 7/2 for the Dons to win following a drawn first half catches the eye. Ladbrokes mark the draw at 12/5.
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