Scottish Football Bets: Back the Rangers/Celtic double

Scottish Football / Editor / 27 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

The Scottish Clydesdale Bank Premier is wide open with the two usual suspects fighting for the title. And this could just be the weekend to back them both to win, says John Girvan.

Last week's results drew significant changes in the betting for both the title chasers and the "Rock Bottom 2008/09" candidates. Celtic have traded as low as [1.26] to retain their crown this season but the draw at Motherwell on Sunday has seen them drift from [1.71] to [1.96]. They remain slight favourites ahead of Rangers however who are now available at [2.02].

It was a hugely disappointing weekend for Falkirk. John Hughes' side were a massive [5.8] for the drop this time last week but their home loss to Hamilton and a home win for Inverness has seen their odds plummet to just [2.32]. Terry Butcher's side were [1.81] favourites in this Market before last weekend and remain so at [2.1].

The championship, as always, takes centre stage and Setanta Sports have picked out a cracker to get things going this Saturday lunch time as league leaders Rangers travel to 'form' league leaders Hamilton.

January's SPL Manager of the Month Billy Reid is doing a fantastic job at Hamilton. They had a good start to their maiden SPL voyage but then went on a horrible run before turning it around with a new 3-4-3 shape and a different style. At home they are in formidable form with six straight home wins since a 2-1 defeat to Celtic back in November. The champions didn't get things easy that afternoon and neither will Rangers.

Since the turn of the year Walter Smith has been urging his side to go on a run. Goalless draws at Celtic Park and Pittodrie have meant they haven't quite done so but it has been enough to go neck and neck with Celtic in the championship and with a run of winnable games in front of them there is a big opportunity developing. Last week's six minute trio of goals in reply to Kilmarnock's opener is maybe a sign of just how much they want it.

This is Rangers' toughest league fixture between now and the "split" so it's a game that will be taken very seriously by the visitors. Every away fixture is a potential banana skin for the Old Firm these days and if the Ibrox side's approach isn't right then the [8.8] for a home win or the draw at [4.4] could prove wise moves.

You get the impression however that Rangers are relishing their second bite at the championship cherry and will have enough about them to take home the three points. [1.49] in the Match Odds is slightly on the short side so my preference is to take on Rangers -1.0 at [1.87] in the Asian Handicap.

Regardless of events at New Douglas Park, Celtic will be looking to get back to winning ways. Just three league wins in the last 10 tells its own story and Gordon Strachan will be looking to recapture the early season form that has seen his side put together a run of twelve consecutive league wins. They are still slight favourites to clinch the title but more is required from Samaras and Hesselink if they are to see this one through.

Both started in a three-pronged attack with Scott MacDonald at Motherwell last week but once again it was the Australian who provided a goal with his partners only flattering to deceive. Things can change quickly however, especially with strikers, and a goal from one or both of the struggling duo could set them off on a run until the end of the season.

St Mirren have not won a league game this year. They haven't lost many either, just two, and the draw at Tynecastle last week suggests Gus MacPherson's side will be no pushovers at Celtic Park on Saturday. The importance for Celtic however makes this a home banker in my eyes, even at a short [1.24] in the Match Odds.

The home side have a bit of a point to prove, they have been in possession of the title for three season now and they won't be giving it up lightly. They will come out fighting and I'm keen to take on the [1.79] on offer for Celtic Half Time/Celtic Full Time.

There's been five sets of fixtures since both Rangers and Celtic won on the same weekend and the Multiple, at around [1.8], looks good for no slip-ups this weekend.

The pick of the rest has to be the [1.78] on offer for an Aberdeen win over Kilmarnock at Pittodrie. The Dons' home form is excellent at present, they have four wins and two draws in the last six in The Granite City and this becomes more impressive when you discover opponents included Rangers, Celtic, Dundee United and Hearts. Eight points were taken off these four and it looks a tough task for a Jim Jeffries' side who have been poor recently.

It is difficult building a case for Killie here, they are third bottom in the table but with a five point cushion over 11th placed Falkirk, there is no desperate panic for points just yet. Two draws, and hence two points, is all they have to show from their last six league games and, along with Hibernian, they are the joint worst performers in the SPL right now.

Hearts meet Dundee United at Tannadice this week so it's a big opportunity for Aberdeen and I expect them to take full advantage.