SPL Betting Preview: Celtic playing catch-up to free-scoring Gers

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 18 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Both Rangers and Celtic are on their best runs of the season, they have strikers in form and it makes sense to go for the multiple this weekend priced at [1.99]."

John Girvan wonders if an out of form Motherwell will be able to stop a free-scoring Rangers side on Saturday. Meanwhile, victory for the Dons against high-flying Hibs might be a tall order.

Last week started off brilliantly with three first half goals securing a 2pt stake on "Overs" in the lunch-time clash at Fir Park. 'Four goals or more' was the pick at Ibrox and it was looking good with Rangers 3-0 up after an hour but a fourth proved elusive. Dundee United missed a penalty in their 0-0 draw at Tynecastle and Hibs drew at Rugby Park so neither could get the victory that would have more than covered both bets.

Profit/Loss: + 4.58pts

On current form Motherwell shouldn't prevent Rangers remaining top of the SPL for Christmas. The sides meet at Ibrox on Saturday and the visitors travel to Govan with just one win in their last six. Their only away win of the league campaign was a surprise 1-0 win at Tannadice in September but since then they have only managed draws at the likes of St Mirren and Hamilton.

Rangers' best performance of the season swept Dundee United aside at Tannadice on Tuesday. The 3-0 victory was the club's third league win on the bounce and returned them to the SPL summit. Kris Boyd wasn't among the goals this time but Kenny Miller grabbed a second-half brace, proving once again that he is capable of adding the odd goal to his unquestionable work rate.

Motherwell got a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park in October but Jim Gannon's young side have taken a dip in form since. Rangers are scoring freely at the moment netting six in the last two and 12 in the last six. They should deliver quite easily in the match odds but [1.27] forces you elsewhere in terms of value. Six of Rangers eight home fixtures have came in "Rangers/Rangers" in the Half-Time/Full-Time market so [1.81] is good value.

There is an interesting clash at Pitoddire on Saturday where third placed Hibs face sixth placed Aberdeen. They are almost inseparable in the Match Odds with The Dons slight favorites at [2.66] and Hibs out at [2.78]. The price on an away win looks big but the Easter Road side have just two wins from their seven away ties this season. They have only lost one of these however and are unbeaten since September so a home win for The Dons looks a tall order.

Aberdeen's home form has been questionable this season. Yes, they beat Rangers three weeks ago, but last weeks home defeat to Hamilton exposed an inconsistency that has seen Mark McGhee's men draw two and lose three of their seven home ties this term. Hibs will fancy their chances here and whilst the victory is uncertain it makes sense to back Hibernian -0 in the Asian Handicap at [2.01]. Here, all stakes are refunded in the event of a draw.

This weekend's televised fixture takes place at Tynecastle on Sunday where it's expected Celtic will be playing catch-up to Rangers. The hoops don't have a great record at this venue with just two wins and two draws in the last six visits but it's fair to say that Hearts have been better equipped in previous years.

The hosts set high standards when finishing third last season but sit eighth in the table at present with just three wins after 15 games. Scoring goals has been a problem for Hearts this season, particularly at home where just five goals in seven games has yielded two wins and three draws.

Domestically, Celtic are resurgent at the moment with three league wins in a row. Scott McDonald has long since been the most reliable striker at Celtic Park and in the last year Celtic have struggled when he is off the boil. He's scoring again though and with Samaras doing his bit at the moment and Fortune bursting into life Tony Mowbray currently has the pick of three in form strikers.

Celtic are [1.64] in the match odds. This looks reasonable but given Hearts attacking frailties Celtic -1.0 is worth at [2.01] in the Asian Handicap.

Both Rangers and Celtic are on their best runs of the season, they have strikers in form and it makes sense to go for the multiple this weekend priced at [1.99].

Recommendations:

Rangers "Half-Time/Full-Time" @ [1.81] (1pt)
Hibernian - 0 @ [2.01] (1pt)
Celtic -1.0 goals @ [2.01] (1pt)
Rangers/Celtic multiple @ [1.99] (2pts)