SPL Betting Preview: Why Sunday is massive for Rangers

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 22 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

There's a thrilling SPL finale on the horizon this weekend. On Saturday it's, realistically, any one from two for the drop before the championship is decided once and for all on "helicopter Sunday", writes John Girvan.

Setanta Sports kick-off an entertaining weekend with a 12:30pm Highland showdown on Saturday between relegation rivals Inverness and Falkirk. The hosts hold a two point advantage over John Hughes' men who find themselves rock bottom once again after last Saturdays home defeat to St Mirren.

The loss restored The Bairns as [1.31] favourites for the drop and with a draw good enough to extend Caleys four year stay in the SPL they start the match as [3.9] outsiders. Playing for a draw is risky however and Terry Butcher insists: "We need to be positive and get the first goal, set the tempo and dictate play, especially at home".

Falkirk have a good record at this venue with just one defeat in five including a win in their last visit on Scottish Cup duty and they have made it all the way to Hampden for next weeks Final. The post split form was excellent until last week with two wins and a draw but that defeat to St Mirren has consigned them to needing a win and on this occasion they may just have left themselves with too much to do.

Both sides have endured spells where they have looked down and out and both have wriggled free form this position to what seemed like apparent safety. For this reason it's fitting that their SPL future comes down to a one-off tussle. The tension should provide entertainment but I don't see many goals. Laying Falkirk at [3.75] seems the obvious choice but Under 2.5 goals at [1.82] has more appeal.

A different kind of pressure takes place on Sunday where the championship goes right down to the wire for the fourth time in just seven years.

Title favourites Rangers [1.39] have a two point cushion and travel to Tannadice whilst Celtic [3.5] host Hearts at Celtic Park and both games are kicking-off at 1pm whilst being screened simultaneously on Setanta Sports 1 and 2.

A draw on Tayside means any Celtic win would seal four-in-a-row for Gordon Strachan but he knows that largely it's out of his hands. News travels fast on such days however and if Celtic can take an early lead it will filter its way East and heap pressure on Rangers if they are struggling to break Dundee United down.

There's no doubt Rangers face a tough game so the hoops will be suicidal if the Ibrox side fail to win and they do the same. Hearts got a draw here in December but have nothing to play for since securing their place in the Europa League last week and I see nothing other than a Celtic win at [1.25] in the Match Odds. The hunt for an early goal and a comfortable win to apply pressure on Rangers gives rise to interest in both Celtic -1.5 in the Asian Handicap at [1.87] and Over 2.5 goals at [1.71].

Sunday is enormous for Rangers. Growing up during 9-in-a-row I know what it's like when one half of the Old Firm gathers momentum and the panic it can spark at the other end of the city. It's not just the 52nd league championship for Rangers or "stopping the rot" but there are serious financial implications for the club.

This years title winners go straight into the Champions League group stages with the runners-up facing a treacherous qualification path where they could face the likes of Arsenal. Celtic are virtually debt free and could cope with a season in the wilderness but with £25M of debt there is still some more "downsizing" to take place down Edmiston Drive and this would surely be on a grander scale if Rangers fall short once again.

Last year's scars have barely healed and with Rangers eight points adrift at one point everyone connected with the club would have taken needing a win at Tannadice to reclaim the title. It's a very difficult venue however with Craig Levein's men so far yielding three draws in their three home meetings with the Old Firm this season. Further to this Rangers haven't won here in three years so it will be nerve jangling for all who are making the trip.

There is so much at stake in this one as a home win for Aberdeen over Hibernian means United need a point to qualify for Europe. The Arabs have been a credit to the league this season, were clear in third at one point and it would be a disappointment for them to miss out on the inaugural Europa League. Then again the league table never lies and it could paint a very bleak picture for either side come 3pm on Sunday.

You would expect Rangers to grab this opportunity with both hands but there is no value in backing the away side at just [1.54] in the Match Odds. It promises to be tight so the [2.1] available on Over 2.5 goals could be worth backing. One for the Celtic fans might be Dundee United +1.0 on the Asian Handicap at [2.0] where all stakes are returned on a Rangers victory with a one goal margin.