Hibs v Rangers
The first of our Mar 9 Scottish Premiership betting tips is for Hibs v Rangers. The Scottish Premiership weekend gets started in Edinburgh on Friday night as Hibs and Rangers clash at Easter Road in a 7.45pm kick-off shown live on Sky Sports. This promises to be a thrilling encounter as the locals aim to dent The Gers title hopes, while Steven Gerrard’s men could close the gap on Celtic with three points. The Hibees have improved since Neil Lennon’s departure and start this one on the back of three league wins on the bounce, a run that has lifted them into the top-six. Traders don’t expect another maximum here, however, and offer the locals at 16/5 (Unibet).
Aiming for Top Two
The games continue to come thick and fast for Rangers as they target a top-two finish in the Premiership and Scottish Cup glory. They face a replay with Aberdeen in midweek and, if they get through that fixture at Ibrox unscathed, will set-up a mouth-watering semi-final versus Celtic at Hampden. Before all that they must keep their league campaign on track by proving they can win the big games away from home. Gerrard’s crew have been less than convincing on their travels this season, but this trip should bring the best out of them. The away win is 7/10 favourite at Ladbrokes, the draw a 14/5 play with the same firm. We’ll take the latter.
Our Tip: A Draw – 14/5 at Ladbrokes
Celtic v Aberdeen
Another fixture of note in this weekend’s Scottish Premiership goes in Glasgow where last season’s champions take on second place finishers Aberdeen in a 3.00pm start. The Bhoys look to be in complete control of their title defence and start the week eight points clear of Rangers and on a winning run. Neil Lennon’s appointment has helped dampen the fury amongst fans following Brendan Rodgers’ move to Leicester and the returning boss has made a winning start. He should have enough about him to protect Celtic’s lead and see them collect another flag. The Bhoys have the measure of Aberdeen and should be added to your accumulators at 1/3 (Ladbrokes).
Lack of Consistency
Aberdeen start the round eight points off Rangers with their hopes of retaining second in the Premiership fading fast. They have season stats of 15 wins and five draws against eight defeats and have struggled for consistency of late, their last three league results reading draw-win-loss. The Dons were beaten by Hamilton when last on league duty and are in real danger of dropping to fourth, with Kilmarnock applying the pressure. Losing at home to lowly Accies does nothing to inspire confidence and the away win won’t be popular, even at Coral’s 9/1. The draw trades 41/10 (Unibet).
Our Tip: Celtic to win – 1/3 at Ladbrokes
Dundee v Hearts
Dundee have lost each of their last two games and are second bottom of the league, a point better than St Mirren in 12th and they are in real danger of being sucked down into the Championship unless they can turn things around, and fast. The home side are three behind Hamilton and safety, with time running out. They were hammered 4-0 by Rangers last time and offered little that day. They must dust themselves down and go again as a capable Hearts come to Dens Park, The Jambos fighting for a top-three finish. The form of Dundee makes them difficult to back, even at 15/4 (Bet365). The same firm have the draw as a more likely result, priced 11/4.
Benefit of the Doubt
13 wins and five draws against 10 defeats puts Hearts fifth in the pile, three points better than rivals Hibs going into the week and six behind Aberdeen in third. They have work to do but there’s no reason, with a bit of consistancy, why they can’t keep Hibs at arm’s length and apply pressure to the prize places between now and the finish. They do travel on the back of a poor run of form that has seen them take just two points from the last dozen available, and they were beaten by Celtic last time. A tough match, but we’ll give the visitors the benefit of the doubt at Coral’s 3/4.
Our Tip: Hearts to win – 3/4 at Coral
Livingston v St Johnstone
Livingston impressed in the first-half of the season and have already done enough to ensure they will avoid the drama of being pulled into a relegation fight down the home-straight. The Lions have found things more difficult during the early exchanges of 2019, as reality begins to set in, and opponents double their efforts as we shuttle towards the end of the season. They have won only one of their last five, losing three in the same period. Despite that poor run of form, the home win is favourite with Bet365 handing out 6/5. That surprised us.
A Good Price
St Johnstone are no world beaters, of course, and are on their travels here, but the Perth side look worth an interest play to upset the odds on Saturday. They are two places higher than their opponents in the table, with four more points on the board. Their recent form is also poor, losing four and drawing one of their last five, but they are better than their 5/2 (Bet365) price suggests and we’re happy to take a chance on the away win as a super single.
Our Tip: St Johnstone to win – 5/2 at Bet365
Motherwell v Hamilton
The last of our Mar 9 Scottish Premiership betting tips is for Motherwell v Hamilton. Motherwell won three games on the bounce to lift themselves up the ranks but have settled back into bad habits and train for this match having claimed one of six points, following a defeat to Celtic in Glasgow with a goalless draw away to Kilmarnock in their last start. Not a bad draw, given how good Killie have been this season, but they must improve in attack if they are to have any chance of landing a top-six finish. We’ll go with the home win at 3/4 (Ladbrokes).
Not Safe Yet
Hamilton have won half of their last four to ease their relegation worries but they are not out of the woods yet and have Dundee snapping away at their heels. There will be a few more twists in the table before the bottom-two are decided, that’s for sure. Accies are fighting for survival but we can’t back them to win away, even at 21/5 (Coral).