THERE should be routine wins for Celtic and Rangers on Boxing Day but first up is a crucial Edinburgh derby at 12.30pm.
Hearts v Hibs is always edgy but at lunchtime you will be able to cut the tension with a knife.
The Jambos are rock bottom after losing at Hamilton and embroiled in a drop fight whether they like it or not. But don't tell new boss Daniel Stendel who headed off to enjoy Christmas in Germany.
Hibs have picked up a bit since Jack Ross came in and will take great delight in pushing their rivals deeper into the mire.
First of all I expect a blood-and-thunder battle with little silky football so the market to focus on is cards rather than goals.
Under 2.5 goals looks on at 17-20 with Marathonbet – four of six meetings at Tynecastle have gone under 1.5 – and while the cards market is set at four we should go over that at 4-5 with McBookie.
Ref Don Robertson has flashed seven reds this season – three of them in games involving Hearts and Hibs – and a sending-off today pays 3-1 at McBookie.
If there's a red it's more likely to go to Hearts at 13-2 with McBookie while a Hibs sending off pays 5-1.
Hambos centre-half Christophe Berra is back from a ban and looks a good shout at 5-2 with William Hill to be carded.
Stendel's first three games have been defeats to sides who were bottom at the time – St Johnstone and Hamilton – as well as a battling 2-0 loss to Celtic.
I'm sure the home men will be up for this but they lack confidence and quality and will again be minus talisman Steven Naismith.
I can't back Hearts who are favourites at 13-8 with betfair and while a draw is possible at 9-4 with Betway the best bet could be Hibs draw no bet at just over evens with Marathonbet. To win Hibs are 7-4 with boyleports.
Martin Boyle's return has lifted Hibs and the Aussie cap is 7-2 to net at anytime.
With no Naisy and a huge battle expected, Stendel could turn to battering ram Uche Ikpeazu and he is 5-1 to score.
It's the calm before the storm for Celtic and Rangers with the Old Firm meeting on Sunday.
Both could make changes on Boxing Day and while value is tough to find I don't expect either to slip up.
St Mirren haven't had any home hammerings this season and this feels like a 2-0 Celtic win at 11-2 with BetVictor.
A safer bet is Celtic to win to nil at 3-4 with McBookie – the Buddies have netted just nine at home but conceded only 10.
Rangers entertain a Killie side who lost at home to Motherwell under caretaker boss Alex Dyer at the weekend.
Steven Gerrard's side blew away Hibs on Sunday and with Alfredo Morelos back from suspension I expect more of the same.
The Colombian is 11-4 with Betfred to mark his return with a goal while Rangers -1 at 1-2 with McBookie is one for accas.
Aberdeen tackle Livingston without top scorer Sam Cosgrove after their appeal against his red received in the weekend defeat to Celtic was thrown out. The Dons have no natural replacement for the big Englishman so I'm leaving this out – bear in mind the Cosgrove decision when listening to Greg's podcast.
Elsewhere Hamilton v St Johnstone has the feel of a draw at 12-5 and Ross County v Motherwell could go the same way.
Recommended Bets
- Hearts red card
- Hearts v Hibs under 2.5 goals
- Hearts v Hibs over 4.5 cards
- Celtic to win to nil
- Rangers -1
- Morelos to score first
- Hamilton v St Johnstone draw
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Merry xmas Mrfixit.
Will you be doing VIP tips for boxing day?
Merry xmas Mrfixit.
Will you be doing VIP tips for boxing day?
Merry Christie everyone
Here are my tips for tomorrow’s football. First let’s look at the Hearts vs Hibs game. Everyone and their granny will be likely on a red card being shown. Mr Fixit has tipped Berra to be be booked and I absolutely agree. Take the 7/2 though on offer from Skybet and Betfair. How about Berra to be sent off? You can have 80/1 at Skybet. Prices elsewhere is Paddy Power 14/1, Bet365 28/1 and Hills 40/1 so 80/1 is a great price.
Next I’m looking at St Mirren vs Celtic. Celtic should win this comfortably. I can’t believe Skybet are taking such a huge risk though. I’m not sure who prices up their markets but they don’t have a clue. Edouard and Callum McGregor are both 10/1 to score from outside the box. In that case Ryan Christie should be around 6/1 or 7/1. Instead Skybet offer a rather generous 20/1. I mean seriously, didn’t they learn their lesson the last game I took £2.5k off them. This is seriously overpriced and I recommend getting on early as I predict the price will change to around 10/1 or 12/1 as the game nears kick off. Forrest may also be worth a bet at 20/1 and how about Scott Brown? He’s scored a few this season and you’re getting 50/1 from outside the box. Perhaps worth a few quid. I’ll be backing all three but if you only have the money to bet on one then it’s got to be Christie.
Anyway good luck to anyone who decided to get on.
Recommended Bets:
CHRISTOPHE BERRA TO BE BOOKED @ 7/2
CHRISTOPHE BERRA TO BE SENT OFF @ 80/1
RYAN CHRISTIE TO SCORE ANYTIME FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX @ 20/1
JAMES FORREST TO SCORE ANYTIME FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX @ 20/1
SCOTT BROWN TO SCORE ANYTIME FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX @ 50/1
Darren McGregor to be booked, him a big Uche love a tussle in these games, 3/1.
While i beleive Hibs should be winning this we have a habit of messing up against Hearts just a warning.