IT'S Old Firm day on Sunday and if events on the park match the fluctuations on the betting market then we should be in for a real rollercoaster.
If you had predicted a month ago that champions Rangers would be going into this game as underdogs, the men in white coats would have been carting you off. But after the Ibrox side's outbreak, the betting has completely flip-flopped from the start of the week.
There will be plenty of punters desperately refreshing Rangers' social media sites at around 10.45am on Sunday to see what kind of team an isolating Steven Gerrard has managed to select and that is bound to have another knock-on impact on the markets.
Both sides were in European midweek action and neither impressed. Rangers were held to a goalless draw by a limited, ten-man Alashkert side and Celtic clung on against AZ Alkmaar to go through on aggregate.
There's little doubt that Celtic are the happier camp at the moment with Ange Postecoglou's style winning plenty of plaudits.
He's brought in several plauers with all looking like a major upgrade from last season. Rangers' problem is that Gerrard's new arivals haven't improved his team.
However, the gap between the sides was so enormous last term, punters' conundrum is to decide whether the new blood on both sides offsets that huge Rangers advantage.
How the bookies view it
The prices have fluctuated wildly all week, but Celtic remain favourites, with Rangers available at 7/4 with Novibet and Celtic 8/5 with SBK. The draw is 5/2 with Boylesports. Be prepared for these prices to change…again.
Recent head to heads
It was very nearly a whitewash for Rangers last season – in the five meetings between the clubs, they won four of them. including this 4-1 thrashing of ten-man Celtic in May, which just about rounded off the perfect season for them.
Players to watch
Alfredo Morelos got that Old Firm monkey off his back in style last season by netting twice against them. He appears to be unaffected by events this week and looks a big price at 12/5 with Unibet to score.
The Hoops' Japanese sensation Kyogo Furuhashi has already won the hearts of the Celtic fans and this week's unsavoury incident won't affect him. The 17/10 with BetVictor will surely be snapped up by fans.
Anything else catch the eye?
Celtic's new all-attacking style should lead to goals…at both ends. That defence still looks shaky and if Rangers can get Ryan Kent back to something approaching his best form, they should get plenty of joy.
The same goes for Celtic – a creaking Ibrox defence could have major problems dealing with Furuhashi's movement and that could open the door for Odsonne Edouard.
It all points to goals and the 12/5 with bet365 for over 3.5 goals looks begging to be backed. A lively outsider could be both teams to score in both halves at 10/1 with McBookie.com.
And the old Old Firm favourite of Alfredo Morelos to be booked at 3/2 with bet365 usually comes up…even more so with a full house to add to the fun.
This Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic will be played on Aug 29, 2021 and kick off at 12:00. Check below for our tipsters best Rangers vs Celtic prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
