SlipsTips takes a look at the Bet Builder market ahead of Hearts and Hibs' hotly-anticipated Scottish Cup semi-final showdown at Hampden on Saturday.
Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian (Saturday, 12:15)
Edinburgh rivals Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian meet in a mouthwatering Scottish Cup semi-final showdown at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Robbie Neilson’s team consigned their capital counterparts to a bottom-half finish in the Scottish Premiership with a 3-1 success at Tynecastle last Saturday, a derby triumph that secured third-place in the table for the Jambos in the process.
As such, Shaun Maloney’s side have an immediate opportunity to try and take their revenge when the pair reconvene at the national stadium this weekend, while Hearts have the chance to hammer the final nail in their fierce rivals’ coffin as far as the 2021/22 campaign is concerned.
Ultimately, this is a fixture that tends to have all the blood and thunder you’d expect, and that has led me to an odds-against Bet Builder.
If we combine Hearts with a +1 start on the handicap, both teams hit three corners and over three match cards we get a price of 11/10 (William Hill) and that looks like a nice way in.
Hearts have proven to be the by far and away the most consistent force outside of the Old Firm in Scotland this season, sauntering to third spot in the top-flight, not to mention they are currently in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten run, a sequence that includes five victories.
Hibs, on the other hand, have won just once in the Scottish Premiership since Boxing Day and it’s also worth pointing out that Maloney’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in 19 of their 22 matches played outside of Easter Road this season so far.
With that in mind, I’m more than happy to get in-form Hearts onside with a +1 start on the handicap, but to boost the odds, I’ll also back each team to hit a minimum of three corners.
Both clubs have proven prominent in the corner rankings in the Scottish Premiership this season, with Hearts earning a healthy 5.64 per-game, while Hibs’ tally sits at 5.52 flag kicks per 90.
It goes without saying that both of these fierce rivals will be fully up for this with a place in the Scottish Cup final up for grabs, so I’ll round off the Bet Builder with over three match cards.
Referee John Beaton’s card per-game average in the Scottish top-flight this term sits at 3.94 and it’s also worth noting that each of the two all-Edinburgh affairs to have already taken place this calendar year have featured a minimum of four bookings.
With all things considered, the aforementioned 11/10 (William Hill) Bet Builder makes plenty of appeal given that we have all the necessary ingredients required for a hard-hitting Edinburgh derby Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Saturday.
Recommended Bet
- Hearts + 1 Handicap
- Both Teams 3+ Corners
- Over 3.5 Cards
- Bet Builder – 1/1 (William Hill)
Freelance Sports Writer and Betting Analyst with over five years experience. I’ve written football and darts betting content for some of the biggest betting websites and newspapers in the UK. With a strong passion for the fascinating world of Scottish football, I also regularly feature in Nutmeg, the much-loved Scottish football magazine. Falkirk season ticket holder and avid watcher of football and darts, whether it be UK-based or further afield. Feel free to follow me on X @SlipsTips
