Jan 23: Scottish Football Betting Preview

LEIGH GRIFFITHS might be the form striker in the country but is still the 11-10 outsider to score the most goals in Scotland this season. Scottish bookmakers McBookie.com make Martyn Waghorn the 4-6 favourite with both men on the 20-goal mark.

Griffiths can take a march on his rival on Saturday with Celtic playing host to St Johnstone and Rangers not in action until Monday at Morton.

McBookie.com spokesman Paul Petrie said: “Obviously Griffiths is playing against a higher class of opposition but if he continues in his recent form he is going to push Waghorn all the way. Twenty goals in January is a fantastic effort by both strikers and it will be interesting to see what their final figures will be.”

Celtic who have gone goal crazy with 12 in their last two outings. Dundee United were dumped 4-1 at Tannadice and Hamilton humiliated 8-1 at Celtic Park in midweek.

So how many can we expect from Ronny Deila's Premiership leaders today? Saints are on a poor run with no wins in five but don't leak goals with just six conceded in that spell including a 3-0 defeat at home to the Hoops.

So for me it should be a 3-0 or 4-0 home with Erik Sviatchenko expected to start as Deila bids to shore up his defence. The centre-half is 6-1 with Coral to notch on his debut.

Celtic are no bigger than 1-4 with Betfred and William Hill while Celtic -1 is fine on accumulators at 4-6 with Paddy Power and bet365. I advised Celtic -2 against Accies and that's tempting again at 7-4 with Paddy Power.

Griffiths has been the star of the show in recent weeks with eight goals in four games. He hit two at Tannadice and bagged a treble against Hamilton and is 5-2 with William Hill to net two or more today and 11-1 with boylesports to make it back-to-back hat-tricks.

Saints triumphed at Parkhead but are off the boil and have an unsettled player in Michael O'Halloran who is wanted by Rangers. They are rightly big at 14-1 with McBookie while the draw pays 11-2 at bet365.

Finding value isn't easy but rested stars Kris Commons (11-10, bet365) and Stefan Johansen (6-1, Betfred) interest me on the anytime scorer market with the Norwegian saying he's been watching videos of himself playing last season in a bid to rediscover his best form.

Celtic are 1-1 at 888sport to score three or more and 6-4 with Paddy Power to win both halves.

At the other end of the table the bottom two meet but there are already 14 points separating Dundee United from Kilmarnock. Every game's a six-pointer for Mixu Paatelainen and you really have to say they're relegated if they lose today – and I'd side with the visitors.

Killie have lost just one in five and won at Tannadice back in September. They are a best 11-4 at Betfred and it's too big and allows me to tip Killie draw no bet at 13-8 with bet365.

United haven't won a league under Paatelainen so how they can be no bigger than 21-20 with the likes of William Hill beats me.

Motherwell were on the end of a 6-0 thumping at Hearts last week and boss Mark McGhee will hope it's just a blip. His side haven't lost in seven at home to Ross County and that sequence should be extended today.

Well are 2-1 outsiders are Betfred and I'd be happy to take them not to lose on accumulators at 4-9 with bet365. The last three meetings at Fir Park have ended in score draws and another pays 3-1 at William Hill.

Today's final Premier League game sees another side well beaten last week – Partick Thistle trailed Dundee 4-1 at the break – trying to get back on track. The Jags visit Inverness where they've won three and drawn four of their last six visits. Not to lose the Firhilll men are 11-20 with bet365.

In the Championship all eyes will be on Hibs as Anthony Stokes prepares to make his second debut for the club on loan from Celtic.

It's a good piece of business by Alan Stubbs and Stokes is 5-1 at McBookie to score first and 29-20 to net at any time.

Hibs are only 1-2 with McBookie and others to win so take a chance on them -1 at 6-4 with Paddy Power.

Falkirk should stay in touch with the leaders with a win at a Livingston who have netted just three goals at home. The Bairns are 4-6 at McBookie and 9-4 with Coral to win to nil.

Last week I asked: Do you believe in the power of stats and pointed out the likelihood of a low scorer at Partick v Dundee – and that theory was quickly busted.

Today's power of the stats features Raith v Dumbarton with both teams scoring in 13 of the last 14 meetings between the sides. A repeat is 6-7 at 888sport and I may take a nibble at 9-1 on Dumbarton to win and concede.

Bets to Consider

Celtic -2

Griffiths to score 2+

Celtic to win both halves

Stokes to score

Raith v Dumbarton btts

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