EVER wondered how bookies are sizing up the weekend card. Here's the thoughts from inside camps at 188BET and BetVictor.
In Scotland Rangers will win the league if they beat Raith and Hibs don't win at St Mirren while Celtic hope to march on in the Premiership title race by beating Hearts.
188Bet have a couple of moneyback offers on the English Premier League and BetVictor have five-timer acca insurance offer on the go.
188BET View
TODAY’S big match between Celtic and Hearts looks like being one of those key points in the season that will prove decisive in the title race.
A Hearts victory at lunchtime could open the door for Aberdeen over the final furlong of the season.
It will certainly keep it interesting. But a Celtic win and you feel the champions will have one hand back on their trophy.
The Celtic win is 1.25 (1-4) with the draw 5.5 (9-2) and a victory for Hearts a chunky 8.45 (just under 15-2). Those prices reflect the fact Celtic have only lost once in the league at home all season.
Hearts have a terrible scoring record on the road but boast the best defensive record away from home so it may not be a high-scoring affair.
That also reflects the tight games in the three meetings between the two clubs this season with two draws and a Celtic win by the odd goal in three so a home win by one goal at 3.85 (57-20) is worth a look.
The 1-0 and 2-0 home wins are 7.8 and 6.3 respectively (34-5 and 53-10) and those may combine well with the fact Celtic haven’t conceded at Celtic Park in the last four matches.
In the meantime 188BET are keeping the moneyback offers flowing this weekend as the Premier League returns.
For Man United’s match against Everton we will be refunding losing bets for a clean sheet. For all United’s problems this season David de Gea remains tough to beat at Old
Trafford with nine Premier League clean sheets at home and it’s just 2.65 (33-20) with 188BET for a 10th on Sunday.
If Everton fail to score losing bets up to £25 will be refunded on correct score, first/anytime scorer and double result markets.
Another cashback offer will land if Riyad Mahrez scores for Leicester against
Southampton (up to £50). Mahrez is 2-1.
Weekend Best Bet
Celtic to win by 1 (3.85)
BetVictor View
RANGERS could win the title today but even if they don’t it’s just a matter of time.
The Ibrox men are 1-100 certs with Hibs 33-1 second favourites but still 8-13 jollies in the battle for second place.
Alan Stubbs’s men are odds on at St Mirren today as they try to delay the inevitable. Rangers are 2-5 at Raith who are 7-1 with the draw 7-2.
It’s a similar scenario in the top flight with Celtic 1-66 to win a fifth Premier League title in a row.
The Hoops are 1-4 when welcoming Hearts for this afternoon’s early kick-off live in front of the Sky cameras. Jambos are 10-1 with the draw 5-1.
Hearts are Aberdeen’s only threat to finishing second and are 10-1 with BetVictor in the betting without the Hoops.
Defeat at Celtic Park today would all but rule out their chances of a runners-up place.
Ronny Deila’s Celtic boast the necessary class to get the job done without too much fuss and appeal at both 11-10 to win the game to nil and at 6-1 to win 2-0.
Celtic form part of this weekend’s acca with punters placing a fivefold or more with BetVictor getting a free bet up if one leg lets you down.
Both Glasgow clubs look banker material as do both Celtic and Rangers’ nearest dangers to their respective titles.
Hibs and Aberdeen should oblige against St Mirren and Hamilton respectively while
Livingston should do likewise as the 4-7 favourites when hosting Alloa.
The fivefold pays 11-2 with BetVictor with the added insurance of money back as a free bet if one leg lets you down.
Meanwhile, Scotland have been cut from 5-1 to 4-1 to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after 1-0 wins against Czech Republic and Denmark.
The main stumbling block in Group F for Gordon Strachan’s side is being drawn against the old enemy and England are 1-5 to finish top.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com/dailyrecord – new customers can claim a £25 free bet. Be Lucky.
Charlie McCann
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.
England are pish!!! Seriously though the playoff is the best hope we’ve got and even then we’ll be up against teams like Italy/Belgium or Holland/France so no much hope there