ALL the talk in Scotland this week has centred on league reconstruction but both Rangers and Hibs insist they want to win promotion to the Premiership and not be handed a free pass.
As the race for the title hots up McBookie.com are offering 2-1 both Rangers and Hibs will be playing in the Premiership next season and 4-11 one of them won't make it.
With Dundee Utd the 8-13 favourites to finish bottom it could be another difficult Championship to get out of next year.
Falkirk missed a trick last week when they conceded a last-minute equaliser at nine-man Hibs so stay six adrift of the Easter Road men and nine behind Rangers. Third spot of course earns a play-off but they’d like more and for their ambitions to be fulfilled must beat Rangers at home today.
It can’t be ruled out after last week’s results with the Ibrox men being held at home to Morton to drop points for the third time in six outings. Strangely the other three finished 4-0.
Falkirk are possibly facing Mark Warburton’s side at the best time and are 11-2 with McBookie to win. That’s a long shot but the bet I like is the Bairns not to lose at 19-10 with William Hill or Falkirk draw no bet at 4-1 (Paddy Power).
Peter Houston’s side have lost just twice this season – to Rangers and Hibs – and will give their opponents, a best 8-15 with Coral, a tough test.
The last three meetings of the sides have finished 3-1 to Rangers twice and 1-1 so both to score is on at 13-20 with Ladbrokes.
Hibs got out of jail last week and should return to winning ways at home to Queen of the South. The Dumfries men haven’t won in three and I’m on Alan Stubbs’s side at 3-4 with McBookie.
In the Premier League Aberdeen are back on track and are likely to make it four wins in a row at Kilmarnock where they’ve won on four of their last visits.
The Dons are no bigger than 4-6 with William Hill and Adam Rooney again has a chance of scoring first at 10-3 with bet365.
There is no value in Celtic at 1-7 with Betfred but looking at the h2h Well have netted once on their last 10 visits to Parkhead. That was in a 1-1 draw – the rest were defeats and Celtic are 5-6 at Paddy Power to win to nil. Nadir Ciftci is 8-11 at bet365 to score again and is in line to start with Leigh Griffiths ruled out.
Inverness look worth a shout at home to Dundee Utd at 21-20 with William Hill and Miles Storey is 5-1 at McBookie to score first. Billy Mckay is the only United player who has scored in more than 100 days and is 2-1 to net on his return to one of his former clubs.
Fourth meets third in Perth and it could be a cracker. St Johnstone went down 4-3 at Hearts on the opening day and four of the last five in Perth have seen both on target. A draw and both to score pays 21-5 at 888sport.
In the lower leagues best bets are leaders Dunfermline -1 at home to Stenhousemuir at 1-2 while second-placed Ayr should bounce back from two defeats to the Pars by winning at Peterhead. They are 29-20 at Coral.
Game of the day in League Two features on-form Stirling at home to leaders Annan and an Albion win is possible at 17-10 with Ladbrokes.
Third-placed Clyde are going for five wins in a row and should get it at home to Arbroath. They are 4-5 at bet365.
Bets to Consider
Falkirk not to lose
Celtic to win to nil
St Johnstone v Hearts draw and btts
Storey (ICT) to score first
Dunfermline -1
Stirling Albion
Clyde
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.
Can’t argue with any of that Mr F
Adam Rooney is 1-8 to score a Penalty today, haha!
Have to say Hibs placed decent last week after being forced to play most of the game with 10 men after a red that was never a red which has been rescinded
Its always lucky getting such a late equaliser but it was deserved and without that red it would have been a win