WE can't often say Scotland WILL win a game but on Sunday that's the case.
There's not a lot to gain for Gordon Strachan whose side face world football's biggest minnows in the shape of Gibraltar.
He won't get any credit unless his side net more than seven and they'll be slated if they succeed by fewer than four goals at Hampden.
We know the Scots aren't great at putting away smaller nations but at least Strachan's men are in form and have scored in their last seven games.
Gibraltar are new to all of this and started competitive football with back-to-back 7-0 defeats at home to Poland then away to Republic of Ireland.
Even goal-shy Georgia took three off them and possibly the biggest surprise was restricting Germany to a 4-0 win.
Four must be the least Strachan expects and bookies reckon we'll win by five or six having priced the handicaps that way.
We are a biggest 1-50 at McBookie and BetVictor to win which means a £500 wager will net you a tenner. William Hill go 1-200 and have made it clear they don't want to see any money on Scotland.
With the prices being so short it makes Scotland minus four at 4-5 with McBookie and minus five at 17-10 with Paddy Power. If you believe we can net seven look at minus six at 3-1 with bet365.
Scotland have three fine keepers in the shape of Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor and David Marshall but I could play in goals and still keep a clean sheet. We are no bigger than 1-5 to win to nil.
McBookie are offering 66-1 on Scotland recording their highest winning margin – beating the record of 11-0 set against Ireland in 1901. And William Hill go 14-1 we reach double figures.
You can have 2-1 with the Scots firm and William Hill we score in the first 10 minutes but Scotland don't usually break teams down quickly.
Once you decide what Scotland's magic number will be have a look at who could score first. Gordon Strachan is likely to start Steven Fletcher and Steven Naismith and both are 7-2 with Paddy Power. There is a possibility Jordan Rhodes will also play so it might be better to check the starting side before having a bet on this market. He is also 7-2 at Paddy Power.
Ikechi Anya was our most dangerous attacker against Northern Ireland last week and is 10-1 at 888sport to net first and 19-10 to score at any time. He may though be the man to set them up but he's at least some value compared to the strikers.
Any Scot to score a hat-trick pays 2-1 at Hills and a star hitting five or more – no one's netted more than four in Scotland colours – returns 10-1 with McBookie and Hills. If Scotland can score five or six or even more there's every chance of one of the strikers bagging a treble.
Scotland have been enhanced from 1-150 to 5-2 with McBookie to simply score a goal against Gibraltar. Back selection at price on site and top -up winnings will be credited within 24 hours. Max £10 bet per customer – only available to the chosen people who reside in Scotland.
McBookie are also doing a £5 risk-free bet on the game. Bet £5 on any market and if it's a loser the stake will be refunded. My fiver will be one of the defenders to score first once I see the teams – possibly Andy Robertson at 17-1.
Recommended Bets
Scotland -4
(4-5, McBookie)
Anya to score first
(10-1, 888sport)
Rhodes to score
(
Any Scots hat-trick
(2-1, William Hill)
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.
-4 @ 4/5? errrm i think ill give it a miss ;)
Anya 1-20 timecast 10/1
-6 11-2.
Double it with poland to win 2-1 . At 12-1.
I’m hoping that goalscorer Christophe Berra starts tomorrow. The 6ft 3 centre back should get plenty of opportunity at set pieces. Coral make him 8/1 to score anytime which is massive compared to Ladbrokes 2/1 and William Hills 23/10.
RECOMMENDED BET
CHRISTOPHE BERRA ANYTIME GOALSCORER 8/1 @ CORAL
Chris, I don’t think Berra will start so check the team – probably be Martin and Greer.
If Rhodes starts I’ll be backing him to score 2 or more at 7/4
I’m thinking a hat trick too. I’m taking the plunge on Steven Fletcher @ 10/1.
You’re joking. I’ve already stuck £100 on Berra.
Chris, that’s the suggested team – Berra’s not first choice but with Hanley out Strachan must team someone with Martin. Greer is favourite unless he gives Berra the nod because of that goal. You’ll get your ton back if he doesn’t start so no worries.
All over Anya tomorrow at 10/1 FGS and 37/20 AGS at 888sport.
Next best price is 13/2 and 21/20 respectively. Big differences and I can see Anya terrorising Gibraltar tomorrow hopefully netting in the process.
Can he break our hattrick hoodoo at 25/1? May as well go full hog and completely jinx him for tomorrow!
Where is the 10/1 on the hat trick chris?
Mr F I’m pretty sure your anytime goalscorer bet stands with Coral if he takes any part in the game. All bookies are different and they change the rules that often.
Chris, most void – some don’t such as BetVictor. Works both ways but I’d rather my player started.
Weebanger price is with 888Sport
Same but what about yesterday. £50 on Harry Kane to score a header anytime @ 6/1 with 888Sport. I backed him knowing he was on the bench and I knew he’d get brought on at some point. They voided my bet as he didn’t start. I tried to argue the market was different from first/anytime goalscorer.
Scotland haven’t scored more than 4 since 2006
I’m sticking with my tip
Gibraltar +5 10/11 @ Ladbrokes
Have no intention in putting this game into any of my other bets however just for a bit of extra fun i’m looking at markets where Gibraltar actually get a goal. First competitive goal is bound to come at one point.
Remember the upsets are the reason why many don’t have winners every day!
If Gibraltar park the bus Scotland will struggle to break them down. They struggle to open teams up and when they do they don’t have a reliable striker they can count on to finish
Scotland to win by 6 or more goals 5/1 with corals
Gillzy where you finding that price mate?
germany only won 4-0 against gilbralter.i think scotland struggle against teams that put 11 men behind the ball.
bets for me is gilbralter +5 at 5/6
scotland corner handicap -7 corners 10/11 main bet.
Is mr f watching a different Scotland side to me?????
M j, what do you mean?
On Anya anytime @ 37/20 (888sport) which is a cracking price considering there’s not much other bookies giving you evens on the bet! He had several chances against Northern Ireland in midweek and he’s bound to get even more tonight.
And small bets on him to score 2+ @ 7/1 (coral) & hat trick @ 33/1 (betfair)
McBookie are doing a promo on the game, bet £5 on any market, and if it loses the £5 is returned as promo cash!
Taking advantage of this offer I’ve placed my fiver on the match special.
Scotland to win by 12 or more goals @ 66/1! (Which would beat Scotland’s biggest ever victory should it come in)
AL, I’ve mentioned the promo – think I’ll do Robertson at 17-1 to score first.
Never noticed you’d mentioned it, think my promo bet might be slightly ambitious, but you never know! Robertson has every chance of getting a goal
Poland and Rep of Ireland took 7 off Gibraltar and Scotland are far better than both of those sides going by recent head to heads.
I think 6 will be hit with ease, expect Naismith, Morrison and Anya all to be on the scoresheet. Steven Fletcher has a horrendous scoring record for club and country recently and i wouldn’t be piling on him scoring more than 1.
Slightly surprised with the line up, 3 at the back against a side playing with 1 striker?
Would have liked to see Rhodes start as this is the kind of game he’d thrive in
AL, the hint was Rhodes might start but 3 at the back is the norm – they want all be back all the time.
as I posted earlier most goals 2 nd half 5/6 . great price , and my only bet tday. putting a big load of my bank on this . GL to all
What I meant was Scotland -4??? Germany only beat them 4-0!!! Listen mr f it’s 5-1 right now if they make it 6-1 then you were right and il be on again to say well done mate and for the record I hope they do!!!! But u gota admit Steven fletcher is useless!!!!
Can’t believe I doubted you!!! Well done mr f I honestly thought -4 was a lot to ask of Scotland but it wasent and again well done
cheers Chris, I ended up getting 10/1 @ unibet so happy days hope you lumped on
I did it on purpose!!!! I gave it fletcher and he got a 3!!!! I gave it mr f and it came in!!!! Everytime!!!thank me everybody who had -4 and any hatrick scorer it was my big mouth well finger I supose!!!well done everybody
M j, thanks.
No bother weebanger. Yeah Unibet and 888Sport are the same bookie mate. I had £50 @ 10/1. Well done to everyone who went with a hat trick @ 2/1 but in my opinion Fletcher was probably the most likely to achieve it.
Chris, they’re not the same bookies.
Cheers M J lol
Really my understanding is that they are. They have identical markets and prices for every game
Chris, they can share prices – same as BetVictor and McBookie but they are 2 different companies.
Mr Fixit they are part of the same group as of 20/5/13 mate.
888 Holdings has signed an agreement with Unibet’s B2B business Kambi Sports Solution which will see the company deliver a fully managed sportsbook solution under the 888sport.com brand.
888 said that the agreement would enable the company to offer a broader range of betting markets and products for the uk and other regulated markets.
Chris, but they’re not the same company. I get sent stuff from both working independently of each other.
i thought Mcbookie n betvictor were the same company coz of that. Same mobile website and prices
Weebanger, definitely not the same company – I know the guys from McBookie well. They’re too small to do their own prices so pay BetVictor to use theirs but they do al lot of Scottish markets including first scorers plus all the non-league stuff which they price themselves.
anyone know what price scotland 6-1 was?