ALL week the speculation has been about how Craig Levein will approach tonight’s Euro 2012 crunch clash after reports that in-form striker Kenny Miller would be dropped.
The news has been confirmed with the Rangers star on the bench and Levein packing six players into midfield.
There is a debut for QPR's Jamie Mackie but not up front while Steven Naismith, Graham Dorrans, Gary Caldwell, Darren Fletcher and James Morrison are also included.
It's a bizarre line-up and one designed to win a point for the Scots in what they see as a more important fixture than the one with world champions Spain at Hampden on Tuesday.
The Tartan Army would love to see Levein being adventurous but it looks more of the same dull football they suffered in Lithuania.
That game ended in a 0-0 draw and I’m sure Levein would bite your hand off for another.
The Czechs need a win after losing to Lithuania at home and it’s that result – rather than Scotland’s recent displays – that convinces me Levein might scrape the draw he desires.
A stalemate pays a best 13-5 with totesport and Chandler with no scorer 17-2 at Skybet and Hills 13-2 on a 1-1 draw.
Best price on a Czech success is 8-11 at Ladbrokes while Scotland are a biggest 5-1 at Chandler.
If you don’t think we’ll lose consider us plus one goal at 11-10 with Skybet.
To keep a clean sheet it’s 4-5 Czechs, 3-1 Scots with Hills while 0-0s tonight and against Spain on Tuesday is 50-1.
Scotland are 20-1 with Hills to keep two clean sheets and 3-1 to net in both qualifiers.
If Scotland are to score the man most likely is on-form Rangers wideman Naismith who is
16-1 at bet365.
New boy Mackie has been named in the starting line-up and is 10-1 at totesport.
Mackie is 7-2 with Hills just to net and 20-1 to score in an away success.
Hills are asking how many points Scotland will take from the Czechs and Spain. None pays 13-10, one is 2-1, two 10-1, three 4-1, four 8-1 and six an improbable 33-1.
Spain are also in action tonight at home to Lithuania but best price on offer is a ridiculous
1-10 with Hills while Skybet are 1-20. For better value look to David Villa at 3-1 (Stan James) to score first.
Elsewhere best bets should be Germany at home to Turkey. They are 8-15 at Ladbrokes.
Northern Ireland have shocked some big guns in the past but Italy should be too good for them in Belfast. They are 3-4 with Hills and Chandler.
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.
