Scottish Football Tips: Celtic too strong for Rangers

RANGERS made signings in the summer designed to close the gap on Celtic – but it's still too big.

There have been highs and lows for the Ibrox support this season as well as positives and negatives regarding the new boys.

Many will feature in the first Old Firm derby at lunchtime and don't look ready to take on the all-conquering champions who are unlikely to start with one debutant at most.

Bruno Alves is seemingly out as is Lee Wallace of course so defensively Pedro Caixinha has problems and young centre-half Ross McCrorie could play at the back.

Last season Celtic won five and drew one of the six meetings and two of the victories were by 5-1.

Victory at Dundee in the Betfred Cup quarter-final extended their unbeaten domestic run to 56 and when Brendan Rodgers suffers his first defeat it's likely to be at Ibrox or Pittodrie.

But I can't see it being today and bookies agree. I've been debating this game all week online and Celtic started out evens but are now a best 3-4 with Coral and as short as 8-11 at McBookie.

Rangers are 4-1 at William Hill while the draw is 3-1 with Betfred. At those prices Gers can back their favourites at 5-4 with bet365 to avoid defeat.

I reckon Celtic will win by two or three – maybe 3-1. Two bets I posted online last Sunday were Celtic -1 and Celtic to score 3+.

They still stand but the prices have gone from 12-5 to 19-10 (McBookie) and 13-5 to 9-4 (Betfred).

For first scorer I'm going with Scott Sinclair who is good value at 13-2 with McBookie. Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele are 17-4 at McBookie and it's Griff who is likely to start.

Alfredo Morelos has given Rangers fans plenty to cheer with eight goals and is 7-1 at McBookie to score first and 12-5 to net with Unibet.

Celtic and over 2.5 goals looks on and pays 8-5 at BetStars and Celtic & over 1.5 is 23-20 with the same firm.

This could be a fiery affair and as usual a red card in the match is short at 5-4 with Stan James.

Elsewhere in the Premiership back goals as usual when Hibs play. All their league games have seen both score and that looks big at 17-20 with sportingbet for their trip to Ross County.

Boost the price by taking both to score and over 2.5 match goals at 13-10 with Coral.

St Johnstone should bounce back from their loss at Dundee by beating Hamilton at home and are a best 22-25 at Marathonbet.

Hearts are unbeaten in two under Craig Levein and make it three by taking a point at Partick Thistle. The draw pays 5-2 at betfair.

Tomorrow Motherwell renew rivalries with Aberdeen having beaten them 3-0 in the Betfred Cup on Thursday.

I fancied Well and tipped them not to lose as well as Louis Moult to score. Could go the same away and Well draw no bet is 23-10 at betfair and Moult to score pays 9-5 at McBookie.

In the Championship Dunfermline are back on top after a crushing defeat of St Mirren last week. The Pars should beat Brechin away but are no bigger than 4-6 at Marathonbet so consider Pars to score 3+ at 9-4 with bet365.

Dunfermline have averaged three a game in the league and hit 13 on their last three visits to Glebe Park.

Third-place Dundee United entertain Morton and having won one in four the home looks too short at 4-5 with McBookie. Morton can avoid defeat and are 13-10 at sportingbet not to lose.

In League One there's no stopping Raith who have won six in a row and scored 22. They are worth taking on accas at 3-5 with Unibet and again could net 3+ at 2-1 with Unibet.

Raith won 5-0 at Hampden last week and second-placed Ayr look too big at 10-11 with Paddy Power for their trip to Queen's Park.

It's been an up and down season for Clyde in League Two but they should beat a Cowdenbeath side who have lost four in a row without scoring. Clyde are 10-11 with William Hill.

Recommended Bets

• Celtic -1
• Celtic to score 3+
• Ross Co v Hibs btts & over 2.5 goals
• Motherwell draw no bet
• Moult to score
• Dunfermline to score 3+
• Raith to score 3+
• Ayr
• Clyde

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